Category: Monday Working Group

Twelve of us met today, and a variety of tasks was undertaken: The debris by the Abbeydale Golf Club boundary was photographed and sent to the Committee. The BEG Secretary will contact the Club Secretary about this problem. Two sleepers were transported from the Barn to the Store and the holes to take them were started. We are constructing a large bench at the side of the Store. The Orchard grass was given a tidy. The wood to repair a bench was delivered early and the measurements taken, as it will require cutting to size. Holly clearance on Little Wood

A very warm morning saw ten of the Group arrive today and four jobs were undertaken  Work inside the Store was carried on using the pallets to enable safe storage. A bench on the Hall path needs repair. On inspection we found that we do not have the correct materials, which have been ordered for next week. High Wood had a few dead trees that were encroaching on to the Round Walk, these were removed. The damson tree in the Meadow had its Suckers chopped down. The Abbeydale Golf Course Manager has been contacted, and he thanked us for drawing the

In defiance of the miserable weather, five turned up at the Store this morning  and continued planning the layout of the Store and fitting out storage for the tools.  As the weather was  wet and windy it proved to be a good use of our time. Combining convenience with safety, we are making steady progress and the Store is now much more organised and safer to access. There are still some finishing details needed but we hope to complete the work in the next couple of weeks. Our expert did a bit of scything in the orchard – which is looking good at

Before this Monday, some work had already been carried out on the storage racks by two volunteers. Twelve members met today, and work, on making the Store a safe and easy place to work in, was continued.  A group went to the Orchard and completed the cataloguing of the fruit trees; once completed and printed, this will be available in the Store. It was pleased to see a crop of walnuts on one of the trees. The nut trees were first planted at the far end of the Orchard around 10 years ago,  and  these are the first nuts seen on

Twelve of us met at the new store for the first time today, and began a new era in Monday Group history. Most of the morning was spent looking at various options to use the space, then using ‘donated’ palettes, we went part way to constructing a safe way to store the wood inside. Some of us did go off to do various small jobs as well: 1. The Jubilee Tree had lost its anchoring so, using some old luggage straps, this was replaced 2. The stile into the Abbey grounds had become covered, we trimmed this back.  3. The

Twelve of us met our local Ranger today at the Barn. He had brought a Trailer, which in two loads, took all our worldly goods to the new store. We then began the process of putting it all in. This is obviously going to be a work-in-progress and ideas on how best to utilise the space would be welcome.  The Bird Ringing Group had got there before us and stored some of their equipment under the container. We have no idea how they got there so fast!  The Ranger has also done more strimming around the Driving Range and Little Wood

Sixteen folk in all, including a family member on a UK visit, finished up in Carole’s Copse and cleared away the encroaching bracken and cleared around the smaller saplings.  Most are now mature enough not to need this. We still need to return and clear the encroaching brambles and tidy the edges of the thistle patch.  A few of us initially went to the container and decided which lock we needed as extra security and looked at the options for storage. This is where the additional member came in, as he uses containers in Hawaii as part of his business

On the hottest Monday in 2025 so far, thirteen workers turned out. With the new Container in place, we decided to go there and consider the logistics of using it. Measurements and ideas were floated and it became clear we could use some shelving and hanging aids. These will be discussed with the Treasurer. Security was another issue and I will be contacting the Committee over this. Two of us did go to the Orchard and watered the Trees there as well.

Eight of the Monday Group, together with a member of the local  Rotary Club, met at the banks of the River Sheaf below Twentywell Lane.  Undeterred by the initial heavy rain, they began pulling up the Himalayan Balsam. An exact count was not made, but estimates appeared to show we had pulled at least 4,500 by morning break. Two members who were both involved with last year’s pulling, agreed the growth was less than in 2024. As many will know there is an old fairground ‘boat’ abandoned on the banks of the Sheaf, which we used as our base. As the

In preparation for the new container, which is arriving June 25th, the seven that turned up today went to the site. Two railway sleepers had been delivered, which were laid , as per specifications given by the Ranger, in readiness for the container to be placed on top. They were extremely heavy, so we utilised some fencing poles as rollers. After our break, in glorious sunshine, we began dock pulling. We also used the new mower for the first time, to clear the path to the Seats.

Ten of us arrived today and as the mower delivery was delayed we split into small groups. Three groups surveyed the area around the Hall grounds and Ladies Spring Wood, looking for work that was required to maintain the area. Another group went to the pond and put a length of wood in one corner [see photo], where the public are leaning on the wire fence and pushing it down . The wood will give them something to lean on and preserve the wire. At 11-30 our mower was delivered and we were given a demonstration on how to use it.

Eight of us arrived today and began by welcoming a new member to the Group. Two went off to Norton to look at a mower we have been offered by SCC. It is OK, and will be delivered next Monday at 9-30 and we will be given training by a Council employee, at the same time.  The other six went up to the Driving Range Path and cleared the sides of weeds and grass, which were obscuring the route around. We could do more in this area, including widening the path. Maybe the new Mower could be utilised. During our