Southill is a community-owned Solar Farm providing electricity to over 1,000 homes in nearby Charlbury and its proximity. The whole site covers 45 acres of land, of which 20 are used for solar panels. Over a large part of the rest there are wildflower meadows, created since the acquisition of the site, as well as a fruit orchard planted from scratch, and a large pond. Green Gym assist by working mainly in the meadows and the orchard, which skylarks, hares and Roman snails call home. We remove unwanted invasive weeds such as burdock and thistle, scythe the orchard, and deal with trimmings from the boundary hedge which like the meadows, is a haven for wildlife.
Enjoying a break in a wildflower meadow
Building a “dead hedge” with trimmings from the newly laid boundary hedge
The scythers have a rest while others weed among the fruit trees
Removing thistle, dock and other invasive weeds from the meadows