Latest post: Saturday work sessions
Hello and welcome to the website of Chipping Norton Green Gym.
Please note that the website is under reconstruction following the removal of previous management support for Green Gym websites by a national charity. New pages will appear gradually, as the webmaster’s time permits! We apologise for possible broken links or other errors which may appear.
We are an independent community group that works on environmental conservation projects in Chipping Norton and the surrounding area and it costs nothing to join.
We generally meet on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. No booking is necessary, although we ask prospective new members to contact the membership secretary in advance if you plan to attend a session.
We are a friendly easy-going team who welcome new volunteers, whether as individuals or who come from a company which operates a community volunteering scheme. The aim is to have fun, and get some exercise and fresh air while helping to care for the environment. No prior skills or experience are necessary, and lifts may be available for those who cannot easily get to the worksites. For our latest programme (March-April), please click here.
A range of different jobs is available.
Everyone is welcome. We have jobs suitable for all levels of ability, with training given where necessary. We remove brambles and scrub, keep paths and waterways clear, manage woodland and plant trees (over a thousand put in since the group was formed in 2012). We also plant flowers, fruit and vegetables for all in the community to enjoy, as well as tending gardens, laying hedges, and much more.
We work on a variety of community sites. In Chipping Norton these include Pool Meadow, the Common and William Fowler Memorial Wood. The banner photo at the very top of the page shows volunteers under the magnificent trees on Hawkyard Common. Other local sites include the town’s Health Centre, together with Chippy Community Orchard and Fitzalan Wood, both of which our Green Gym created. To these we have now added a new project, Hawkyard Copse, where tree planting is in progress. We also support school gardening projects, while helping to maintain Kingham Millennium Wood and the Glyme Valley nature reserve, among other sites.
We sometimes work in mud or the snow but often in beautiful surroundings.
We always get plenty of exercise but find time to relax among friends!
If you are interested in joining us, please contact Rachel, our Membership Secretary.
Sites and CSR volunteers welcome
If you manage a community site which could do with our help, do get in touch with our Programme Manager, Tony Shaw-Williams. It’s surprising what a gang of volunteers can achieve in a morning – and much cheaper than contractors!
On the other hand, if your firm has a Corporate Social Responsibility or community service scheme and you think you could assist us in some way, please contact the Membership Secretary. Companies that have contributed volunteers include The Nationwide Building Society, Milestone Infrastructure, Midcounties Cooperative, Sainsbury’s and Premier Inn.
We are supported by national charity TCV (The Conservation Volunteers) and also by
