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.

Wednesday 10th August 2026 - Newclose Cricket Ground, Blackwater GG #1092

 Terry's photos

The collected seedheads

Oak Bracket Fungus

Volunteers, hot 'n humid were we,

Balsam, some strong, some wilting, like me and thee;

17 in number,

That's us not the plant,

We'd pulled 1000s, but mustn't rant.

Back here on the 26th, final session;

On the riverbank,

Downstream is our aim,

There will be less next year when we are back again!

Thank you to Terry for the photos and to Mark for our first poetic (!) editorial.

Wednesday 5th August 2026 - Brading Down, Brading GG #1091

Terry's photos

Surprisingly, this was our first visit to Brading Down this year….  We were working with Gift to Nature to help them manage the ragwort on this lovely site - see link Brading Down - Gift To Nature.  Usually, we visit earlier in the season when the ragwort is in flower.  However, for a variety of reasons we were later this year and the ragwort was seeding.  Due to the hot weather the plants were very desiccated, the ground was very dry, and it was relatively easy to pull.  The pulled ragwort was put into ton bags and loaded into the back of the G2N truck for disposal.

Although very windy, it was a beautiful clear day and the views were stunning.  GG-ers also enjoyed their annual ice cream!

Thank you to Terry for the photos.

Wednesday 29th July 2026 - Newclose Cricket Ground, Blackwater GG #1090

 Terry's photos

As promised on our last visit on 10^th June, we returned to Newclose Cricket Ground to continue pulling Himalayan Balsam in the woodland between the cricket ground and the River Medina.  We returned to where we finished last time – the HB is doing very well!  It’s surprising how wet the ground is considering the hot, dry conditions we are currently experiencing.  Despite our best efforts, there is still a huge amount of HB to be pulled – yet another return is on the cards….

Prior to our tea break, three of our team went to an area at Birchmore Pond to clear a small area of HB that had been left.  They rejoined us at tea break where some of the more sports-interested of us enjoyed a cricket match that was underway – howzat!

Thank you to Terry for the photos.