The 1000th Edition of the Green Gym Blog.

  

Sometime during 2006, Mark and myself started talking about trying to publish details of the Green Gym sessions on the, then new, digital media. With Facebook & Twitter still in their infancy, the only easily available platform was something called “Blogger” so it was decided that I should investigate the possibility of using it to produce a weekly digital newsletter for Green Gym. Those of you who know me will realise just how difficult an undertaking this might prove to be as I am  probably the least computer literate member of the group,,,! After many, many, failed attempts Green Gym blog number 1 was finally published under the rather grand title of……

Tuesday 14 November 2006

"FROM LITTLE ACORNS...."

The plan was for members to contribute articles, that may be of interest to others, for publication. To a certain degree this did work out (who remembers Carrie’s wonderful Nature Natters?) but it was often left to myself to try and make something as mundane as Pesky Plant Pulling sound interesting…!

Now, some eighteen years later we have reached issue number 1,000 - so it appears that the little acorn did finally grow into that mighty oak. Over the last 18 years the blog has had almost three quarters of a MILLION hits, far more than I could have ever imagined when we started it..! Because of medical & personal reasons, I find that I can no longer get along to the Wednesday GG sessions but have continue to edit the blog. Having reached this milestone, I feel it is time to hand it over to someone who attends regularly and perhaps has the technical ability to publish it on multi media platforms thereby making it available to a wider audience. Anyone interested in taking on such a challenge should contact Mark.

I would like to thank Mark for his enthusiasm and support over the years along with  all those who have contributed to make it the success it has become. A particular mention goes to Alison and Terry, their editorial and photographs have allowed the blog to continue. Finally, a big thank you, the readers, for “tuning in” every week…… which has made my task worthwhile.

In closing, I would like to borrow a line from that famous comedian, Ronnie Barker…..

“It’s goodnight from me and it’s goodnight from him” (him being Gizmo 😃).

Wed 25th Sept 2024 - Old School Meadow, Gurnard. GG # 1000..!

 Martin's Photographs.

 

Mark's Photographs.

Mark's Editorial.

The expected rain for our session at Old School Meadow didn't materialise, it allowed the session, our 1000th, to be very productive. Thirteen of us joined the site's volunteers to cut back hedge and scrub vegetation and move already cut materials to be chipped, then barrow this back for composting. Plenty of things elsewhere to keep us busy, digging and levelling the rutted site where possible. 

The pond was also worked on clearing around one side to let light in and allow for growth next year.

Thanks to Jane Popov for some delicious flapjacks and for all of her work on a site which we've worked on so many times with Martin in the past. Cockleton Lane was certainly the place to be and marked another milestone in Isle of Wight Green Gym's history! Well done all of you.

Many Thanks to Martin and Mark for their contributions.

Wed 18th Sept 2024 - Merstone Station. GG # 999.

 Terry's Photographs.

Alison's Editorial.

This week we were at Merstone Station helping Gift to Nature manage the site. The grass had been cut and surprise, surprise, we were asked to rake it up. The cut material was piled into 3 hibernacula within the site - one in the north west corner and two behind the platform. The community orchard had clearly been very productive and there are still plenty of crab apples available. We had started off the session with quite a chilly breeze, but once we got working the breeze dropped and the morning became very warm - long may it last!

Many thanks to Alison for the editorial and Terry for the photographs.

Wed 11th Sept 2024 - Barncourt Farm, Wroxall. GG # 998.

 Terry's Photographs.

The latest GG 'must-have' piece of kit, stool/backpack/cool bag 

combined (available from Argos, other retailers are available)

Alison's Editorial.

This week we were in Wroxall, based at Barn Court Farm.  We walked, via the footpaths, through to the land adjacent to the caravan park where there are a lot of self-seeded trees.  Amongst the trees are stands of our old favourite, Himalayan Balsam.  These areas were cut earlier in the season and as a result we had lots of tiny plants to pull.  It was hard work for our backs, but those with beautiful blue stool/backpack combos had comfy seats on which to rest.....

Many thanks to Alison for the words and Terry for the photographs.

Wed 4th Sept 2024 - St Olave's Church, Gatcome. GG # 997.

 Terry's Photographs.

A slow worm.

Sir Charles Seeley, a later owner of Gatcombe House and much of the Island, commissioned the large Memorial in the nave to his son Capt. Charles Grant Seeley. The sculpture is by Thomas Brock who sculpted the Memorial outside Buckingham Palace. This was his last commission and was unveiled in 1922 by Oueen Victoria's daughter HRH Princess Beatrice, Governor of The lsle of Wight.

The church has a large and very special East window and lancet windows in the Sanctuary, containing work by William Morris and the Pre Raphaelite artists.

Alison's Editorial.

This week we were at St Olave's Church, Gatcombe.  Our main task was to rake up all the cut grass in the graveyard.  This was then taken down to a compost area at the bottom of the site.  We worked primarily in the older part of the graveyard - some of the ancient tombstones were deciphered which led to some interesting conversations!  A small group of GG-ers also worked in the newer part of the graveyard clearing back brambles and undergrowth.

Towards the end of the session Revd Steve Sutcliffe joined us and kindly showed us the church.  It was dedicated in 1292 and has a considerable history - see link -

St Olaves Home Page

Revd Sutcliffe also told us about Lucy Lightfoot - see link - Lucy Lightfoot - Wikipedia

Many thanks to Alison for the editorial, Terry for the photographs and Sue for the historical notes.