Weeks 7 & 8
Well, weeks 7 & 8, what can we say? Our task now was to remove another redundant stretch of fencing and to cut back some rampant dogwood that had started to grow over the pathway at the far end of the park. This let the gang use a combination of all the tools they’d been introduced to since starting to come out on the Green Gym.
Dogwood is a rather aggressive non-native covering shrub often planted at the sides of roads to act as shelter belts/noise barriers/rubbish catcher but has very little wildlife value and allows little or no light to the ground to allow any other flora to establish. Perhaps its only saving grace is that is has lovely colourful twigs and stems when the leaves fall off in winter! This particular shrub was red, but also comes in orange, yellow and green adding a bit of colour on dreary winter days.
The team worked really well and consistently on tackling this very overgrown and established plant.
It felt like the cut back pile may just have been winning over the stuff that remined to be cut back! Good job too, after everyone’s hard work. A lot of litter was collected too, also adding to the aesthetics of the park. Every little helps
Which brings us to week 8. The UK was in the midst of a widespread whiteout, Whitburn not escaping it! Over the coming 3 weeks parts of the UK had seen the most/heaviest/widespread snow in 30 years – we didn’t go out that week! Although I’m sure had Whitburn been ‘open’ we would’ve had a go! The Academy was shut and the roads blocked. Merry Christmas to all and tools were probably swapped for sledges and binbags – enjoy!