Wednesday 27th November 2024 - Horse Shoe Trail, St Helens GG #1009

We are here this week to coppice some of this lovely woodland. Coppicing allows light in for wildflowers and insects and it also increases the lifespan of the trees coppiced. If done on a rotary basis it improves diversity in the woodland and doesn't impact species reliant on more mature trees significantly. 

Today we also took the opportunity to coppice back or remove some non-native species (garden escapees) which had taken hold here. Cherry Laurel, Portuguese Laurel and Mock Orange to be precise. 

The previous heavy rainfall did mean we had to pick where to work pretty carefully but otherwise the weather didn't impact the day too much and a great time was had by all the group.

Thanks Terry for the photos.

Wednesday 20th November 2024 - Fort Victoria Country Park GG #1008

 If you are an Island resident you have most likely walked upon some of our coastal footpaths. There is a coastal route around the whole County and in the west it follows this route. You may know that the blue slipper clay geology means that the coastline is on the move quite a bit and so today we were investigating a new path to soon replace the existing route at the viewpoint at Fort Vic. It was just up our street, so to speak, as it gave us plenty of fresh air, lovely views and a feel-good feeling of exploration almost! The contractors and IW Council officers will meet to decide the route ultimately, but at least they can now see the lay of the land.

Wednesday 13th November 2024 - Flowers Brook, Ventnor GG #1007

 We were so very pleased to see the sun after a period of cloudy weather which seemed to have lasted for weeks. You can see from terry's photos we had a good turn out this week for what is a lovely site, one we've helped maintain for many years. Ventnor Enhancement Fund, who were our hosts, hold each spring a fundraising duck race here, so some of what we were doing was in preparation. Look out for that next Easter!

Last spring we were planting bulbs here, by the hundred, so we hope to be able to see quite a show come this spring! Today it was a clearance operation as I say, but whatever we did would have been a pure joy in in this place, a real gem.  

Wednesday 6th November 2024 - Golden Hill Country Park, Freshwater GG #1006

 Terry's photos

Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)

Mark's photos

Before.......

and after

This week we were back with Gift to Nature supporting the archaeological site of the WWI ablution block at Golden Hill Fort.  We were here a year ago clearing the plant growth on the concrete structures and this has to be maintained as it could easily get out of hand.  Brambles and dogwood were targeted whereas annuals such as teasels were left alone.  The arisings were piled up into heaps for G2N rangers to dispose of at a later stage.

Mark's two photos show the smallest concrete structure before and after Team GG did their thing!

See link for further information - The story of Golden Hill Fort - Gift To Nature

Thank you to Terry and Mark for their photos.