Wednesday 10th June 2026 - Newclose Cricket Ground, Newport GG #1084

 Terry's photos

An example of HB

In the jungle!

Bracket fungus

We returned this week to Newclose Cricket Ground, but this time it was for our perennial project – pulling Himalayan Balsam.  The first half of the session was spent working through the southernmost part of the woodland which lies between the cricket ground and the River Medina.  We have worked this area many times over the years and it is paying off – few plants were found in sporadic patches.  After tea break we worked our way northwards.  Mark walked along the cycle track and could see through the trees to guide GG-ers to patches of HB. 

Towards the end of the session we reached the area that we finished at last year.  The plants had been very mature and although we collected seeds, they were also pinging everywhere.  The huge stand of HB found today was the result of that seeding.  We pulled as much as we could but will be returning to this site within the next few weeks.

Thank you to Terry for the photos.

Wednesday 3rd June 2026 - Southbank, Blackwater GG #1083

 Terry's photos

Mark's photos

Marsh Orchid

Common Spotted Orchid

Quite a few people arrived today saying the same comment: ‘It rained when we were last here!’ We first visited this site between Mole Country Store and the River Medina last September for two sessions of Himalayan Balsam pulling. On both occasions, we got very wet, and unfortunately the same happened again this week.

We worked along the site parallel to the river pulling HB.  Some of the plants were very mature and one plant was found in flower.  Undergrowth had been cleared under the power lines and this had opened up the area and encouraged germination of seeds.  There were some areas with very small plants which will require a revisit shortly. 

Thank you to Mole Country Store for allowing us to use their car park and to Terry and Mark for the photos.

Los Altos update

GG-er Graham recently re-visited Los Altos Park and kindly sent in the above photo showing the growth of the whips we planted last year.  He reports that they all looked green and healthy.

Wednesday 27th May 2026 - Newclose Cricket Ground, Newport GG #1082

 Terry's photos

We returned to Newclose Cricket Ground this week to continue with the tidy-up of the beds and borders started two weeks ago.  I’ve just reviewed the photos on the blog of that previous session and note that the weather was very different!  We were all wearing coats…. today was very hot – hats, sunscreen and hydration were key to our efforts.   

Further work was required on the large bed to the front of the clubhouse and it is expected that shrubs will be planted there.  GG-ers also weeded the areas around the benches on the pitch side of the clubhouse and the beds at the far end of the building.

Thanks to Terry for the photos and to Newclose Cricket Ground for the refreshments.

 

Wednesday 20th May 2026 - Merstone Stream, Blackwater GG #1081

 Terry's photos

Raring to go...

He's so happy!!

Hurray!  We’re back to pulling Himalayan Balsam!  We have visited this site for quite a number of years now and can definitely see a difference.  The first half of the morning was spent looking for HB and finding very few.  However, just before our tea break we struck gold and found two dense patches of HB (probably from just a couple of plants that had seeded).  So after the tea, biscuits and chitchat we returned to those two areas and cleared them.  Access to the plants is quite an issue so planks are used to cross the stream, silty muddy areas negotiated and brambles and nettles subdued.

After our session we held our AGM in the events room at PC’s Café in Watergate Road.  Fourteen of us attended – thank you to all for your support.

Thank you to Terry for the photos and to PC’s Café for accommodating us.