On a slightly dull but dry Saturday in late October, a group of local volunteers gathered at the Fishponds for an autumnal tidy-up. The area is overseen by the Parish Council and we are hugely grateful to the various local people who join our regular working party sessions to help us maintain this lovely spot.
At our recent session, most areas were given a gentle trim and tidy, while the drystone wall along the northern boundary was given a full ‘coiffure’ by volunteer David (check out the before and after photos below!). The den in the blackthorn clump was also addressed more extensively, with the area chopped and cleared by Gavin, another volunteer.
Our two tallest volunteers roamed the rest of the site to cut the many overhanging branches that drooped to well below head-height. These are easy to glide beneath if you’re on the shorter side but can be annoying if you’re taller.
The large sequoia tree near the car park had many low-hanging branches. These were dealt with by David and the wood that had been cut down was placed around the area to create habitat. The two hours flew by, but we felt satisfied that the area has been tended and tidied ahead of the winter months.
The Parish Council would like to extend our thanks to our super volunteers: Alan, Philip, Gavin and David. A special mention and thank you to David's son, Luke, who showed the group the many different varieties of fungus around the site, as well as an abundance of invertebrates. The presence of all this ‘wildlife’ is encouraging and reminded us of the importance of these considered maintenance sessions, allowing the site to thrive and become more hospitable to all who use it.
If you’re interested joining one of our future working party sessions at the Fishponds, please express an interest by emailing epc.comms@eynsham-pc.gov.uk. The sessions are typically held on a weekend morning over two hours, with cheerful company and refreshments guaranteed.