Almost 2016...

It appears to be yet another mild winter. 

I'm amazed at the number of bulbs we planted recently that have 

already started to poke through the soil. 

I just hope we don't now get a cold snap that could damage them.

There's plenty of bird activity in Ghost Wood 

and the absence of leaves on most of the trees makes it easy 

to spot all of the different feathery things 

which are creating such a racket above your head.

The slopes are extremely muddy, especially 

at the bottom end as you might expect. 

Waterproof footwear is fairly essential for walks there at this time of year.

Happy New Year.

Another Certificate!

Keep The Green Clean Team

were nominated for  a

Colchester Borough Homes

Good Neighbour Award

for

Action Against ASB .

We didn't win (this time)

but it was nice to get nominated.

Hello Autumn...

Autumn has well and truly

arrived on Greenstead Slopes.

While the trees display oranges and reds

there are many other colours

to be found if you look down.

There's still plenty of wildlife around

including a few butterflies, ladybirds 

and shield bugs.

Our Lovely New Certificate...

We're In The Press...!!

Article in the Colchester Gazette:

Gazette Link

"GREEN-FINGERED volunteers turned out in force to chip in with a planting project to spruce up a community space.

More than 35 people got their hands dirty to help with the Keep the Green Clean scheme, set up to keep the Greenstead green area in good shape.

On Saturday morning they planted 2,000 daffodils, as well as hundreds of bulbs and flower seeds.

One of the organisers Allan Walker said: “The Keep the Green Clean project was set up five years ago to clean up the dog mess and fly tipping which was ruining the green.

“Since then it has really developed and now we are able to do other things and go over and beyond to make sure it looks good for the community.

“We had an excellent turnout, and a real mixture of locals and people from further afield.

“There were people from the community, councillors and members from the church, including two people from Canada.

“Hopefully it will look really good. We’ll know in a few months time when the flowers start to come through, and we want to get all the volunteers back to see the fruits of their labours then.”
     
Last month the Keep the Green Clean scheme won an award for best community project 2015, handed out by Colchester in Bloom.

Organisers want to make the planting session an annual event".

Turning a Space into a Place...

A very big

THANK YOU

to everyone who came along to our

Planting Day

The morning began

with blue and yellow plastic bags

filled with bulbs

dotted about the place...

Then the volunteers set about digging holes

and planting crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils.

Volunteers worked hard with the planting

before having a well-earned

tea break (with biscuits!)

Local Counsellors Tim Young & Dave Harris

came fully prepared with strimmers and spades.

Bulbs and wild flowers were planted

around trees and along the edge of the slopes.

It was lovely to see local families

getting involved, helping out.

What did we plant?

 1000 Crocuses 

1060 Daffodils

    200  Snowdrops

            300  Wild-flower plugs

This Planting Day has been a huge success

due to the hard work of a small but dedicated

team of volunteers.

We could not have done this without you!

Special thanks go to:

Colchester Borough Council

Colchester in Bloom

Cllrs Dave Harris & Tim Young

Emma, and The Community Payback Team

 Anglia Bulb Company

and

The KTGC Team!!!

Help Us To Keep The Green Clean...

We Won A Trophy!

The Keep The Green Clean team is proud to announce 

that during a ceremony at The Colchester Town Hall 

on Wednesday 23rd September 2015 

during the Colchester in Bloom AGM, 

we were awarded the Trinity House Trophy 

in the Best Community Project 2015 category 

by Colchester in Bloom.

We would like to thank the Colchester in Bloom judges 

for acknowledging all of the hard work carried out 

by our small team of local volunteers.

Saturday 10th October..

Some of us might not have much

to leave to our children, 

or our grandchildren,

so why not help us to

LEAVE A LEGACY

The gift of

a wonderful space full of flowers

for future generations to enjoy...

PLANTING AND PICNIC DAY
Saturday 10th October

Supported by CBC & Colchester in Bloom

ON GREENSTEAD SLOPES

10am – 3pm

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Meet Alyssum Walk – on Greenstead Slope Field

Opposite Green BT Telephone Box

Please come and help

Even if you can only manage 1 hour

Bring equipment & plants

Or just bring yourself & a picnic

Contact keepthegreenclean@gmail.com

Flat As A Pancake...

It's now mid-September and the council has cut down all of the long grasses
on Greenstead Slopes. 

The result means everything now looks very bare, and very flat.

The woods look quite pretty in the dappled light, 

and there's an abundance of webs wherever you go.

Click here for a short video:

https://youtu.be/AU3EnqAEnhE

There's now not much in the way of colour, other than green, 

but you can occasionally spot a yellow dandelion or a pale pink bramble.

Not long now before our Picnic and Planting Day
on October 10th...

Summer Sunshine...

It's the first of August and the slopes are positively buzzing with a million, 

no a BILLION, grasshoppers! 

The wildlife currently in the woods and on the slopes is amazing. 

In just one hour I saw dozens of different types of butterflies along with a variety of bees.

This is what a 'proper' meadow should look like - tall grasses full of thistles, 

clover and a vast array of plants I don't happen to know the names of, 

along with mowed areas for people to enjoy the open spaces with a picnic 

or simply sunbathing on a summer's day.

We're extremely lucky to have such a wonderful area right on our doorsteps 

to enjoy whenever we want to. Long may it continue to be as fabulous as it is right now...