Coming up in 2011 – We are looking forward to working in new sites such as Rainbow Playgroup’s nature garden, Merton Community Woodland and further work in Kings Meadow School, quarries and the Community Hospital. We have enjoyed new work in Garth Park where we have been allocated a flower bed near the bowling green, and help in creating a community garden with green house and vegetable patch. With the changes to Bicester Town Centre we will not be assisting in Bicester in Bloom, so we are glad to help the Town in this way. We recently coppiced in Thrupp community woodland and now have some hazel products available for the new gardening season. Some of our tools are getting a little weary with so much use so we will be going shopping. It’s all go!
Rest of 2010 – Green Gym helped contribute to the Town’s success at In-Bloom, where they won Silver, Nationally and Gold, Regionally. We also revisited Kidlington and Island Pond Wood. New sites included renovating the courtyard garden at the Community Hospital and doing initial clearance at Cooper School’s wildlife area. On this occasion the work was too much and we resorted to asking the builders working alongside, to use their digger!
May 2010 – The group was awarded £250 from the Town Council and a good practice certificate from BTCV, who carry out a review every 2 years. So why not visit us? You’ll be in good hands!
Spring 2010 – Now the weather has warmed up, take a walk in Bure Park to see aconites and snowrops, and the first signs of emerging bluebells. The first yellow brimstone butterflies have been spotted, and the sound of a drumming woodpecker can often be heard.
The stream has been cleared of rubbish and the path over the balancing pond improved. Why not take a walk today?
September 2009 – exciting new projects included bench painting at Bure Park, work on a Geology Trust quarry, not generally open to the public, ongoing development of Bure Park and Bicester Community College school wildlife gardens. Also new work with the friends of Launton woods and pond.
May 2009: We planted showpiece flowerbeds in Manorsfield Road to help in Bicester’s In Bloom entry.
Last year the beds were superb and won silver and gold, and this year it was Gold again! To quote the article in the Oxford Mail: “The support we get from the Green Gym and BTCV is fantastic. It’s groups like that which show community support, and that was what the judges were looking for.”
We also enjoyed the jungle-like conditions at Bicester Community College’s Eco Garden during their recent School-Force Day. This is an on-going job, but the hospitality is always great at the school.
Green Gym hit the jackpot again with a surprise £2000 coming our way from the Heritage Lottery Fund. We had a great time spending it on tools and equipment over the Bank Holiday weekend!