Wednesday 14th May 2025 - Newclose County Cricket Ground, Newport GG #1030

 Terry's photos

Editorial will be added shortly.

Wednesday 7th May 2025 - West Wight Sports Centre, Freshwater GG #1029

 Terry's photos

This week we returned to one of our old favourites – West Wight Sports Centre – for the annual tidy up of the beds and borders.  There is a significant amount of planting around the Sports Centre, particularly at the front, all of which needs timely attention.  We set to with loppers, secateurs, trowels, forks, brooms and barrows.  By the end of the session, as can be seen in Terry’s photos, a considerable amount of tidying up had been achieved.

Thank you to WWSC for the refreshments and to Terry for the photos.

AGM 2025 - after next week's session at Newclose Cricket Ground, the GG AGM will be held at PC's Cafe, Watergate Road - all welcome.

Wednesday 30th April 2025 - Haseley Manor, Arreton GG #1028

 Terry's photos

This week we were at a slightly unusual venue for this time of year – Haseley Manor.  We were asked to continue with willow removal along the edges of the pools (started in February).  The small willows are now coming into leaf and therefore much easier to see.  The majority were pulled up complete with their roots.  Another task was the clearance of the winter debris from along the wire fence next to the boardwalk.  This builds up during the winter floods and prevents the free flow of water onto the site.  A few of the water channels were also cleared and debris removed.

We also removed tree guards from trees on the site, many of which have been in situ for a long time.  It is hoped that some of the tree guards can be recycled.  It made a pleasant change to be on this site in good weather!

Thank you to Terry for the photos.

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.