Category: Monday Working Group

Thirteen in all attended today. Five of the bench building team worked up at Stone Cross Field to repair the damage to the east and west benches caused by vandals during the weekend. The damage wasn’t too bad and was soon repaired. They then completed the benches to coverband, and finally added and cemented in the top stones. The four benches are now all complete providing seating around the sycamore tree to the north, south, east and west. We received many compliments and thanks from dog walkers. Eight went to the Nature Park and trimmed around the fruit trees in

Fourteen of the Group arrived today We began by welcoming a new member, who went with nine others to Carole’s Copse. Where we trimmed around the saplings and cleared much of the encroaching bracken. We need to return to finish the bracken clearance and attack the brambles at the top. The Bench Team were up at Stone Cross Field, where four of them made somewhat slower progress this morning on the E and W benches. They are trickier being on sloping ground. Nevertheless, with one more layer we’ll be at coverband level – ready for the top slabs. 

Fourteen today, with ten turning up at the Hamlet and four at Stone Cross Field. The four of us at Stone Cross Field moved all the stored stone from Wayside to Stone Cross Field and continued building E and W benches. At the Hamlet, three went to the Dam area and cleared Himalayan Balsam, while the others finished clearing the paving and cobbled area by the Manager’s House. The ‘grassy’ area in the photo is how it all looked two weeks ago (also see photo from last week). We have now made a feature of the cobbles. There is still

Twelve workers in total today. The two stonewallers collected a big pile of walling stone for Paul White to transport to Stone Cross field. Then they did the small repair of coping stones at the entrance to Lady Spring wood the top of the deer park, which had been pointed out as needing doing. The other ten had a very satisfying Morning at the Hamlet: Two went round to the Dam side and cleared away some Balsam. The rest cleared the new Car Park area was of more debris, before the Tree Survey is done on Wednesday 3rd July. We also

The twelve of us who arrived today split into three tasks. Seven met at the Hamlet and began the clearance of the rough area at the back of the car park. It had become a dumping ground and shortly there is to be a tree and soil survey, prior to it becoming an extension to the car park. Four of us laid out the orientation of east and west benches in Stone Cross Field, cut the turf, levelled the trench bottoms and put in the footings for two rectangular benches. Easier for being rectangular rather than curved but more challenging

The ten folk that arrived today all met at the Nature Park pond, where we distributed the sand that was delivered, at 10.00 am, and began excavating Turf & Earth from the area to lay on top, as requested.This was a large job and we need to return to complete it, next week.Whilst there, we spotted Newts swimming in it and Mr & Mrs Mallard descended with great aplomb.

Eleven workers met today, with nine at the Hamlet and two at the Driving Range. The Hamlet View Point was finished with all weeds and grass finally cleared from the cobbles, the edge of the top Car Park was also cleared of weeds and a number of flagstones , on the site,  were replaced or repaired. There is more work to do, so we intend to return.   The Driving Range path clearers used scythes and shears to cut back vegetation encroaching on the path alongside the driving range, between Bradway Road and Little Wood Bank, receiving several positive comments from

Thirteen of us went to the Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet today, and we were given a Tour of the areas requiring us to work on. We identified the three priority areas as follows: The path up to the viewpoint had become very slippery due to moss/weeds/grass growing in the gaps and they have closed it due to it being unsafe for visitors. So, on hands and knees we cleared most of it. We will do more in two weeks’ time. A seating area had become overgrown, this was cleared, so visitors can use it, but we were careful not to remove

Fourteen members joined in today on a very warm morning. Thirteen went back to the new pond with one litter picking the area, who joined us at 11.00 am for John’s 80th Birthday celebration. We built up the pond side nearest the road, raising it around 30 cm and put more posts in to strengthen the fence.  Robins are nesting in the Barn, getting access under the Door Two newts have colonised the Pond. One was seen swimming in the water; the other was in the earth at the top of the pond side.  

Thirteen members turned up to work on the pond liner and its surroundings.  During the morning we completed a fence around the pond and the required posts though ideally we need some more to improve the stability of the fence.  Flags (plants not stones) were strewn onto the liner to produce a more natural setting.  Some water had accumulated from Sunday morning’s rain and more is forecast for this afternoon so the pond may begin to look more natural. A wander around the area showed the saplings growing well and there is plenty of blossom on the orchard fruit trees.  On a less

A gang of nine, on a wet morning, had a brilliant time at the Nature Park pond, laying the underlay and liner and beginning the surrounding fencing. Next week, if we’re all back, we should finish off the job.

Q -What is an ideal situation when you lay a new Pond Liner A – For it to rain heavily after laying it, in dry conditions. So today was not so ideal, as the heavy rain came from the early morning, but there was no chance of cancelling the delivery, even though further work was impossible In the event, sixteen of the Group stood around in high winds, rain and hail, for the delivery which was over an hour late. Then using the driver’s hydraulic lift, we manhandled the bulky pond liner so far, until the mud beat us. But