|
|
|
The Isle of Wight Green Gym
is an independent community group which operates throughout the year at
venues across the Island.
We are one of almost 100 Green Gyms nationally, see BTCV's
website for more information. Each session starts at 10am and
lasts for around 3 hours (with a tea or coffee break in
the middle!) and participants are welcome to join the session midway
through if you think that the whole thing is too much.
If you are on holiday and feel like doing something
different, why not join us for a session? People of all ages
are encouraged and always welcome, we are sure that we can always find
you something to do! This is a picture of us working at
Brett's Meadow in Alverstone Garden Village.
 The way in
which we decide the venues depends on factors
such as landowners and seasons. The group is always keen to
hear your suggestions! Very occasionally it is necessary to
change the venue at the last minute, so please phone before
Wednesday to check that it is still happening at the location listed
below!
Booking is essential at all venues, this is for reasons
of health and safety (especially important in schools) to ensure we
bring enough tools, and (and the most important reason) we bring along
enough cups for the tea and coffee break! Another reason to phone
would be if the timetable below is not up to date. Please call
Colin
Withers on 01983 866459 for more information.
If you would prefer to email us then our address is
greengym@footprint-trust.co.uk
We were rewarded with a wonderful view here on top of
Nansen Hill in Upper Bonchurch.
Most sites are near public transport. For details of
Southern Vectis services, see www.islandbuses.info
For more information and pictures of past Green Gyms take a
look at our blog site. Click on this link GREEN GYM BLOG
Green gym is every wednesday from 10am to 1pm, see
below for dates and locations!
| Date (2009) |
Location |
Task
and other details |
OS Grid
Ref |
link |
| 3rd June |
|
Brighstone Primary School,
Brighstone.
|
Park in village car park, (behind The Three Bishops). |
It has been
four years,
(04/2005) since we visited this school, so to make up for lost time we
may be
here two weeks running! Well, that
isn’t
the real reason, actually it is so that we can make certain everything
is
completed in their new-look grounds. The jobs
could be building a
wall, made of logs! Laying a woodchip
pathway, some planting of an area for wild plants and various other
planting
elsewhere. Hopefully plenty to keep us
busy. Bus
7 WC |
SZ427,826 |
link
to Streetmap |
| 10th
June |
Ventnor
Botanic Gardens, Ventnor |
Because
we did so well last week at the school we have an alteration to some
timetables and are not returnng to Brighstone but are instead
working with our friends at Ventnor. This week helping
them clear, prepare and plant a bed. Bus 6 . WC |
SZ547769
|
Link
to Streetmap.co.uk |
| 17th
June |
The
Duver and Priory Bay, St Helens, Bembridge
Park in the National Trust car park |
This
is a return visit to The Duver, the only example of a fixed sand dune
system on the Island. Today we are assisting the National Trust
in beach cleaning the area, look out for the nationally scarce Sea
Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) which
has colonised the area. |
SZ636,892 |
Link
to map |
| 24th
June |
Rew Down,
park in the road
to Ventnor Golf Club, to be found at the Ventnor end of Newport Road,
Lowtherville. |
Always a
lovely location,
this week we are to build a style, remove some of the invasive
non-native
species, and improve our cardiovascular fitness. Believe
me; a few trips up and down the incline
on this reserve will soon get the blood pumping! Further
directions - once parked walk up the
hill towards the golf club, we are working on the chalk grassland to
your
left. Bus 3 |
SZ553,775 |
link
to map |
| 1st July |
Brading
Down,
park in the viewpoint car
park on the top of the downs. |
Another
stunning
location, and another one we have made a real difference at over the
years. Once again, the task will be to
remove some of the Common Ragwort Senecio
vulgaris. A poisonous weed which if
left unchecked would limit the ability to graze this downland. Please remember to wear clothing which covers
the arms and legs, and to wash hands before eating. Bus
10 |
SZ596,869 |
link
to map |
| 8th
July |
Cowes
County Primary School, Edinburgh Close, Mountbatten Ave,
Crossfield Ave,
Cowes |
I hope many
of you
will have enjoyed our session at this little school back in May. We really achieved alot.
I expect this time things may have re-grown
here and there, and there may be some further tasks which need our
attention. This school really looks
after us well though and we wish the very best to Catherine, the head
teacher,
in whatever she does in the future. WC
Bus 1 |
SZ491,958 |
Link
to Map |
| 15th July |
Brading Down, park in the
viewpoint car
park on the top of the downs. |
Back again
and
continuing to clear the Down of Ragwort.
See the 1st July for details. |
SZ596,869 |
link
to map |
| |
|
PLEASE
RE-CHECK WEBPAGE NEAR EVENT |
|
|
WC
= sites with toilets
Just
a selection of some
of the less camera shy Green Gym-ers during a task upon Brading
Down
This is all you need for
hours of fun at the IW Green Gym! (And all you need to
bring is yourself ... we supply the rest!)
The
BTCV Green Gym was set up in 2003 and back then was funded through
Healthy Living
Programme and EU Leader+, both of which were administered through the
Island of Wight Economic Partnership. This initial funding paid
for the van, tools and a leader for the first 2 years. So 3 years
ago the funding ran out....
Thanks to
the
dedication, knowledge and willingness of the volunteers even though
this funding ended, we continue. The management of the
Green
Gym has now passed over to the
volunteers. The group is 100% run by unpaid volunteers. The group
continues to 'do
good' across the Island and continues to be the best and most fun way
to
improve both your own health and that of the countryside.
If
you would like to know about the history of our Green Gym, please click here.
We are not responsible for the content of external websites
Footprint
Trust ~ The Riverside Centre ~
The Quay ~ Newport ~ Isle of Wight ~ PO30 2QR
Registered
Company Number 0458 7815.
Registered Charity Number 1106024
telephone
/ fax: 01983 822282
|
