Wednesday 23rd April 2025 - GG Tool Store, Newport GG #1027

 Terry's photos

A cowslip (Primula veris) found by the gate

This week was slightly different to our usual efforts in the countryside.  Due to bird nesting season there’s a hiccup in the work available for us, so a small group of GG-ers turned up at the GG Tool Store in Newport to check over our equipment. 

The van was cleared out and swept clean.  Loppers and shears had their blades sharpened, bowsaws had blades replaced and wheelbarrows were repainted with ‘GG’.  A small generator that had been donated to us was checked over and after quite a bit of effort, persuaded to start.  We had also had a donation of some slashers (quite some time ago) and these were checked over and their blades sharpened.  The charity bags recovered from the Jubilee Woodland last week were sorted out and the usable ones bagged up for future use.  All in all, it was a useful, productive session.

Thank you to Terry for the photos.

Wednesday 16th April 2025 - Moorgreen Road Jubilee Woodland GG #1026

 Terry's photos

Sacks of charity bags

Sacks of genuine rubbish!

This week we were in Cowes at a site we last visited in November 2022 – Moorgreen Road Jubilee Woodland.  The local allotment team manage this site, and we were asked to help them maintain this small woodland.  A large pile of woodchip had been delivered, and this was destined for the footpath.  A team got to work with shovels and wheelbarrows.  Part of the fencing at the back of the site was failing so several fence posts were put in for support and prevent it from falling onto the footpath.  There was also a tidy up of a few trees which had broken or overhanging branches.

A litter pick was also undertaken – unfortunately this was quite a task (see Terry’s photos).  Large quantities of charity bags had again been dumped on site and it was an effort to retrieve some of them.  An area at the back of the site away from the footpath has been used as a ‘social’ area and a large amount of litter was picked up along with broken glass. 

At the end of the session the woodland was looking refreshed and much tidier.  The weather stayed fine, but a cold wind kept all our coats on!

Thank you to Terry for the photos.

Wednesday 9th April 2025 - Newclose County Cricket Ground, Newport GG #1025

 Terry's photos

This week we returned to Newclose County Cricket Ground, but not for our usual summer task of pulling Himalayan Balsam.  This time we were asked to help the Cricket Club itself to refresh its outdoor space in time for their first event of the year.  On Saturday 12^th April they are holding a wedding fair (12 noon until 4pm).

There were two planters, one next to the marquee and one by the car park which needed clearing, bulking up with fresh compost and replanting.  The shrub border to the east of the club building was very overgrown with weeds and it was quite an effort to clear them.  The paved areas around the club building were weeded and given a good brush.  Bramble was cut back from the borders to the west of the building and areas covered with woodchip were also weeded. 

The weather was fabulous, and we were able to sit outside for our tea break – refreshments kindly supplied by the Cricket Club.

Thank you to Terry for the photos and to Newclose County Cricket Club for the refreshments.

Wednesday 2nd April 2025 - Lake Station, Lake GG #1024

 Mark's photos

Lake Cliff Gardens

A new site for us again this week as we worked for the first time at Lake Railway Station - we've worked at Sandown Station a few times but never before at Lake. This was for the 'Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership' who have groups from Broadlea Primary School involved in the various planters there at the entrance. In preparation for this year's groups we were asked to remove the old planters and give the various beds some attention. We hope the pupils enjoy planting them up.

In addition we litter picked Lake Cliff Gardens and the cliff pathway. The opportunity was seized by a couple of the group to let Island Line get them to the session! 

For further information on the IW Community Rail Partnership see link - http://www.isleofwightcrp.co.uk/

Thank you to Mark for the editorial and the photos.