As left by the contractors.
Above and below - tree fungi.
(Top is "King Alfred's Cakes" below is Shelf Fungi.)
Tidying-up the bits the contractors couldn't deal with.
A much appreciated tea break..!
Rather ominous rain clouds.
Starting to pile up our cuttings.
Looking much better.
One GGmer takes a rest.
Logs for the fire?
It is unusual for GG to work up on Brading Down so early in the year - and today we found out why.... it is bloody cold..! We soon filled up the designated car park so the late comers had to park a bit further down the hill but, we eventually managed to get started on the tasks in hand. The areas designated as "scenic car parks" were a bit of a misnomer due to large areas of undergrowth blocking the views..! Prior to our visit, the majority of the undergrowth had been mechanically flailed which had left regions under the trees requiring our attention. With loppers and bow saws in hand, we were soon tackling the brambles and shrubs - the cuttings being neatly piled across the site. To make this area even more accessible to the public, some of the team tackled the over grown areas along the footpaths leading down to the Adgestone road.
As mentioned above it was a cold, strong wind blowing across the Downs and some people were made aware of what the term "wind chill factor" really means...! Most of the session was dry but there were a few sharp showers, one of which had hail in it. A quick glance at the photographs above will confirm that it was definitely a "three layer with wooly hat" sort of session.
Many thanks to Terry for taking the photographs this week.
If you are wondering what is going on up on Brading Down, then look at the following press release from G2N. Nice to know that GG is playing a part in the Big Plan!
The Island 2000 Trust will be delivering a new project worth over £25,000 after securing a £20,000 grant from Postcode Local Trust, a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
The project is focused on the Gift to Nature reserve at Brading Down, one of the Island’s most iconic viewpoints and is intended to encourage more people onto the Downs and learn more about this wonderful place.
Visitors to Brading Down in 2018 will notice big improvements, with better surfacing on the car parks, a new picnic area, new seats and more signs giving information about the remarkable archaeology and heritage of the area. Work has already started to improve the panoramic views of the east Wight, and is expected to continue throughout the summer.
Island 2000 CEO Graham Biss said:
“We have thirty sites across the Isle of Wight and Brading Down already is one of the best-loved sites managed by Gift to Nature, but we want more visitors to the Island and Islanders to enjoy this special place.“As well as being a great place for a picnic it’s got an extraordinary story to tell – did you realise that the Down is home to Roman and Iron Age field systems?”
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