April Newsletter

Sandown Community Orchard 

This site is at its best in Spring, so it’s well worth a visit this month.

The orchard is teaming with primroses, and the variety of fruit trees mean that there is a succession of blossom on the trees. Look up and you may spot our squirrel, a tree creeper, or the gang of long-tailed tits that regularly pop in for a snack. And talking of food, why not bring a picnic along and eat in on our benches in the orchard, or by our pond.

We have built a boardwalk so it’s easy to traverse the site from the orchard and pond to the cycletrack, and at this time of year the wetland flora is appearing, and it’s gorgeous. In fact the whole site is teaming with life at this time of year – in May 2017 I-Watch held a mini-bioblitz and found 137 species! 

If heritage is your thing, have a look at the on-site interpretation and find out about the railway, waterworks and Sandy Thomas. You can read all about it here 

Ranger's Blog

For the Rangers, the winter work tails off and grass cutting begins. In the last couple of weeks we have started mowing at our Haylands Wood site, Pan Country Park, Blackgang Viewpoint and Pan Mill Meadows amongst others. At some sites the grass has hardly started growing where the soil is colder but in parts of Pan Mill Meadows it is racing up. 

This month we managed to squeeze in two events with our wonderful Wildlife Warriors. At the beginning of March we visited Pan Country Park to cut path side willow and clear around planted trees then towards the middle of March we visited Pig Leg Lane, Ryde. Here we had pre-cut an area of flower rich meadow and the Warriors got stuck into raking up the cuttings and clearing invading blackthorn scrub. In May and June this area should have a fantastic display of oxeye daisy and common spotted orchids among other flowering plants. 

At the end of the month we completed a coastal planting bed at Castlehaven Village Green, Niton. This is a lovely little spot at the end of Castlehaven Lane and worth the walk down. Here you can perch on the bench and gaze out across the English Channel but be prepared for rough seas in high winds.

The planter is constructed from landscaping timbers and planted with what should be salt tolerant hardy plants, then topped with crushed pebbles. Time will tell if the plants survive as it is a harsh environment down there but today it was glorious with a strong salty scent on the warm breeze. 

I hope all our readers and supporters will be able to take advantage of the very pleasant weather we are having at the moment and get out and visit one, two or several of our sites as they will be looking their very best over the next two or three months. 

Nick

Supporters’ Easter Shopping Event 

Treat yourself this Easter to something lovely from the Gift to Nature shop 

We have a new range of gorgeous hair and body products that are kind to us and also the environment . Try our gentle facial cleansing bars with moisturising Shea Butter or our Living Naturally soap and shampoo bars made from soapnuts!. – all vegan and palm oil free, they would make wonderful gifts for friends or to yourself. 

We now also stock Isle Bee Eco wraps – a great way to wrap food and helping to elimate the need for the ubiquitous cling film – also very pretty to have in your fridge! 

We have a great range of garden ornaments, beautifully hand cast in the Up so if you are looking for a new feature for the garden or patio do check us out. 

Gift to Nature Supporters can receive a 10% discount on all shop stock * from April 15th – April 20th. 

If you haven’t signed up to be part of the scheme yet there is still time to do so and receive your discount but equally important is your commitment to help us keep improving and managing the 28 sites for all to enjoy is so valued. 

You can find our shop at 12 Holyrood Street Newport – just opposite Hursts.

*Some artisan products excluded from offer.

And if you would like to find out how to become a supporter of the charity do ask in the shop or click here.