Wednesday 18th March 2026 - Wellow Millennium Green, Wellow Top Road, Wellow. GG #1072

 New site again this week, this time in the West Wight as we landed at The Wellow Millennium Green to do our thing. This, as the name implies, is a green space which was first earmarked around 26 years ago, in fact it was gifted to the community in 1998. Some of the beds created back then were in need of some attention and we were asked to give that today. So some heavy pruning of shrubs required, giving light to the soil once more, and the creation of a habitat pile to accommodate the arisings. 

Local children had been asked by the lovely volunteers who run the site, what they'd like to see planted in the beds. Plants to attract butterflies was the popular answer apparently. Good news eh! 

Of course I might just mention it isn't food (nectar) for the adult butterflies which is necessarily crucial, what is more important is to get the mix of native planting right for their caterpillars, otherwise you don't get the adults. The site has plenty of some of these around and there is a great ethos to improve things further. We have given some help in the form of guidance on planting too. 

In addition to the beds we raked a small area in preparation for some wild meadow seeds. 

The sun shone down and really made the day a proper spring day! Glorious! See too those cowslips below!

Terry's pics

Before photo

after photo

Mark's photos

moth pupa

Wednesday 11th March 2026 - Clatterford Recreation Ground, Clatterford Road, Carisbrooke. GG #1071

 Yet another new location this week for planting some more tree saplings. This time the trees were sourced from The Woodland Trust, so many thanks to them. 

The Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council asked us to assist in some changes to their field in order to help make it more friendly to wildlife; in particular to make a wildlife corridor along the far boundary - previously just a wire fence line. All sorts of animals use hedges; as a home, for food, for sanctuary and for navigation - for instance bats use them for this purpose. So hedges are super important! These native UK species were sourced and we got underway, planting the 270 trees in one session.

• Oak, 
• Downy birch, 
• Grey willow, 
• Silver birch, 
• Hazel, 
• Rowan, 
• Oak, 
• Crab apple, 
• Dogwood, 
• Holly, 
• Hawthorn, 
• Blackthorn 
• Dog rose.

Many thanks to Cllr Terry Martin, whose ward this is in, who came along to thank the gang while they were planting. Also to Alan for getting extra canes for the rabbit guards. We provided 120 guards from our stock in the end along with 50 canes. .. one animal we are less keen to appreciate the hedge, until it is well established, are the rabbits! Also thanks to the 'really awesome coffee' van which paid a visit at the end.

Our Terry's photos

Mark's Photos

Wednesday 4th March 2026 - Grow Gurnard & Old School Meadow, Cockleton Lane, Gurnard. GG #1070

 Another season beckons! As we work very much with the seasons our tasks will change too as we go into March, and this week sees the start of this change. 

We were kept busy though with lots to do. Grow Gurnard goes from strength to strength, each time we return new features have been installed and hedge and fruit trees planted. This occasion was extra special as the 'Coat of Hopes' made an appearance as part of it's tour of the Country. A source of optimism it gets added to with new patches, indeed ours was added, adding to the stories of communities and people of the UK.

Our session was about hope too, as the group hope to grow lots in their new vegetable beds. We helped create some more, using the no dig method, on what is very stony ground, with cardboard, woodchip and well rotted manure. That'll get the worms active eh!

Other parties of GGers were to be found edging the pond in the Old School Meadow. This had been formerly a mould for fibreglass boats so was devoid of life but now covered with hessian to encourage mosses, and plants in general on these pond margins. Light pruning of hedges and bramble along with soaking up some of the sun's rays... we were very lucky with the weather.