Volunteers soon warmed up as they took part in a scrub clearance day on North Leigh Common.
Over the past century, scrub has taken hold on much of the 16 hectares of common land, an area of land unusual in west Oxfordshire as it once used to be acidic grassland, covered by heather.
About three years ago West Oxfordshire District Council drew up a management plan and volunteers from the Friends of the Wychwood Project and Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust have held regular working parties on the common.
Pictured cutting back a tree is Peter Woolfenden.
The volunteers have been clearing blackthorn and other undergrowth to allow light through to help plant growth.
They have also removed scrub from former clay and gravel pits.
Other work at the site will include improvements to the car park and the placing of large logs for people to use as benches.
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