Wednesday 30th July 2025 - Millennium Green, Ryde GG #1041

 Terry's photos

This week we re-visited Millennium Green in Ryde to continue the work started two weeks ago, when we worked on improving the drainage of the site.    We were to complete digging and clearing the channels for the culverts.  Ton bags of limestone chippings had been delivered and put at strategic points along the pathway, which had been affected by the drainage work.  This was then spread along the pathways.  It was subsequently compressed by a wacker plate.

Thank you to Rose (PLMG Trustee) for the biscuits and Terry for the photos.

Wednesday 23rd July 2025 - Brading Down GG #1040

 Terry's photos

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus)

Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)

Wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana)

We returned this week to a perennial favourite – Brading Down.  We were assisting Gift to Nature with removal of the fence between the Down and the car parking areas.  The top two strands of barbed wire were left in place for removal at a later stage.  The GG team split into small groups and worked along the fence line removing staples holding the wire stock fencing to the fence posts.  Plants growing up and through the fence were cut back, the fence sections cut into two for easier management and the wire rolled up.  Gift to Nature have received funding to replace the whole fence which will take place over the forthcoming weeks.

Those of the team not involved in fence removal picked up ragwort forks and worked on clearing an area of ragwort.  Due to the dry conditions we have had this year, the ragwort plants were not as robust as in previous years.

At break time we all enjoyed an ice cream from the van – thanks to the GG coffers.

Himalayan Balsam update – for those who dislike pulling HB there may be a solution to the problem – see link

Rust fungus used to tackle invasive Himalayan balsam in Yorkshire trial - BBC News

Thank you to Terry for the photos.

Wednesday 16th July 2025 - Play Lane Millennium Green, Ryde GG #1039

 

Some of the surviving whips along the boundary

The 'mother' oak

A stand of rosebay willowherb in the wildflower meadow

Mark's photos

The spring and wet conditions during a drought!

The end result

This week we had a respite from pulling Himalayan Balsam!  We were at Play Lane Millennium Green in Ryde, first visited by Green Gym in 2008.  This time we were working on the streams that run through the site.  Previously, we had put a small bridge over a stream running through the site near the Play Lane entrance.  This stream has now dried up and the bridge removed.  We were asked to fill in the resulting dip in the path with limestone chippings.  Further into the site at the top end of the wildflower meadow the ground is very wet (even after all our recent dry weather!).  The team armed themselves with spades and mattocks and deep channels were dug so that culverts directing the water could be laid.  This was tough going as the ground was clay and previously laid chippings had to be dug through. 

In February 2023 GG planted whips along the boundary between the Green and the bridleway at the Play Lane end of the site - see link below.   Today these whips were checked over and any weeds encroaching or smothering the young trees was removed.

Isle of Wight Green Gym - Official Blog.: Wed 8th Feb 2023 - Millennium Green, Ryde. GG # 920.

Thank you to Mark for the photos.

Wednesday 9th July 2025 - Merstone Stream, Blackwater GG #1038

 Terry's photos

Dryad's saddle fungus (polyporus squamosus)

We returned this week to the Merstone Stream in Blackwater.  We found a lot of Himalayan Balsam despite having had three sessions in this vicinity over recent weeks.  The HB is now a lot taller and a large proportion of it is now in flower – making it more visible.  Unfortunately, a lot of the HB is now in areas that are difficult to access.  The nettles and brambles are also much taller, making the steep banks of the stream harder to see.  As on our last visit a couple of the team donned waders and worked from the stream itself.  We may well have to have a ‘mopping up’ session in a few weeks’ time.

Thank you to Terry for the photos.