11 January 2012: taking advantage of the good weather, all the hedges around the Park Road car park, along Ward Avenue and close to the St Mary's entrance have been cut back to remove brambles, dead wood and ivy. The work, carried out by Andy Butler, is an extension of his professional paid contract in the Park. Some bay bushes around the Park will be trimmed as part of the ongoing programme to keep the Park tidy and well maintained. This work has generated large amounts of 'brash', or twigs and leaves, which have been disposed of in a controlled burn behind the Community Hall. Please be aware that hot ashes may remain after a burn; the area is guarded but you should look after dogs and children.

6 January 2012: plenty of activity to report in and around the Park over the past few months, including bringing the herbaceous border back to glorious life, adding hedge trimming to our grounds maintenance contract and more news on the trees. Click here for a full report.

5 January 2012: a small conifer came down in the Park near the Nunnery Steps during the high winds on 3 January. However, despite the excessively strong winds over past few days – Bramble Met recorded Force 10 gusts of over 50 knots – the trees in the Park suffered very little damage.  This tree, which had very shallow roots, will be removed this weekend.  With so little specimen tree damage it is clear that our tree surgeon, Dave Budden, had carefully and correctly selected all the diseased or damaged trees for treatment before they became a danger to public safety in strong winds.

8 September 2011: a note of thanks to two kind supporters of the Trust. Phil and Kim Boxall saw the article on this website about the vandalism to the swings on the children's play area and, remembering when their own children enjoyed 'swinging together', very generously donated £50 to help the Trustees replace it. We are enormously grateful for this support. Another parent has come forward to help replace the other vandalised swing and we are now looking into the possibility of replacing the seesaw removed by the Isle of Wight Council. Thank you, once again, to everyone who helps and supports the Trust in our work to maintain Northwood House and Park into the future.

More news on work in the park: 27 July 2011.

Update on work on the trees: 7 July 2011.

June 2011: WORK STARTS AGAIN ON THE TREES IN THE PARK

Many of the trees in Northwood Park are showing signs of stress: most are overgrown, some are dead or over-run with ivy and a number may soon become a danger to the public.  As a result, the Trustees have taken advice from the Isle of Wight Council and have received permission to carry out a variety of tree works to remedy the effects of years of neglect.  A small amount of work was carried out in March and April 2011, and now more activity will be noticed in the Park as our qualified tree surgeon works on the next batch of trees.

The trees which are the subject of this round of work are the twelve trees in respect of which permission to fell was initially given, plus one additional one for which permission was given later, making thirteen trees in all.  This document tells you which trees are to be felled, and why. 
Please be assured that no tree will be felled unless there is a good reason for it, and the Isle of Wight Council Tree Officer has formally approved each one.   They are identified in the document by their reference numbers as set out in the Scott Wilson report which can be found elsewhere on this website.

As you go around the Park you may come across the tree surgeon at work on these and other trees. He will be happy to explain what he's doing but do please remember that he is at work; please also keep clear of the trees in case branches fall, and keep dogs and children at a safe distance.

15 June 2011: Green Gym back again at Northwood House. Read more ...

3 May 2011: work will be starting shortly on the trees in Northwood Park, which have been sadly neglected for many years. Click here to read a letter explaining a bit about the background and what's going on - if you're a householder near the Park you will already have received it, but other Park users will find the information useful.

SUPPORT FROM THE FRIENDS OF NORTHWOOD HOUSE & PARK: the 'Friends' have supported the Trust by contributing a number of items to help towards maintaining the Park, including £100-worth of plants (in the planters and in the beds) and payment for a session of the Green Gym. They have also obtained a £250 grant for garden equipment and contributed an additional £100 for further items including a wheelbarrow, long-handled lawn edger trimmers and half-moon edgers. The equipment remains the property of the 'Friends' but it can be used in the Park. We are very grateful to the 'Friends' for their support.