Thirteen willing workers met in a snow-free Hutcliffe Wood, to carry on the holly clearance, which began late last year. We are returning next week, but looking at the scale of the task, we may be going there more times than planned.
The ten that arrived today, were not put off by the freezing temperature, but were in dire need of a warming activity, so all went again to the Cobbled Path. Although we had given it a thorough Autumn clear up, the wind and the Golf Club leaf blower had covered it again. We left it totally clear, and many walkers made appreciative comments. Two of the Group did go up to the ‘Tudor’ Bench , behind the Deer Park, as it is looking rather ‘weathered’, but it was decided it had a few years left. The rogue plaque appears to
Thankfully, eleven stout Monday Group Members ignored the weather forecast and met at the Gorse Patch. The rain abated while we were gathering and we decided to carry on. After a couple of false starts, we got the bonfire going. We burnt all the gorse, cut last week, and had our usual BYO Christmas gathering. A new pile of flat stones has appeared, piled neatly by the bench, which we assume are to be laid on the ground around it. But where, when and how did they get there? They were not there last Monday, can anyone solve the mystery?
Thirteen met at the Gorse Patch today, and cleared some of the gorse and the saplings growing through it. We have new Power Tools recently purchased, which we will have chance to use in the New Year.
The morning’s Weather was atrocious, so only the Hutcliffe Wood Group met. Six of us turned up at “The Monkey Bumps” halfway along the main track through Hutcliffe Wood. We were joined by Rangers, and, as the rain was less heavy than promised, we set about taking out as much male (non-berried) holly as possible. The Rangers had brought some sharp new knife-saws and loppers and showed us what holly to cut and where to cut it from. Most important was to pile the branches and saplings next to the track with cut end facing the track so it would
Thirteen of us met today The eight at the Gorse Patch met with Jon Dallow, to discuss the future of our work there. A separate report will be sent out once we have collated our thoughts on this very informative meeting. The remaining five worked on the length of Beauchief Abbey Drive: Trimmed and tidied the hedge a little in places Cleared leaves from the footpath Removed leaves, branches and accumulated mud from the gutters on both sides of the road, freeing up the grates and drains alongside the footpath to allow future rainfall to flow away easily. Many passers-by thanked
The ten members who arrived today cleared the Cobbled Path of leaves and associated debris. Before and after the difference was amazing. We received grateful thanks from local users whilst working. The local Ranger had also been in action this morning, leaf blowing on the Westwick path, the driving range path up to the junction, and on the Twentywell path.
Eleven of us met at the Hamlet today and began the tasks previously agreed. Two steps had become worn and broken; these were repaired. Leaving one small job to finish later. The area containing the Rolling Mill was cleared of rubbish, and we began the svy clearance. We were told that they intend to paint this and make it a feature of the whole site. As the skip has not yet appeared we left the rubbish at the edge of the Car Park. The Dam Repairers are storing their equipment there so we are unsure when we can return. We
Nine members worked today as follows: Six went to Park Bank Wood and finished the revetment and steps replacement we began last week. Three more progressed the Hutcliffe Wood Bench to about halfway stage. Sorry but the ‘guests’ residing in Shene Field are Llamas, not Alpacas as reported last week. There are still 16 of them and they look fantastic. Long may they remain.
Fourteen members of the Working Group arrived today with the following achieved: A trip to Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet for two, to assess the work they have asked us to do. Provisionally we will be working there Mondays 10th & 17th November . Tony’s Steps were given some TLC, but more is needed; so we plan to return next week. When we got there, we saw that a tree had recently fallen across the bottom. It appears this was during Storm Amy, but a BEG supporter was quick to cut off the offending bits so free access to the Steps was restored.
We were pleased to entertain Jon Dallow from the Council this morning, and the seven Monday Group members [surprisingly only one Committee member] had a conversation with him on various matters , including our future use of Power Tools. He was given a tour of the Nature Park and he left us with a battery operated hedge trimmer and strimmer for us to evaluate, before making a decision on what to purchase. In our discussion, it was agreed we would meet again with an Ecologist to have a closer look at the Gorse Patch and maybe other areas also. We
Six members turned up at the Store on a very windy morning. Three headed off to the path surrounding the Hall field to finish off the work on the benches started in previous weeks. These are now duly completed! The other three went into Gulley’s Meadow where invasive blackthorn had been attacked but not completely removed. The morning was spent cutting and removing the debris though there are a few areas where it is still growing. We hope that when the field is mown that some of the small specimens will be dealt with.