Horsham Green Gym - who we are
HGG is an independent volunteer nature conservation group run by its members, with support from Horsham District Council.
We work at various sites in and near Horsham, West Sussex getting exercise and fresh air while improving the local environment, learning new skills and making new friends. Membership is free.
Programme
Our planned programme of work is shown here. Weather or other factors, can cause changes to sites and tasks. We will try to send a warning email if this happens but it could pay to view the website before leaving home.
When we meet
We meet at 10 am every Tuesday and Thursday through the year. The Tuesday group often has more than 20 people; up to 15 members come to the Thursday meetings.
You can attend on either day or both, as your other interests and commitments permit. We usually aim to finish work by 1.0 pm.
Please have a good look at the ‘How to join us‘ page.
What we do
Tasks have included coppicing, installing simple benches, erecting fences, creating paths, resurfacing paths, planting hedges and trees and clearing streams, ponds and public rights of way.
When we are not doing any of those, we may be removing silver birch, Himalayan balsam, skunk cabbage, rhododendron, bracken, and/or bramble. They are all invasive and prevent other, more suitable plants, from growing.
At other times we may be creating glades in the woods to allow wild flowers to re-establish. We are also proficient at hedgelaying and creating dead hedges.
Hedgelaying
Click here to learn about a recent hedgelaying weekend
Bat Bothy
In autumn 2019, members were involved in helping to build Bat Bothy. It takes inspiration from the Reserve’s historical association with the iron industry in the seventeenth century, being based on the shape of a blast furnace of that time.
It also incorporates access to the central space for bats to roost in. At 2.8m high it is an impressive edifice!
A short film may be seen on YouTube and here
Interested?
If all this sounds like something you would like to do, please have a good look at the ‘How to join us’ page.
Are you involved with the care of a community site?
If it’s in the Horsham area, we may be able to help with clearance tasks. A group of keen volunteers can achieve a lot in a morning – and save you money.
Please get in touch via the Contact details. Note that we usually ask for a cash donation.
Need more reading?
Some health benefits of joining Green Gym
Our Constitution.