Island Life Magazine Ltd October/ November 2012 | Page 78

COUNTRY LIFE Magic meadow Magical spot on doorstep Pan Mill Meadows is a small, magical parcel hedge plants including gooseberry, black of riverside land just south of St George’s and redcurrant as well as damson, pear and with the help of committed supporters. Bridge which has been created and cared for apple trees along the paths and beside the All donations enable us to continue our as part of local charity Island 2000’s Gift to meadow. conservation work on the Isle of Wight. If Nature project. you would like to support the work of Gift Working with a variety of local groups and once again and is within five minutes walk of to Nature please visit our website or get in volunteers, what was an overgrown bramble the centre of Newport. Head south along the touch; Northwood House, Ward Avenue, patch has been transformed into riverside new cycle path by Matalan and it is on your Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 8AZ. Tel: 01983 woodland and wildflower meadow. Parts of right as you cross under the bridge. More 535888. Email; [email protected] the woodland have been coppiced to let more information can be found at www.gifttonature. light in and as a result, flowers such as wild org.uk. garlic, bluebells and buttercups have sprung up. In the meadow yellow flag, water mint and meadowsweet have returned; there are woodpeckers, butterflies, dragonflies and if you are very lucky you might just see a water vole along the river. Recently a major river restoration project aimed at bringing trout and eel back to this stretch of the Medina has been funded by SITA Trust. Volunteers from the Natural Wight project, run by Spectrum Housing Group, have recently helped with a ‘Hedgerow Harvest’ planting. This autumn look out for 125 fruiting 78 Pan Mill Meadows is an amazing place Gift to Nature’s work is only possible www.visitislandlife.com