The working party has been hard at work these last weeks – but at least there’s been shelter from the sweltering sun in the cool dapple of the Glen:
1st September 2022 – Friends of Glen Goyle
28th July 2022 – Friends of Glen Goyle
The priority of the volunteers, under the expert eye of EDDC horticulturalist Paul Fealey, has been to cut back years of neglect – including mounds of dead and mouldering debris, loads of ivy and brambles which are strangling all other growth, and too much overgrowth casting far too much shade:
Letting the sunshine into the Glen – Friends of Glen Goyle
There’s also the job of cutting back too much ‘out-of-control’ sprouts and suckers:
Getting “epicormic” in the Glen – Friends of Glen Goyle
Ultimately, its about enhancing the biodiversity of the Glen…
Perhaps we should be calling it ‘wildscaping’:
“Why not re-wild the Glen?” – Friends of Glen Goyle
Or perhaps ‘managing for nature’:
With dappled sunlight now being able to penetrate towards plants which need it, and towards the ground where ground-cover plants have and will be placed, the variety of flora and fauna should greatly increase over the next twelve months.
“Managing for nature” along the Glen – Friends of Glen Goyle
And we can see nature doing well:
Butterflies along the Glen – Friends of Glen Goyle
Goldcrests along the Glen – Friends of Glen Goyle
Finally, a big thanks to the Town and District Councils for their support:
Mentoring for FOGG volunteers – thanks to the District Council – Friends of Glen Goyle
Photo by Mary Walden-TIll