Wednesday 9th September 2026 - Mottistone Manor, Mottistone GG #1096

 The word of the week this week is fibonacci! I'll come back to that.

The beautiful gardens here at the National Trusts's Mottistone Manor were rather inundated with flood water last year during a number of torrential storms. Water ran off of the downland carrying soil and material and the deluge ended up in the lower garden; naturally that rendering it unusable and this remained the case for a number of months. The work has begun to restore the area and visitors can now return to wander amongst the flowers and shrubs and admire beds laid out in a Fibonacci Spiral. There is that word again. A previous Head Gardener designed the beds using this pattern, one found quite often in nature. An Example

See this BBC Bitesize info on the subject. 

We set about defining the edges and weeding within the pattern. Quite horticultural stuff for us to be honest, but it was lovely to work here and we were made so welcome. Thank you to the staff and volunteers at the Manor!

Wednesday 2nd September 2026 - The Duver & Priory Bay, St Helens GG #1095

Terry's photos 

Autumn Squill (scilla autumnalis)

Wild chamomile

Kangaroo apple (Solanum laciniatum) above and below

We returned to the Duver and Priory Bay this week, visited both in April and July of this year.  This is the 3^rd session funded by the Baywatch on the Beach café.  We started by walking the Duver and litter picking.  After tea break, as on previous occasions, a survey of the litter found over 100m stretch of the beach was undertaken.  The litter was identified and recorded; the resulting information will be sent to the Marine Conservation Society.  GG-ers not involved in the MCS survey walked along to Priory Bay to complete the litter pick.   At the end of the session, it was estimated we collected 100kgs of rubbish. 

Thank you to Terry for the photos, Mark for the cakes and Brighstone Landscaping for the rubbish collection.

Wednesday 26th August 2026 - Newclose Cricket Ground, Blackwater GG #1094

Terry's photos

Hops (Humulus lupulus)

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in the foreground

Mature seedpods of the HB

The fruits of our labour

We returned to Newclose Cricket Ground this week to continue with our efforts to control the spread of Himalayan Balsam along our waterways.  We are gradually working our way northwards within the site, and sadly there is still a vast amount to clear.  We are collecting the seedpods as we go but they are now ripe and pinging around us so we will definitely be returning next year….

In an attempt to lighten the mood, the internet advises me that the nickname for HB is kiss-me-on-the-mountain and in its country of origin its range is from 2000 to 2500m above sea level.    The Latin name is Impatiens glandulifera.  HB is edible but should be eaten in moderation as it contains oxalates - all we need now is a few tasty recipes and all our HB problems will be solved!

Thank you to Terry for the photos.

 

Wednesday 19th August 2026 - Bugle Stream, Brading GG #1093

 Terry's photos

Sharon with sustenance for the troops

Well, we had quite the GG session today.  A new venue, the first rain for months and a lot of new people! 

We had been approached by Brading Town Council to help them manage the vegetation growing both in and along the Bugle Stream.  During winter months the stream floods and backs up into local properties.  Clearing the vegetation will allow BTC to assess the stream and consider their next steps.  

The stream runs downstream alongside a public footpath accessed from the back of the Bugle pub car park.  Upstream the water comes through a pipe that runs under Brading main road and underneath the pub.  It’s been the source of a lot of problems and when explored we weren’t surprised.  The culvert was completely covered by brambles and the stream itself was full of sedges.  Mature trees had been allowed to grow along the (very narrow) bank, and the stream was barely visible. 

The GG team set to work with mattocks, loppers and shears and by the end of the session a huge amount of clearance had been accomplished.  The team was augmented by volunteers from BTC including two councillors, two visitors and a returning GG-er!  A stellar team!

At the start of the session we also enjoyed the first rain we have had for quite some time – it eased off just in time for our tea break.

Thank you to Terry for the photos and to Sharon for spoiling us with very generous refreshment at tea break.