Island Life Magazine Ltd February / March 2016 | Page 65
COUNTRY LIFE
Gift to Nature to manage IW
Council’s Countryside Estate!
P
opular beauty spots such as Brading
Down and Golden Hill have been
secured for the future following a
deal between the Isle of Wight Council
and local charity ‘Island 2000’, as part of
the charity’s ‘Gift to Nature’ (G2N) project,
having taken over management of the sites
on February 1 2016.
The council will retain ownership of its
170 hectare countryside estate with G2N
undertaking management of the estate
through a partnership agreement. No job
losses have occurred as part of the transfer
of services.
The IW Council’s Countryside Manager,
Matthew Chatfield, is one of the staff due to
be transferred. He explained “This is great
news for anyone who loves the Island’s
countryside – we’ve got a big job ahead
of us but I’m glad to report that we will be
keeping our wonderful nature reserves and
country parks open for everyone.”
To celebrate the change and help
kickstart fundraising, a Gala Dinner with a
charity auction is taking place on Saturday
February 27 at Newclose Cricket Club. For
more information and tickets call 201563
or email [email protected].
A countryman's diary
I
t rained so much last month that
we all treated ourselves to new
waterproof trousers! Not that we are
moaning, it’s just one of those things
and having new kit is always great,
especially when it keeps you warm and
dry. Even better after you’ve got past
the ‘getting them muddy for the first
time’ stage!
The Briddlesford Volunteer Weekend
is now a firm fixture in our calendar
and what started as a few countryside
students from the mainland is
now, eight years on, over 45 willing
volunteers from many parts of the
country, coming to carry out practical
conservation work at Briddlesford
Copse for the PTES. Among this year’s
jobs, they had to create a ‘nursery
coupe’, where hazel was layered. This
is when hazel rods are bent over still
attached to their stools and pegged
into the ground, so as to encourage
them to set root at the points they
are pegged. This allows us to increase
stocking density of the woodland
using ‘provenance’ stock from the
same hazel stool.
IW Annual
Hedgelaying
Competition
2016
T
his years ‘IW Hedgelaying
Competition’ is again being held
at Apsedown Farm, Calbourne
Road, by kind permission of Mr &
Mrs Mike Morris. Competitors will be
battling it out in three categories: Open,
Novice and Team.
Even though competition is fierce,
the atmosphere is relaxed and jolly,
competitors encouraging each other
along the way, with advice and cheeky
banter.
The day offers a great opportunity for
spectators to witness a country craft at
first hand, getting up close and speaking
with the competitors, who are only too
pleased to pass on their knowledge.
The event is supported by Landscape
Therapy, Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Wildlife Trust, Gift to Nature and The
ANOB Unit.
Warm clothing and stout boots are
the order of the day, as it can get very
cold and heavy under foot. Help is on
hand in the marquee with hot drinks
and food being available courtesy of
the ‘Calbourne Ladies’.
For more information visit the
website: www.iwhg.org.
www.visitilife.com
65