Where do we meet?
From week to week, it's nearly always a different place. Our sites range from the outskirts of Didcot, through Wallingford (including water meadows by the Thames), to the chalk downs and woodland of the Chilterns scarp.
What sort of things do we do?
It depends on the time of year. In the winter, we plant trees and hedges, cut back scrubby trees that are growing in the wrong place, coppice healthy trees to help them grow strong, and do maintenance work such as repairing fencing, constructing paths, and hanging gates.
In the summer, we look after trees/hedges planted in the winter (weeding and watering), we clear ragwort, and we cut back vegetation overgrowing the paths.
Sometimes we have the chance to work with livestock: moving sheep or cutting their toenails ("hoof trimming")!
For all our tasks, we use hand tools only. Full training and support provided, no experience needed.
Why do we do these things?
1. It's good for the environment. The wardens of the sites where we work always have to-do lists which there are just not enough hours in the day to achieve. We can help make some of the things on their wish lists happen.
2. It's good for us. Good for physical and mental health, good for our social lives, good for our CVs (those of us that have them, that is).
3. It's fun. Most of the time, at least.
When do we hold our sessions?
Tuesday mornings, 10am - 1pm.
There are other Green Gyms (Abingdon, Sonning Common) nearby which hold sessions on Saturdays. Ours are midweek to meet the needs of those who do not have Monday-Friday 9-5 jobs.
How long have we been going?
The pilot project in Wallingford and Abingdon District was 2003/4. Wallingford Green Gym became an autonomous, self-governing body in 2005.
How many of us are there?
We're a small group: about a dozen of us in total, but of course we don't all turn up at the same session.
Age Range
Our volunteers have run the gamut from 70+ year olds to a three-year-old who was very proud to hold screws while one of our adult volunteers was fixing a gate post.
Under 16s: please remember to bring an adult with you. (Don't worry it doesn't have to be your mom!)