Wednesday 15th January 2025 - Medina Arboretum GG #1013

 Terry's photos

Mark's photos

Buzz Lightyear kept an eye on the activities!

A new venue is always popular and we had a good turnout on a lovely dry mild morning.  We were helping Tony, the IWC Tree Officer with the management of the two ponds within Medina Arboretum.  Sadly, the two ponds have been neglected for quite some time.  The upper pond feeds into the lower which is infested with parrot feather, an invasive non-native water plant. 

The group split into two so that the group working in the lower pond would not contaminate the upper with the parrot feather.  The main tasks were to remove the parrot feather and undergrowth growing round the ponds to enable more light into the area.  A few hardy souls donned waders and braved the mud to collect litter and help remove fallen trees and branches in the water.  All the removed material was laid in a dead hedge within trees on the edge of the site.  A litter pick was also undertaken and several sacks filled.  Predictably, a shopping trolley was part of the haul and, strangely, a scaffold pole!

Next week it is expected we shall return to Totland – please keep an eye on your emails for the confirmation.

Thank you to Terry and Mark for the photos.

Wednesday 8th January 2025 - One Horse Field, Totland GG #1012

 Terry's photos

Happy New Year to you all!

We started this New Year with a visit to an old favourite in Totland – One Horse Field.  We were working with Gift to Nature to help them manage this site.  G2N were showcasing their exciting new grass/brush cutter which is remote controlled.  It has two changeable cutting heads and can clearly manage different terrains – it proved quite a talking point!  The cut material was raked up and piled up into hibernacula.  The morning was cold and stayed dry until almost the very end of the session.

Thanks to Terry for the photos.

Wednesday 11th December 2024 - Shide Chalk Pit GG #1011

 Terry's photos

An attempt to take a group photo to send to Phil!

A Christmas guest - Anita, the Fort Victoria Warden

Sarah's photos

This was our last GG session of 2024, and this week we were working with Gift to Nature helping them to manage Shide Chalk Pit.  We were asked to clear the undergrowth at the base of the steps to help open up the area.  The arisings were stacked at the back of this area.  A litter pick was also undertaken and sadly, a considerable amount of litter was collected including two supermarket trollies.

After our session in the Chalk Pit, we all went off to PC's Cafe for our Christmas lunch.  Many thanks to Viv for all her organisation.

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One of our team was missing - Phil is currently being cared for in Taunton Hospital and we all send him our love and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Phil had planned a walk for GG-ers next Wednesday.  It is hoped (weather depending) that this will still go ahead - keep an eye on your emails.

We have received an email from Geoff (ex GG-er) who now lives in Sidmouth.  He is putting his GG skills to good use and has joined a voluntary group who care for Glen Goyle, a local nature reserve.  

Finally, a big thank you to Mark for all his hard work in managing our group this year; to Terry for his photos for this blog; and of course, to Team GG for all the hard work achieved this year!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!

Wednesday 4th December 2024 - Appley Park GG #1010

Terry's photos

A beautiful bright winter's morning to work in this wonderful parkland in Ryde. This visit had us working in the woodland along the north of the site in two areas. Both with a view to reduce the White Poplar cover here. White Poplar produce suckers in abundance and in these areas are starting to crowd out nearby mature trees. One site was cleared to extend what we had done previously on the boundary of the wildflower meadow. The other further to the east and under a Plane tree. Dead hedges and habitat piles were created with the arisings so the wildlife will have safe cover for the winter period. 

Thank you to Terry for the photos.