DIARY of EVENTS
After almost three months of lockdown the Monday Working Group has now recommended working mornings from Monday 28 March (not Easter Monday!) under the new Covid-19 restrictions. Lockdowns imposed in November, and again in early January, had a considerable impact on the work BEG has been able to do, but once again a full range of repair and maintenance activities is now possible.
Up until 29th March no footpath or other work could be undertaken. There has been unprecedented use of the footpaths in our area resulting in some becoming very muddy and damaged in places. Also the need to keep socially distanced has led to trampling of the ground flora adjacent to the paths. A survey of all the footpaths in our area has been undertaken and any remedial work needed was identified. You will see from the Monday group reports that work on footpaths and other tasks has resumed.
Committee Meeting are now held at about six-week intervals on Zoom. the next meeting will be held on Wednesday 30 July. Please use the telephone numbers in the right hand column if there is an urgent local environmental issue you would like to have discussed as this can be handled by email. If you are interested in joining the Committee you could telephone these numbers as well..
Under normal circumstances the Monday Working Group meets every Monday morning (weather and public holidays permitting) at 9.30 am to undertake the majority of BEG’s planned practical work throughout the year. They usually meet at the Barns by Beauchief Abbey, and anyone wishing to join in can simply turn up there. Everyone is welcome, and the regulars will be glad to help you. Anyone not a member of BEG is also welcome on an ad hoc basis, but will be encouraged to join in order to be included in the Group’s insurance and receive the regular newsletters. If you are interested in joining this regular session please telephone 0114 236 9876 for details of the work planned on the following Monday.
Monday 14 October
On a fine, dry and sunny Morning nine of us met at the Barn. Five went to the middle Abbey Pond, where we cleared both outflows, gave the hedge its annual trim and cleared the area of litter. Sighting – a Kingfisher was seen twice flying across the pond around 11.00 am. The other four of us set about stripping out the section
Monday 7 October
Finally, the weather allowed us to meet today, with 12 mustering at the Barn. We decided the work in the Nature Park, and in particular the new Pond, needed more guidance, particularly in light of recent observations by the Council Ranger. We shall request a meeting at his convenience. One member initially went up to Stonecross Field to plant some meadowsweet by the scrape,
Monday 16 September
Eight of the Group worked today. Five members met at the top of Beauchief Drive to continue the work on the radio mast started last week. This was achieved by 11.15 am and the site tidied up for an early finish. The other three spent an “archeological” morning on Beauchief Hall’s Fir Walk Promenade Steps. Clearing the debris revealed the structure (though we’d like to
Monday 9 September
Seven of us met at Wayside, to assist in the dismantling of a 60-foot radio mast. After much head scratching, Brain and brawn combined to dismantle the three sections and safely store them away. The stanchion holding it up was next and the method, quickly worked out, proved very slow and at 1.00 pm it was decided to call it a day.
Monday 2 September
Some would recognise today as our first Autumn meeting, and fog early doors made it seem very autumnal on the walk down. Eleven of us turned up today and three tasks were accomplished. A fallen tree had been reported obstructing the footpath behind the Hall and Deer Park. A group went up there and removed it, using much of what we cut to strengthen
Monday 19 August
Eleven met in Old Park Wood, after Tom had requested our help with an illegal bike track that had been constructed. We levelled all the bumps, filled all the holes, dug up and flattened the two ‘launch points’ and created natural barriers to stop the use. Two of our Group use the area for dog walking and will keep an eye on the situation. Litter
Monday 12 August
Eight Monday Group members turned up today Five went to Stone Cross Field and cleared around the whips , giving space between the thick grass and associated growth. We did struggle with the ones at the side running parallel with the Drive as they were covered by thick [lethal] brambles and nettles but we could see they were thriving despite this. We also cleared
Monday 5 August
There were ten people out today. Five finished dock pulling, and the other five went to clear the tree meadow.
Monday 22 July
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
Monday 15 July
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
Monday 8 July
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
Visit to Beauchief Hall – Wednesday 3 July
The owners of Beauchief Hall once again welcomed BEG members and friends to visit their lovely garden and grounds. About twenty-five gathered in the Fountain Garden and were met by Hora and Amin. The weather was a little unkind at first, so the group was invited to take shelter in the Hall where they partook of the lovely refreshments which had been so generously
Monday 1 July
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
Annual Balsam Bash – Saturday 29 June
This year’s expedition to tackle the invasive species threatening the banks of the River Sheaf as it flows through Ladies Spring Wood took place on Saturday 29th June. A team of four met at Dore and Totley Station, and one other joined us from the direction of Beauchief Golf Course. We were fortunate to have a fine day with mainly dry conditions underfoot. A
Monday 17 June
All thirteen of us, today, went to the Nature Park. While one spent a short time clearing around the base of the Jubilee Tree, the rest went to the pond to finish the job started last week. Joined by the other, we covered the exposed Liner with Turf/Soil, we will not know how much is exposed on the sides till it is at maximum
Monday 24 June
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
Botany Evening – Thursday 20 June
Ten of us met Gerry Firkins, a member of the Sorby Natural History Society, in the Nature Park lay-by on a lovely still evening to have a look at the plants in the meadow and also other areas of the Nature Park. Gerry is a specialist in identifying grasses, and many grasses were just at their best, so we learnt quite a few names.
Monday 10 June
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
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