Wednesday 14th October 2026 - Play Lane Millennium Green, Ryde GG #1101

 Terry's photos

This week we were back in Ryde at Play Lane Millennium Green helping the Trustees to maintain this space.  As previously reported, there was an infestation of NZ Pygmyweed in the pond area.  The Trustees had worked hard on one part of the pond to remove all greenery to try and solve this problem.  On the other side of the pond there was a lot of flag iris.  We were asked to dig up some of the irises so that they could be transplanted to other damp areas.  It will be interesting to see whether the pond fills up with water again – due to the dry summer and the springs that feed into the area changing course – the pond is currently empty.

As well as moving iris, we were asked to clear one of the drainage ditches on the site and to cut back bay and bramble.  Bay (Laurus nobilis) is a non-native tree which spreads easily by suckering and its very dense vegetation shades out other preferred planting.

Thank you to Terry for the photos and to Rose (PLMG Trustee) for the biscuits.

Wednesday 7th October 2026 - Bugle Stream, Brading GG #1100

 Mark's photos

Alison's photos

We first visited this venue seven weeks ago and were asked to return to continue with the work helping Brading Town Council to clear the Bugle Stream to prevent flooding. 

The focus today was on clearing the silt from the entrance to the culvert.  This was a really grotty job!  The silt was dug up, loaded into buckets and then tipped into wheelbarrows for disposal in the area where any arisings were stacked.  The metal railing surrounding the top of the culvert has been repaired – we had piled up brambles to try to protect the area and these we were now able to remove. 

GG-ers not involved in silt removal worked further along the stream, digging out sedges and cutting back any other shrubs overgrowing the stream. 

At the end of the session a silver birch sapling was planted just above the culvert.

Thank you to Mark for the photos and to Mrs Garratt for the delicious refreshments.

Wednesday 30th September 2026 - Yarmouth Green, Yarmouth GG #1099

 Terry's photos

Quite rightly, they're very proud of their work

 

This photo has been copied from the blog of April 2018!

A beautiful day at a beautiful venue!  We are very fortunate….  This week we were helping the Yarmouth Harbourmaster with managing the green.  The area we concentrated on was at the corner of the car park where historically there had been a bench with a woven willow screen and trees behind it.  GG had been involved in the creation of the space for the bench and planting of trees there – see link –

Isle of Wight Green Gym - Official Blog.: Wed 18th Jan 2017 - Yarmouth Green. GG # 668.

However, time takes its toll – the bench had rotted away, the trees have grown and become entangled with bramble. 

GG-ers set to with loppers and bowsaws.  All the trees had quite a trim and the brambles were pulled out.  The space was opened up, and all litter was cleared from the area.  The remains of the willow screen can be seen.  All arisings were put into piles for the Harbourmaster’s team to remove at a later stage.

An additional task was that of ‘planting’ a BioTotem (a bee hotel in ordinary language) - see link -BioTotem — Artecology.  This turned out to be quite a job as the ground was extremely hard due both to the chalky subsoil and the hot summer we have had.  After a lot of effort, a deep hole was dug and the BioTotem lowered into it.  It was then carefully wedged into place with hardcore and with the aid of a spirit level the team kept it straight.  Finally, loose soil was compacted around the base.  Success!

Apologies for the late posting of this blog – we have had some technical issues and you may notice it is not showing as it usually does.

Thank you to Terry for the photos.

Wednesday 23rd September 2026 - Play Lane Millennium Green, Ryde GG #1098

 Terry's photos

Devil's-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis)

New Zealand pygmyweed (Crassula helmsii)

We spent a lovely autumnal morning working in the butterfly meadow area of Play Lane Millennium Green helping to rake up cut grass and clear other unwanted greenery.  The grass was cleared away (and the ground scarified) so that it would not compost and add nutrients to the soil, thereby encouraging wildflower seeds to germinate.  Bramble roots were grubbed out by mattock and also cut back from the edges of the meadow.  Clumps of devil's-bit scabious and hawksbeard were retained so that they could set seed.  Stalks of rosebay willowherb had been cut, and their seeds were to be scattered over the ground after our session.

Concern had been raised about the New Zealand pygmyweed growing in the pond area.  The springs over this site vary their course over time and the pond is currently dry (exacerbated by our hot summer) so this is a good time to remove as much as possible.  See link -

New Zealand Pigmyweed Invasive Species | Canal & River Trust

All removed material was put into a plastic sack where it will rot down.  This is a very invasive non-native plant which can regrow from tiny fragments.

(Please note that spelling varies – pygmyweed or pigmyweed!)

Devil’s-bit scabious is so named (according to folklore) because the root terminates abruptly as if bitten off, allegedly, by the Devil!

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Path update......

 

We last visited this site in April and worked along this central pathway through the woods - see link below.  

Isle of Wight Green Gym - Official Blog.: Wednesday 29th April 2026 - Play Lane Millennium Green, Ryde GG #1078

The area had been very boggy; a drainage pipe was installed and the pathway extended and encroaching plants cut back.  It has now dried out and much improved.

Thank you to Terry for the photos and to Rose (PLMG Trustee) for the biscuits.