Together with fellow volunteer James, I arrive at the entrance to Parsonage Moor, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), on a bright, frosty February morning.

Spring is definitely in the air and a long broad fen lies before us.

The patchwork of rush and dry reed bed appears as a mosaic of light greys and browns in the morning light. Parts of the fen are very wet, and there are a few areas of open water.

To our left lies the smaller Ruskin Reserve, part of a National Nature Reserve (NNR). The whole site is bordered by woodland; it has, in wintertime, a rather desolate beauty. Parsonage Moor and Ruskin Reserve lie within Cothill Fen, a place of fragile habitats designated under European legislation as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) because of its rare plant and animal communities.

It sits adjacent to the villages of Cothill and Dry Sandford, a couple of miles or so to the north-west of Abingdon. Underneath, peat deposits are fed by calcium-rich spring water that binds phosphate ions, leading to nutrient-poor soils. This unusual mix of conditions supports both alkaline and acid-loving plants, including narrow-leaved marsh orchid, Grass-of-Parnassus and the carnivorous butterwort. In summer, the ponds support dragonflies, damselflies and rare soldier flies; it is a fantastically interesting place at any time of the year. Earlier in the week, I had been working with Jim Ballantyne cutting an area of reed bed using Austrian scythes, which are light and easy to handle. Their razor-sharp, hand-forged blades are swung in a rhythmical movement that can be fast and efficient, and we cut a sizeable swathe of the reed bed. Our work today is to rake up the cut reeds and burn them in a large, purpose-built metal firebox. The ash will be disposed of elsewhere to maintain the nutrient-poor status of the site. Winter is a good time for this activity, before the reed warblers and other birds start nesting.

BBOWT staff Nicole Clough, the Oxon reserves team leader, and Tim Read join us as we prepare for today’s task. Also present are members of Abingdon Green Gym, working on the adjacent NNR. Some friendly banter is exchanged regarding the exact nature of their gymnastic expertise! We expect to work more closely together in the future, following an agreement between BBOWT and Natural England. The metal firebox is assembled where the cut reeds lie, ready to be pitchforked into the blaze, and soon the fire is roaring. We work rapidly, raking up reeds and piling them on to the flames — this is harder than it looks! On the NNR, the Green Gym members finish their task and leave, and we take a lunch break.

Overhead, two red kites circle and then chase each other across the sky. The silence is broken only by the noise of the fire and the chatter of birdsong.

Everywhere, the hazel trees are flush with golden catkins dangling in the sunshine. The site is gradually awakening from winter and we look forward to the richness of the summer flowers and insects. New boardwalks and display boards give easy access for visitors and provide a clear explanation of the interesting features. We make the firebox safe and retrace our footsteps along String Lane to the car park. It’s been a day of strenuous exercise; a very enjoyable day in an amazing reserve. BBOWT’s nature reserves are managed with great care, thanks to the volunteers who generously give their time. The Cothill volunteers meet once a month on a Saturday or Sunday, from 10am to 3pm. If you would like to come along, please contact Nicole Clough on 01865 775476.