A photographic diary of our volunteering activities
(Tom writes:) Weather generally good with a few light showers. We were mainly lopping down ash and birch seedlings in an open area at the end of the lime tree avenue, to keep it open. For a change on Sunday morning we had two hours of litter picking, which was surprisingly good fun. Sunday evening, we drove to Clyde’s parent’s and had a great BBQ and played croquet despite the strong wind. On Monday, we came home via Southwell and visited The Workhouse and the Minster – we even took a tour up the bell tower to the roof.
Left: As we started sapling lopping; Right: End of Saturday with piles of saplings
The day off. Left: Entering The Workhouse; Right: Southwell Minster
Group photo outside bunkhouse. (All photos by Tom H.)
Pete has taken more pictures, including two each of us relaxing between jobs, a candlelit dinner and the views from the top of Southwell Minster.
(Lop writes:) Six intrepid CNTV members braved the M25 to stay at the Octavia Hill Basecamp at Toys Hill near Sevenoaks in Kent over the weekend of 9th - 11th July 2010.
Over the weekend, we carried out tasks on the Trust’s North Kent Open Spaces Estate. On the Saturday, we enjoyed discovering wasp nests while weeding along a newly planted hedge followed by a relaxing session of shed painting. On the Sunday we worked in the grounds of Knole House, removing and replacing a section of fencing. (Photos by Andy T.)
Left: Cutting at undergrowth on Saturday; Centre, right: Painting the shed (some of us went to collect the fence posts for the next day)
Left: On Sunday, before we repaired the fence; Centre: Fence with posts down; Right: Tamping in an end post (which needed to go in three-foot holes)
Left: Battering in other posts; Centre: Hammering wire; Right: After we repaired the fence. It should now last for 10-15 years.
Left: The basecamp accommodation, with us outside; Centre: Pete, Andy, Tony, Alison, Joan, Lop; Right: Knole
(Lop writes:) On the night of Saturday 26th June, Anglesey Abbey held their annual Moonlight and Moths night where families came and camped overnight and got close up and personal with the fluttery creatures of the night.
During the evening, moth traps were set up at various locations around the grounds and experts were on hand to identify the different species of moth caught.
We were there to assist with the event; directing the families to the camp site, setting up and manning the refreshment tent and ensuring no one got stuck in the portaloos or got lost in the dark. On the Sunday morning we helped with the breakfasts and finally, ensured the remaining trapped moths were liberated.
At the “Moonlight and Moths” weekend (Photos: Lop E.)
Andy Taylor has more pictures.
To celebrate Alison’s 25th anniversary of joining the group, we went for a walk at Sheringham Park in north Norfolk, visiting Cromer in the afternoon (Tom H. has taken a few pictures of this). Our walk took in the gardens with their seas of rhododendrons and viewing towers, as well as the Poppy Line’s station at Sheringham.
Meeting for the start of the walk (Left photo: Tom H.; Right photo: Mark T.)
Left: Some of the flowers at Sheringham (Photo: Val W.); Right: A group of us at the top of the gazebo, a tower giving panoramic views of the park (Photo: Alison B.)
The Poppy Line at Sheringham, which we visited on our trip; locomotive 69621 is described on the M&GN Railway site. (Left photo: Val W.; Right photo: Tom H.)
We cleared brambles and scrub from ditches beside a ride which runs through the forest, having walked through a sea of buttercups to get there. This effort is a small help towards preserving a landscape which has remained relatively unchanged for centuries. CNTV visited the Forest before in 2009; here’s a photo from that work.
After we had cut some of the undergrowth (Photos: Paul H.)
We worked in two groups, building a path and planting in the gardens, which was continuing its tradition of rather realistic scarecrows. Thanks to Paul H. for all of the following photos:
Top: Building the path; Bottom: Working in the gardens (Photos: Paul H.)
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