Category: Monday Working Group

Working in Carol’s Copse Twelve of us met today with nine going over to Carol’s Copse, where we attacked the encroaching brambles, cleared around the whips and  planted a young hazel in one of the gaps. Two of this Group , initially, took a walk along the Sheaf path to go Balsam bashing, and reported that 449 additional plants were pulled.  The other three went to Little Wood Bank, to begin the build of the replacement bench. A discussion on the merits of lime mortar, as opposed to ordinary cement, resulted in a consensus that, on balance, ordinary gypsum cement would

Nine of us mustered today with eight going to Carole’s Copse, while one remained to litter pick along the Drive The Trees we planted in the Copse are looking very healthy but the bracken had invaded the area, as we expected. We hand pulled it and cleared the area , releasing many small whips to the sunlight. We agreed this area needs two visits per year, which we will do in 2024.

Despite the soggy conditions and the expected rain, twelve members arrived today. We all went, as planned, to the Woodland Meadow, and cleared the hogweed, brambles and tall grass from around the saplings. We did notice some large gaps and we hope to replenish from the Nursery later in the year.   

Six of us arrived, on a Morning more suited to Autumn than Summer. One of the group was a new Member, who was initiated into the secret machinations of the Monday Group After receiving permission from Frog Life to line the Middle Pond in the Nature Park, all but one went there to size up the job, discuss some logistics and then trim around the Paths where the growth was hindering walkers.  It was noted that the growth, particularly Cow Parsley, in the Woodland Meadow was higher than the Saplings. One handyman remained at the Barn and gave our Hand Tools

Eight members arrived today and two tasks were identified. Three of us went to Beauchief Abbey Lane to lightly trim the hedge by the footpath. It was so overgrown that it was forcing people into the road, particularly pushchair and wheelchair users. The other five went to the top of Parkbank Wood to repair three of the five steps that had rotted away. On our return we gave two of Tony’s Steps some TLC, but noticed more was needed.

All ten that arrived today, went to the Driving Range path and carried on the excellent work that had started last week. With the numbers today, we were able to make both sides passable.  A few walkers commented that they had avoided the top path due to the overgrowth and thanked us for the effort. 

Eight of the Group went up to the Nature Park, where dock pulling in the meadow was the order of the day. We reminded ourselves of the difference between sorrel and dock before commencing. A small group, prior to joining the dock pulling went to the Orchard, with a planting diagram, and we identified the surviving fruit trees and observed their current state. Happy to say most are looking healthy, but very few had fruit on them and those that had were very sparse.  Two grim reapers set to work on the Sisyphean task of improving the accessibility of the path

On the hottest Monday morning so far, eleven of us met at the Barn, and split into three groups to go our separate ways:  Four went to Stone Cross Field. The new whips were heavily covered by grass and weeds, in most cases higher than the whips themselves. We cut around, allowing them better access to sunlight and rain.  We all commented how well they were doing.   Three dry-stone wallers completed the repairs on the Chapter House Wall (Photo)  A group of four did several jobs in Parkbank Wood. On the path along the top of the wood going

This was a warm spring morning, with eleven turning out, and we decided to go up to the Nature Park. A group went into the Orchard and cleared around the fruit trees and pulled thistles, while another group cleared the edges of the path going clockwise around the Park. At 11.00 am, we had prearranged that John & Judith would join us for Coffee at Ray’s seat where we had a convivial time with them (Photo). Ray’s seat has rotted away and was in a dangerous state. We removed the plaque and took off the seat, which needs replacing. The

Ten members turned up at the Barn, and whilst one went to attend to a gate at the Abbey, the remainder went to the orchard where grass was cut away from where it was shading out the trees and saplings.  We also cleared round about the small trees which we hope will provide a supply of young trees for other parts of our area.

Eight members turned up at the Barn on a delightful May morning.  One went off to continue litter picking and the remainder went to the Abbey as we had been asked to remove some of the ivy growing up the tower and try to clear branches from the yew tree that was partially obscuring the stained glass window.  These tasks were achieved and in addition the gutter was cleared of innumerable sycamore seedlings. Work continued on the Chapter House as shown in the photo.