This month’s session at Aston Rowant was on the wind-swept slope of Linkey Down, where a rash of small hawthorn bushes needed removing before they grew large enough to shade out chalk downland wild flowers. They were too small be cut by mechanical means, so it falls to volunteers such as the 12 who arrived from our group.
It was surprising how large an area we managed to cover, gathering the cut thorn into bundles for pushing down the hill to the future bonfire site. Mick was on hand to treat the cut stumps and thus discourage further growth, while we occasionally paused to admire the amazing view.
Julia 23/2/2014
