Keep the Green Clean

Keep the Green Clean
Keep the Green Clean

Tuesday 29 December 2015

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.

Wednesday 4 November 2015

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.



Sunday 25 October 2015

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.









Sunday 11 October 2015

We're In The Press...!!


Article in the Colchester Gazette:

"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".

Saturday 10 October 2015

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
and
The KTGC Team!!!











Thursday 1 October 2015

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.

Wednesday 23 September 2015

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


Saturday 19 September 2015

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:

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...


Saturday 1 August 2015

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...