Wed 1st Mar 2017 - Pig Leg Lane, Ryde. GG # 674.

Terry's Photographs.

Let's get the fire underway.

Just one of the many blackthorn thickets.

Work at the pond continues...

Tea break.

"Did you hear the one about…."

The ever vigilant litter pickers.

This is what you call a fire!

Some of the areas that we cleared.

A rather strange piece of masonry found in the woods.

One of the group thought it resembled a pig's head (snout to the right).

Perhaps another part of the pig? (Pig Leg Lane)

This venue seems to be coming very popular on our schedule and long may be be so (this is our THIRD visit here in 2017!) There is just so much to do that, even if we were to visit there every session for a whole year, I doubt that we would be finished. We were tasked to continue the work on chopping back the copious amounts of blackthorn that grows in thick clumps across the site. Once cut, it is dragged to the bonfire and soon disappears in a puff of smoke. The longer the work goes on then we cut further away from the fire and it means increased transit time for dragging the arisings away - never easy with blackthorn! During the session we had several low level flybys from the electric company's helicopter that we assume was inspecting the power lines that run through adjacent to the railway line and brook. We even had an aerial display at tea break, this time thanks to a couple of red squirrels that were leaping around in the trees - so wonderful to watch them perform. The overcast sky gave us a light sprinkling of rain for the majority of the session, unfortunately this turned somewhat heavier towards the end.

Want to know more about Pig Leg Lane??? Have a look at the County Press - March 3rd - Page 32 for details of a talk being given next Wednesday @ 19:00, the venue is at All Saints' Hall, Ryde. See CP for more details plus a nice photograph of GGmers building pathways at PLL last summer.

Many thanks to Terry for taking the photographs this week.

Fri 24th Feb 2017 - Update on Flowers Brook, Ventnor.

Remember all those hundreds of crocus bulbs we planted at Flowers Brook last year? Our efforts were not wasted, see the following message and photographs from Mark. Might well be worth a visit if you are out that way…….

Hi Guys,

I emailed Joan this last week to see how the crocuses which we planted at Flowers Brook were fairing.  I thought you might be interested to see they are up and doing well. Sorry I couldn't recall who  was with us on the day so have sent it around to everyone.

For your info we planted these corms last year for the  Rotary's Purple for Polio  

best wishes

Mark

Mark Russell

Hi Mark

This also shows the waterfall  which your group cleared to the top on the last visit.

Birds frequently use it now they can see light at the top.

Feel free to use any I send you as you wish.

Joan.

Wed 22nd Feb 2017 - Bouldnor Viewing Point, Yarmouth. GG # 673.

Alison's Photographs.

Inspecting the (lack of) sea-view from the bench.

Just a few of the logs that we cut up.

(the GGmers with log burners went home very happy!)

Clearing the path edges.

Yes, we DID cut all that down.

Making habitat piles.

Look at the size of the "saplings"

(as described by the County Press - see text)

Bet you can't guess what these two are 

peering at?

Well, it was these…something called Vertipools.

Want to know more, then click the link.

Vertipools at Bouldner on the Isle of Wight. - YouTube

Mark's Photographs.

Although we have worked at this venue previously, it was a l-o-n-g time ago (Wed 11th July 2007 - Bouldner Viewpoint). Having all met up in the car park, it was immediately apparent what the task would be……the sign says Bouldnor View Point but the view was almost totally obstructed by undergrowth and overgrown shrubs. The short article in last week's County Press (page 5) described the shrubs as "saplings" but many of them were 8" to 10" in diameter so perhaps their description was something of an understatement? The council ranger had been working here to cut down some of the larger examples so it was down to us to trim these back and transport the logs up the rather steep pathway to the truck in the car park. All the trimmings were neatly piled up into habitat piles which should give shelter to birds and wildlife. Further work was undertaken to trim back anything overhanging the pathways and along the revetment that leads to Yarmouth Town. Needless to say, a comprehensive litter pick was undertaken and a surprising amount was collected from the bushes. The session was well attended and although the sky was overcast, it remained dry but a little breezy (storm Doris is due to hit us tonight!). A big well done to everyone who worked so hard to re-establish the wonderful view of the sea and coastline. Let's hope that it won't be another 10 years before we are back there again..!

Many thanks to Alison and Mark for taking the photographs this week.

Mark has received the following e-mail from the Shalfleet Parish Council, who sponsored this session.

Thank you very much for arranging with Mark Russell for Green Gym to come to Bouldnor Viewpoint.

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO CAME AND WORKED VERY HARD TO RE-ESTABLISH THE VIEW! 

SHALFLEET PARISH COUNCIL ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR THIS (AS AM SURE ARE LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE VIEWPOINT) - MUCH APPRECIATED.

I have seen the photographs on your blog and been to the Viewpoint and it is amazing how much you have cleared and tidied - well done.

Best wishes.

Sally M Woods (Mrs)
Clerk to Shalfleet Parish Council

News flash.  Did you happen to look at the pages viewed counter at the top of the blog page - we have finally broken the 500,000 barrier…WOOOHOOOO..!

Wed 15th Feb 2017 - Quarr Abbey, Binstead. GG # 672.

Terry's Photographs.

The long trek from the car park to the work site.

The next-door neighbours were a little sheepish!

"And today we will be working on…"

"cutting back the undergrowth…"

"and cleaning out the ditches"

(Merlin, the dog, keeps an eye on his owner)

A man on a mission.

It wouldn't be a REAL GG session without a fire.

All pull together..!

Looking clearer.

Did we cut all that..???

The ditch has running water once again.

Although the session started off dry, it wasn't long before the drizzle started which, after a short time, turned to more persistent rain. The brief was to continue the work carried out on our recent visits to this venue - clearing undergrowth along the NW boundary and clearing out the drainage ditches. Our visits to Quarr always seem to be particularly well attended and this session followed that trend.

Many thanks to terry for the photographs this week.

The latest GG member - Gizmo, an eight week old Havaton (Google it..!). Seems rather relaxed about it all! Thanks for the photograph Alison.