With Earth Day right around the corner it was great to be back working away with Oxford Urban Wildlife Group in Boundary Brook Nature Park.

The three acres of land at the Nature Park gave us plenty of space to divide into work teams and spread out across the hidden gem of a site.

Pathway Team
The wildlife group is planning a series of gravel paths, intending to make the Nature Park pathways passable even in the soggiest weather. Our teams laid the first stage of two long stretches of the paths heading off in different directions across Boundary Brook Nature Park. The path-layers got a good upper body workout shovelling limestone rocks and wheelbarrowing them across the site to spread. They made lovely long stretches of meandering paths, using up the whole limestone gravel heap.

Litter team
A litter-picking team scouted the perimeter of the Nature Park. The pathways surrounding the site are a hotspot for litter, and a huge amount ends up inside the railings. Trying to avoid total entanglement in the brambles we unearthed cans, bottles, bike locks, shoes, balls, tyres, even a car bumper! (No pants though.) Some lucky timing meant we were able to load our full bags straight onto an Oxford Direct Services truck for disposal.

Fence posts team
Flexing their arm muscles the third team started driving in posts for new fencing. 4 in, many more to do next time.

It was lovely to be out and about working on a project which maintains and conserves wildlife in Oxford, and helps local people discover the city’s wildlife and wild places. You can find out more about Boundary Brook Nature Park here.

Well done on reaching the 10 Good Deeds milestone Ruth!

Welcome Sarah, Bronwyn, and Claire. Good to meet you!