Mudlarking about

Some people might say a Green-Gymmer is, by definition, either a stick-in-the-mud or in second infancy: doing jobs by hand, which others would do with machinery – or not do at all.  And all for the sake of the exercise and the sheer fun!

Becoming stuck in the mud literally was certainly a possibility today, and one with which several of us flirted.  This was the challenge we were facing:

In the foreground you see a Chilterns chalk-stream as it should be: crystal-clear water flowing freely over a firm gravel bed.  This is a habitat in which watercress flourishes.  Behind, lie dark, still, muddy waters.  You can tell where the silt has built up, because there the watercress is languishing.

Our job?  To dig out the mud!

   

We had dug out mud from ponds before, but not from a stream – so it was sort of a new task for us, also a little bit by way of an experiment in the management of this waterway.  Note the dainty plastic pannier for carrying mud to the bank.

Actually not all the work was done by hand.  As areas were cleared of as much mud as could be removed by human muscle-power, the water-engineering team among the volunteers harnessed the power of the stream itself to wash away at least some of the remainder.  Here they constructed a temporary dam, which proved remarkably effective:

Meanwhile, not all the mud was being moved directly to the bank.  On the central concrete bund gradually accumulated a big pile of mud + other items found in the stream, left there to dry before some other people move it:

One of the “archaeological finds” in the stream caused much excitement: “It’s an Anglo-Saxon longboat”; “I’m expecting a whole village under here!”  Sadly, it was only one plank, but it took the combined efforts of several Green-Gymmers (“girl power”) to extract it from the mud …

and land it safely on shore:

By session end, we had cleared the first section of the brook downstream from Ewelme Bridge:

The last spadeful

Before we left the site, there was a chance to take a quick detour to see how ‘our’ turf was coming on.  This was the turf we had cut, transported, and laid the other day around a new pond.  It was gratifying to see the grass (and buttercups) flourishing:

Up on the downs

By C

Summer last week was very pleasant.  Hope everyone made the most of it, because today:

Met Office National Severe Weather Warning
Outbreaks of rain, heavy at times with a risk of thunder, ...
giving a risk of local accumulations in excess of 20 or 30 mm.

So a little damp!  What the Met Office advice failed to add is that rain is good for keeping Green-Gymmers cool.  Admittedly, rain in waterfall/kayak-floating quantities would have more than we needed; and the amount we did get, had some volunteers putting on every layer of clothing available to avoid getting too cool. 

Nevertheless, some sort of cooling system was most certainly needed this morning, for the task was “clearing up cut scrub following a scrub cutting contract.”   In other words: walking up, down, and across the Chilterns scarp, carrying great piles of material for the fire rather than the ‘free weights’ you would find in a regular gym:  

Note that even on a soggy day, without use of accelerant, Green Gym got a fire going when site warden had been doubtful of our chances of success.  Site of fire: defunct rabbit warren, now used as a badger toilet-block (but not a sett).  Flowers on the slope: cowslip.

This all made for a brilliant/challenging CV (cardio-vascular) work-out, also good for lower-body-strength and balance.  We have never known one of our site-wardens say in advance of a session, “Anyone who is not good with this terrain should probably not attend.”

The cut stuff (dogwood mostly) could either be raked and speared on to a fork where it had fallen …

or – where it was on the slope above the fire-site, tossed further down to create larger piles for easier removal nearer one of the sheep-tracks we used for paths:

The track to and from the spot we used for tea-break afforded views of ‘fairy rings’ (made by fungi) …

and led through an area used in WW2 as a firing-range:

The hillside was scoured to reveal the chalkface, which gave the soldiers in training, positioned on the slope opposite, clear targets to aim at.  The remains of a concrete bunker for the ‘spotters’ can just be made out at the bottom of the slope.

As for the question which inevitably arose in discussion, “Why are highlands in England called downs?” the answer is that down, used as a noun to mean 'upland', comes from Old English dún, 'hill'.  The modern adverb is a contraction from Middle English adun, 'from the hill'.

A beautiful day – and a sad one

By the session leader

Wonderful weather for a trip to one of our favourite places:

In full flower, the Loddon Lilies, for which the site is famous:

A Common Blue butterfly enjoyed the sun too:

Alas, this beautiful day was let down by the news that the two site managers, Dot and Keith, are moving on to pastures new, somewhere in the frozen north.  [Ed: “Ah, Abingdon!” commented one Green-Gymmer, but we are told they will be going a little further than that; even further than Banbury.]  So this may be our last visit to Withymead for quite a while.

The tasks were therefore aimed at tidying up the site to leave it safe and clear.  A simple task to start: taking down a teepee that was beginning to decay.

That was soon cleared …

and the tarpaulin carefully folded and tied with a genuine post-office knot, ready for future use:

Next a hurdle that needed repair:

Then a fence.  Note the PPE for when working with the drivel:

Brash blocking the walkway was to be cleared, but some members seemed to be having difficulty seeing it:

Saved by the ladies:

Tea break was eagerly awaited by some:

And the tea fairy celebrated her birthday (second 21^st?) with a cake:

The task scheduled for immediately after tea – when Green-Gymmers’ energy levels have been restored – was to move a boat from landing-stage to where it will be less in the way, and safe in the event of a summer flood:

The restored parts of the old boatyard winch were stowed away safely:

And a final celebration with one of the fiercest fires we have had for a long time:

End of an era for us and the site staff. 

With Best Wishes to Dot and Keith: