Cadets from the Britannia Royal Naval College worked with volunteers from Dartmouth Green Partnerships in July to clear parts of the Castle Estate which had become choked with weeds. Visitors and residents who walk out to the Castle will have notice how weeds had infested the undergrowth and almost obscured the wall. Even the sign to the castle was almost obscured by overgrown shrubs and trees.
‘Hydrangeas and Camellias planted amongst the trees by DGP volunteers several months ago had become submerged by weeds and were not growing well as a result,’ said DGP Chairman Stevie Rogers. ‘South Hams District Council started clearing the area by strimming the undergrowth and along the top of the wall.
‘DGP finished the job with the help of 10 cadets from the BRNC. We cut down and dug out brambles and tree seedlings, some of which were several feet high even in the wall. A huge pile of green waste was removed by SHDC.
‘We are very grateful to the cadets for the time they give to us as part of their Community Outreach work. Now the hydrangeas have a chance to put on some growth this summer, and the lovely old wall can be seen again.’