Wednesday 26th November 2025 - Flowers Brook, Ventnor GG #1058

 Terry's photos

The cascade from below before.....

and after.....

and from above....

This week we returned to possibly our favourite site – Flowers Brook in Ventnor.  We have been visiting this site for many years and helping the Ventnor Enhancement Fund volunteers.  Today we had the most beautiful weather with a calm sea.   As you can see from the photos, there has been a considerable amount of work improving the path that runs above the brook.  The original coastal path has fallen away, the remains of which are closed, so the path now continues on a bridge over the brook and along the new path which then joins up with the steps up the cliff.

We were asked to clear brambles at the bottom of the cascade and further along the path.  The greenery along the brook was also tidied up.  The cascade itself is dry at the moment as any water in the pool is being diverted down the side and under the cascade.  A few of our team worked at the top and cleared away the encroaching plants.  The water in the pool was then encouraged to fall over the lip in the correct place. 

A few of us were fortunate enough to spot an eel in the brook.

Thank you to Terry for the photos.

Wednesday 19th November 2025 - One Horse Field, Totland GG #1057

 Terry's photos

Today was the first really cold session of this winter!  Hats, gloves and layers were definitely the order of the day to help us cope with the initial rain and the nippy wind….

We were assisting the Gift to Nature rangers with their management of this lovely site.  They were using their ‘flailbot’ to cut the grass along the western edge of the site.  To reduce the nutrients going back into the soil we were tasked with raking up this cut material which was then stacked it into hibernacula (Latin for ‘winter quarters’).  As the morning wore on, the rain ceased as we gradually worked eastwards.

Thank you to Terry for the photos.

Wednesday 12th November 2025 - The Duver, St Helens GG #1056

 Terry's photos

Mark's photos

A trip back to East Wight today and a beautiful area.  We were re-visiting the Duver and the beach at St Helens to undertake a litter pick on behalf of the Marine Conservation Society.  As usual, we started off on the Duver where, unfortunately, a fair amount of rubbish was the remains of fireworks and sparklers.  After tea break we worked along the beach. Despite the changeable weather forecasts, it was a beautiful day with fresh breezes. 

Brighstone Landscaping pick up our bags of rubbish and estimated we collected 75kg on this occasion.  The Baywatch Café funded this session.

Thank you to Terry and Marks for the photos.

 

Wednesday 5th November 2025 - Turvills Field, Totland GG #1055

Mark's photos

The raked windrows of grass and bramble

The pile of cut willow

We were in West Wight today – Turvills Field, Totland, helping Gift to Nature Rangers with their management of this site.  The grass had been cut so the team set to work raking it up and creating habitat piles under the trees.  Removing the cut grass prevents the nutrients leaching into the soil, thereby encouraging wildflowers which flourish on poor soils.  While we were there the boundary hedge (on the southern side) was cut back as it was encroaching onto the field.  This material was also piled under the trees.

In the middle of the site there is a stand of willow.  Gift to Nature are going to run a wreath making workshop shortly so a small team was tasked with cutting all the willow to the ground and stacking it.  This will be removed from the site and kept in a dark, damp place until required. 

This lovely site is well worth a visit during the summer months when wildflowers are showing, particularly Southern Marsh Orchids.

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Mark discovered this dedication plaque.  The BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) was the instigator of Green Gyms nationally (now called TCV - The Conservation Volunteers).  

Green Gym - Outdoor Exercise That Makes A Difference With TCV

and where we are listed:

Green Gyms | The Conservation Volunteers

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Thanks to Mark for the photos and the information about TCV and to Bob for his kind donation of biscuits at breaktime.