We are one of the groups of volunteers who work at the Glyme Valley Nature Reserve in Chipping Norton, which is managed by the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust. The trust is known locally as BBOWT (“bee-bout”).
Here, our clearance of invasive blackthorn scrub invading the ancient limestone grassland aims to benefit butterflies and flowers, while the dense thorn bushes lining the margins of the reserve remain as a birdlife habitat where species such as blackcap, bullfinch and yellowhammer can be seen.
Clearing blackthorn at the Reserve, on a lovely winter’s day
Job done!
The grassland is occasionally mown to improve its quality.
Here, we are finishing the job by raking up the hay.
During our work we often use tarpaulins to collect up cut material, making it easier to move to a suitable spot on site, or remove for disposal.
A happy “tarp team” moving a pile of blackthorn scrub