COUNTRY LIFE
Popular eroded
coastal path
re-opened
Isle of Wight Hedgelaying
Competition 2015
H
aving missed a year because
of the heavy rain in 2014, the
competition organisers were
determined that this year the event
would go ahead.
Although the morning was damp, the
drizzle cleared up by lunchtime and the
competitors all did themselves proud
and their spirits were boosted by a
steady flow of spectators.
Ox Hozkyns, runner up for the past two
competitions, triumphed in the Open,
mainlander Rob Wood, won the Novice,
while ‘The Island Ploughmen’ Rob and
George (father & son) Richards and Paul
Trickett beat stiff competition to win the
Team section.
Richard Grogan of The Hampshire
and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust with
Alan Ashby, a National Champion and
Peter Tonks a former Supreme National
Champion, both from Kent, had the
difficult and unenviable task of judging.
T
he Isle of Wight Council’s
‘Rights of Way’ department
has reopened a section of the
Coastal Path at Bembridge
between Forelands and High
Ridge.
This very popular route has
been closed for some time due
to the effects of coastal erosion.
Rights of Way have been able
to divert the path inland and
have carried out works to greatly
improve public access.
Darrel Clarke, Rights of Way
Manager, says “The Council would
like to thank all landowners
involved, whose co-operation
has made reopening the path
possible.” www.iwight.com
A cou ntry ma n's dia ry
A
s has been the trend over the last
few years, February to April are our
busiest months. Since starting Landscape
Therapy twenty years ago, I have noticed
slight changes in our seasons. They seem
to be starting and finishing later. This
enables us to extend our planting time to
the end of April, even moving into May,
without any detrimental effect.
This has helped us in some cases,
because a few of our woodland felling
projects have had to be cleared and
planted in one season. I’m not keen on
extracting timber if the ground conditions
don’t allow, as it can cause a lot of damage
to the woodland floor. But by waiting and
hoping we have a dry spell in March, trees
can be felled, timber removed and replanting done, all in a matter of weeks.
Many of you may have seen us
working along Blacklands Lane, between
Briddlesford Road and the Lavender
Farm. We have now completed the
felling and thinning of the birch trees,
which will allow light onto the woodland
floor and hopefully reveal the richness
of floral diversity. The site will now be
stock fenced and grazed by cattle from
the neighbouring farm. It is hoped they
will control the re-growth, keeping the
woodland more open and thus help the
wildflowers to prosper.
www.visitilife.com
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