WORKING PARTY REPORT AND PHOTOS: 8TH JUNE 2023

This week’s report is particularly celebratory – and comes from FOGG working party stalwart Phil Lee:

Last Thursday marked twelve months of our Thursday volunteering group. It’s hard to believe that we’ve had some presence in Glen Goyle almost every Thursday since. A big thank you to all that turn up, whether it’s most weeks, occasionally, and whether for one hour or two. It’s a super group of people.

Last Thursday was no exception, with four of us either weeding and generally ‘clearing up’ or watering. We also had a visit from Thomas, our volunteer from Switzerland, who joins us when he can, and has contributed much to get us where we are today. Over 200 litres of stream water were used, specifically for the plants that have been planted in the last twelve months, and also the tree ferns/palms, which are so much healthier this year than last. The plants in the raised beds and banks along the river walk will need this help until the rains return, but hopefully we won’t lose any.

Further planting has, by consensus, been postponed. But we are excited to have a plant, and funds, ready and waiting. Last year, the volunteers were mainly involved in saving the park from being taken over by brambles, ivy, bamboos, and a few other species, which had reduced the biodiversity of the area to just a few dominate species. This year, the light is penetrating through the canopy, existing plants are doing do much better, and new ground cover planting has a chance.

The lawn could do with cutting. And we need, in my opinion, to be reviving our plans for improvement and enhancement of the infrastructure.

And here’s a photo from this time last year to show how green things are: