Wed 11th Dec 2019 - Munsley Bog, Godshill. GG # 814.

Bob's Photographs.

Lots and lots to rake up.

Guess what..? Munsly Bog is BOGGY...!

Tea break.

Mark's Photographs.

See....I told you we had HAIL...! (read below)

And so to the final GG session of 2019, held at Munsley Bog, Godshill. On the way there I had the car window wipers on full speed which was a good indication of what the weather was going to be like - WET 💦. Although it didn't rain ALL the time, the "showers" were torrential and at one point we even had hail...! The job today was simple enough, just rake up all the previously cut material and pile it on top of the composting areas around the edge of the bog - easy peasy. The area to the north of the board-walk was pretty much cleared by the end of the session and then it was party time. A quick trip around the corner to the Griffin pub and lots of wonderful food (and a welcome warm-up too...!) for the Green Gym Christmas meal.

Many thanks to Mark for sending in his photographs.

All that is left for me to do is to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas plus a BIG Thank You to everyone who has attended during 2019 and we look forward to seeing you next year.

Gizmo wanted me to post this.....

Next Wednesday will be a walk with Phil, starting from Shide at 10:00 am. The first GG session of 2020 will be on the 8th January - at Quarr Abbey. Enjoy the break ....!

Wed 4th Dec 2019 - Shide Quarry, Newport. GG # 813.

Bob's Photographs.

A rather frosty arrival.

With no wind..the smoke lingered.

Now...that's what you call a FIRE...!

Merlin guarding the supplies.

Enjoying tea and mince pies.

Traditionally, Green Gym's last session of each year was held at Shide Chalk Quarry. This year things have turned out a little differently but we still managed to fit in a work session there before next week's final one. We have worked here countless times in the past, playing our part to try and clear the undergrowth and brush that springs up every year. Our arrival was greeted by a hard ground frost which had covered the grass in white, giving it a very festive look. The first priority was to get a fire going on the site of a previous one but it was so calm that the smoke just drifted around in layers (see photos above). It took a while to establish a good fire but, once it got going, we soon managed to burn up the backlog of cut brush that everyone was working so hard to clear. Come tea break, a cup of hot drink and a mince pie was exactly what was needed. This was a very well attended session and a terrific amount of work was achieved in just a few hours.

Next week will be the final session of 2019 - to be held at Munsley Bog, Godshill.  Please remember that the Christmas Dinner will be held at The Griffin, Godshill after all the work is done...!