Wednesday 5th February 2025 - Munsley Bog GG #1016

 Terry's photos

This week we were at a favourite winter site – Munsley Bog.  This is managed by Gift to Nature who have, over the last year or so, done a lot of work on this interesting site.  The willow has been eradicated and the site opened out.  It is now a much boggier site, doing its job and living up to its name.  Three of the team sank into boggy ground unintentionally! 

We were raking and collecting the cut bracken and grasses and piling them onto a dead hedge created along the western boundary.  Jon, the Ranger, was working within the trees and the felled wood formed the base of the dead hedge.  This site is worth visiting during the summer months to see the plant and insect life and the lizards basking on the boardwalk.

See link - Munsley Bog - Gift To Nature

Thanks to Terry for the photos.

Wednesday 29th January 2025 - All Saints Church, Freshwater GG #1015

 Terry's photos

A large earthworm compared with a size 7 welly

The West Wight beckoned us again this week!  We were at All Saints Church in Freshwater working in the grounds.  As can be seen from Terry’s photos the spring bulbs are just beginning to show.  In a few weeks’ time there will be a lovely display.  We were last here in April 2023 clearing bramble and today we re-visited this area.  We cut back the regrowth and then worked on the area behind it.  A huge amount was cut back and then moved to the bonfire area.

Thanks to the ladies of the church for looking after us with refreshments at our tea break – this may account for todays’ high turnout!

For further information on this lovely church see link -

Freshwater - All Saints - A Church Near You

Thanks to Terry for the photos.

 

Wednesday 22nd January 2025 - Turvills Field, Totland GG #1014

 Terry's photos

Hazel Catkins

It was back to the West Wight this week and another field!  Turvills Field this time – a small field adjacent to Madeira Road in Totland.  Gift to Nature, who manage this site, had already made a visit and cut the grass for us.  Our job was to rake the cut material and pile it up within the boundary trees.  Overhanging branches were also cut back.

West Wight beckons us again next week!

Thanks to Terry for the photos.

Wednesday 15th January 2025 - Medina Arboretum GG #1013

 Terry's photos

Mark's photos

Buzz Lightyear kept an eye on the activities!

A new venue is always popular and we had a good turnout on a lovely dry mild morning.  We were helping Tony, the IWC Tree Officer with the management of the two ponds within Medina Arboretum.  Sadly, the two ponds have been neglected for quite some time.  The upper pond feeds into the lower which is infested with parrot feather, an invasive non-native water plant. 

The group split into two so that the group working in the lower pond would not contaminate the upper with the parrot feather.  The main tasks were to remove the parrot feather and undergrowth growing round the ponds to enable more light into the area.  A few hardy souls donned waders and braved the mud to collect litter and help remove fallen trees and branches in the water.  All the removed material was laid in a dead hedge within trees on the edge of the site.  A litter pick was also undertaken and several sacks filled.  Predictably, a shopping trolley was part of the haul and, strangely, a scaffold pole!

Next week it is expected we shall return to Totland – please keep an eye on your emails for the confirmation.

Thank you to Terry and Mark for the photos.