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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.
People of all ages
are encouraged and welcomed, please do contact the number below before
coming however.
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 landowner's requirements and seasonal variations. 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. Most important!
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
(2009/10) |
Location |
Task
and other details |
OS Grid
Ref |
link |
| 2nd
December |
Carisbrooke
Old Mill Pond, behind the Southern Water pumping station,
Carisbrooke High Street. |
The pond’s value to
wildlife has been improved
no-end in recent years. Today’s
tasks
will help to enhance the area further,
fourteen months on from our last session here, and include fruit tree
planting,
fence removal and meadow work. Bus 7, 11 |
SZ487,882 |
link
to streetmap.co.uk |
| 9th December |
Carisbrooke C.E. Primary
School, Wellington road, Newport |
Please park in Wellington Road. This school has asked for our help in their
pond area with some clearing work with the pond itself and with cutting
back of
some of the trees to open up the site. No
dogs please. Bus 38, 11, 7
WC |
SZ489,884 |
LINK
TO STREETMAP.CO.UK |
| 16th
December |
Shide Quarry, Pan Lane,
Shide, Newport |
I always feel that
Christmas has arrived when we
return to the chalk pit in Shide. Our
last session of the year, our 50th, will find us cutting
back and
burning invasive scrub. Bus 2,3,38. |
SZ504,880 |
link
to streetmap.co.uk |
|
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MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
|
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| 6th
January |
Munsley Bog, May Close,
Godshill |
If you’ve recovered
after the festivities let’s
finish the work we started last year; this involves the woven dead
hedge and
clearance of some more vegetation in the bog. Please
note that parking will be in the
Dubbers cul-de-sac, the main road or May Close itself.
Bus 2, 3 WC |
SZ524,823 |
Link
to Streetmap.co.uk |
| 13th
January |
Medina Valley
Centre, Dodnor Lane,
Newport. |
A location we
haven’t worked at for a while,
today we shall working in their grounds to control some bramble and
some work
in their plantation. (No bricks! –
{old
joke}) Bus 1 WC |
SZ503,909 |
Link
to Streetmap.co.uk |
| 20th January |
Mill
Copse, The Causeway, Yarmouth |
Time
for action again
at Mill Copse! Some coppicing work
awaits us. The car park in Yarmouth or
roadside
parking in Thorley Road
is possible, then walk to site long the Causeway. Bus
7, 11 |
SZ357,890 |
Link
to Streetmap.co.uk |
| 27th January |
Fort Victoria,
Norton, Yarmouth |
Coppicing
and some
Sycamore control will be the order of the day here.
This country park is a long time favourite of
the group, but wrap up warm its likely to be nippy!
Bus 7, 11 WC |
SZ339,897 |
Link
to Streetmap.co.uk |
| 3rd February |
Dickson’s Copse,
Newport – Cowes cycle track off
Stag Lane, Newport
|
PLEASE NOTE Stag Lane
is busy with large vehicles so parking
is either along the cycle track - we should be able to access this
– or in the Dodnor
Lane cycle
track parking area. The task will be
cutting back and coppicing in the woodland here. Bus
1. Good cycle access! |
SZ500,915 |
Link
to Streetmap.co.uk |
| 10th
February |
Mornington
Woods, Mornington Road, Cowes |
During this weeks
session the plan will be to plant some native trees to improve the
habitat. This woodland will
become a real haven for
wildlife in years to come. Bus 1 WC |
SZ489,964 |
link
to Streetmap.co.uk |
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PLEASE
RE-CHECK WEBPAGE NEAR EVENT |
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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
the 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 almost the first 2 years. So
four
years
ago the funding ran out and the group either would finish or become
independant.
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
continues to work across the Island and is one of the best and most fun
ways
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
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