Wed 12th Dec 2018 - Shide Chalk Pit, Newport. GG # 765.

Alison's Photographs.

Bob's Photograph (tea break).

Alison's Photographs of the Christmas party...

Judging by the food on the tables and the smiles all round...

everyone seems to have had a jolly good time..!

As has become something of a tradition with Green Gym, the last session of the year was held at Shide Chalk Pit. This year things were a little different as...instead of having a party in the pit, we had a normal session, followed by an early finish and Christmas meal at the IoW College. Needles to say, we did manage to squeeze in a regular tea break - shown in the photo above..! Our task was to cut back the undergrowth and coppice the shrubs along the northern lower edge and dispose of the arisings on a roaring bonfire. The weather is still very mild for this time of year and it was dry underfoot thanks to the nature of the chalk. This is a beautifully tranquil area right on the edge of Newport and it is always a pleasure to work there.

A photograph of interest (thanks Alison!)

Remember, back in the summer, when we were working down at Pig Leg Lane in Ryde...the "table" we used for tea break..? I think we would need wellington boots or even thigh waders to be doing the same now...😀

So, another busy year of GG sessions draws to a close. All that remains for me to do is to wish everyone a .....

I hope you all have a wonderful time over the holidays. The first session of 2019 is at Bouldner Forest on the 2nd January so why not come along and try to burn off all those extra pounds you gained over Christmas and New Year...🎄

Wed 5th Dec 2018 - Munsley Bog, Godshill. GG # 764.

Terry's Photographs.

Where were we this week?....LOOK...^

Here we go at the start of another busy session.

Those with log burning stoves were not disappointed..!

Ah yes... there is always some raking to be done at this time of year.

Time for tea...and mince pies.

Merlin looks on in anticipation.

A good turnout.

What an improvement..!

Not quite taken from the same view point....

but it does give a good idea of "before & after".

As we start the run up to the Festive Season, you can always guarantee that GG will have a session over at Munsly Bog...it has become part of our tradition. Although it was a rather damp, overcast day, it was a dry start and still unseasonably warm as we all made our way across the board-walk. It always amazes us just how much things can grow in just one season - particularly here where it is moist all the year around. The brief was simple, just cut everything down to around two foot high (so the stumps can be treated later) pile it to the sides and... rake up as much as you can. Terry's great photographs show exactly what we were doing far better than me trying to put it into words. Come tea break it was mince pies all round  (thank you to Vivian & Tony for collecting them from the bakery) which made a very welcome interlude from our labours. Perhaps the weather gods were with us this week as it started to bucket down with rain just after the session had drawn to a close.

Please don't forget that next Wednesday will be the last GG session of 2018 - to be held at Shide Chalk Pit. This will be followed by the Christmas dinner up at the Technical College.

Wed 28th Nov 2018 - All Saints' Church, Freshwater. GG # 763.

Terry's Photographs.

"Mission control central" (AKA...the tool shed!)

Yes, there were a LOT of leaves...

...that needed bagging up before being dragged...

...back to the bonfire.

Working on the footpath that runs adjacent.

Coppicing some of the many yew trees.

"See.. I told you...there was a pathway under all those leaves..!"

Clouded Agaric fungi 

(Wikipedia advise that it is supposedly edible but 'generally considered better to be avoided'!).

It is a good job that Team GG members pay little attention to weather predictions... with heavy rain and severe gales forecasted for Wednesday, they could have all been expected to stayed at home...! Not our intrepid team, they all turned out to give All Saints' churchyard a winter makeover. As can been see from the photographs above, the jobs were both numerous and far reaching and certainly kept everyone busy. Come tea break it was nice to get in, under cover, enjoying the excellent hot drinks and home made cakes. (Hope our wet clothing didn't drip too much on the church floor!) Then it was back out into the inclement weather to get the job finished. Going by the "after" photos above, everyone should be proud of their achievements, performed in less than ideal conditions.

A message from Carole (originally sent to Mark!).

Hi Mark Peter and Vida, Jill (churchwarden) texted me last night to thank everyone at GG again and please add my grateful thanks to that. It was a tremendous session, an amazing bonfire, and fabulous cakes. So kind of everyone to give their time up for the churchyard. With love, Carole  

Many thanks to Terry for the photographs and to the "church ladies" for the excellent cake and refreshments..!

Wed 21st Nov 2018 - One Horse Field, Totland. GG # 762.

Terry's Photographs.

The short walk from the car park to the work site.

And today, we were working at...(see above!)

Even when it is cold...we are a happy bunch..!

That is one HUGE area to rake over.

Today's Instructions.

Rake all the cuttings into long lines or piles....

...then bag it up...

...before dragging it to the composting area...

and then...finally....tip it all out. 

Repeat the above many, MANY, times...!

Our "friendly Ranger" tackling some of

the bigger growth.

Having had torrential freezing rain, earlier in the day, we were pleased to see that the session started in the dry. The instructions were simple " rake it...bag it and dump it on the composting pile!" One Horse Field is a huge area and had been mechanically cut some time ago - so everything was compacted down and wet from the overnight rain. Who said our task was going to be simple..??? The good thing about it was that there was plenty of work to keep us warm on this rather chilly day. Why do we go to the bother of doing it.... to stop the cuttings rotting down and composting the area. If it is left like that the grass and weeds will grow first and smother out the wild flowers that we want to encourage next summer. In spite of the large area, we did manage to make a difference so hopefully One Horse Field will become a lovely meadow again next year.

Many thanks to Terry for taking the photographs this week.