Wed 11th July 2007 - Bouldner Viewpoint

This week we were helping the Rangers with a few tasks at the Bouldnor Viewpoint picnic site - and again the sun shone on the rightous Green Gymers..! The pathway and steps leading down to the sea frontage badly needed cutting back as they had not been done for some time. The picnic areas with tables fronting the sea also needed attention to clear them of growth - they also had become very overgrown. Once the pathways and steps were cleared.....guess what.....limestones chippings were to be put down - but only ONE ton this time..!

Thanks to Carrie for the editorial and the excellent "before and after" phots shown above.

Wed 27th June 2007 - Love Lane Primary School.

This week we were at Love Lane Primary School in Cowes where the weather was sunny with only short, light, shower. There were a couple of jobs to be tackled - cutting "hidey" holes in a large patch of hebe so the children can enjoy playing in it and the larger task of working on a raised wooded area to the rear of the playing field. This area contains lots of our native trees (such as hazel) in which a sort of outdoor classroom was constructed by flattening the centre and using large logs to make seats. At the entrance to this area, three steps were cut in the slope to allow easier and safer access. The school was delighted with the work completed and kindly provided the workforce with tea and coffee - some even stayed for lunch....!

The photographs were from Hilary and the editorial submitted by Carrie. I HOPE that I have managed to get the right pictures with the text - please let me know if it is wrong.....! Bob the Blog.

Wed 6th June 2007 - East Cowes.

Well, at least the weather was considerably better than last week - extra prayers from Ray obviously!. We initially prepared the ground for the planting of this drought tolerant garden some three weeks ago and apparently some of the rocks that we dug out mysteriously disappeared before they could be collected...! This week we turned over and raked the ground before putting down the membrane - then a break for a well earned cup of tea. Simon from the Ventnor Botanical Gardens was on hand with all the plants that we needed and the plan hidden in his head. All went well with about 25 of us beavering away at putting all the plants in then covering the area with wood chip - the task finally being completed around 1:30 p.m.

Photographs and text from Carrie........many thanks...!

Wed 30th May 2007 - Brading Down.

A hardy few turned up for ragwort pulling on Brading Down this week. Now either Ray is on holiday or he hasn't been keeping up with his prayers to the sun god - as it sure was WET....! After a short discussion we decided to give it a go (see the picture above) but the weather steadily worsened with strong winds and driving rain. We managed about an hour and a half (dedication in the extreme - blog writer's note...!) but by then the weather was so atrocious that we decided to call it a day. That must be the first time in living memory that we "abandoned ship" - let's hope for better weather next week down at East Cowes.

Thanks to Carrie (once again) for the picture and report.