Diary page 14: September - October 2010

A photographic diary of our volunteering activities

Hedge cutting at Anglesey Abbey – 31st October 2010

Photo - The hedge before cutting Photo - The gang at work Photo - Same as left image after cutting

Left: The hedge before cutting; Right: The same section after cutting (Photos: Andy T.); Centre: The gang at work (Photo: Pete J.)

Photo - After a hard day’s work

After a hard day’s work (Photo: Pete J.)

We spent the day cutting back an overgrown hedge in the stable field. Andy T. has more pictures and there are several others from Pete J. too, showing the different parts of the job.

Painting the piggery at Wimpole – 24th October 2010

Photo - Richard’s (the farm manager’s) “team building exercise” Photo - Painting the piggery Photo - Painting the piggery

Left: Richard’s (the farm manager’s) “team building exercise”; Centre, Right: Painting the piggery (Photos: Andy T.)

Richard needed us to take a cart back from the stable block to the farm, the horses getting a break for once. Once we reached the farm, we painted the piggery with undercoat. Andy T. has written more and has additional photographs.

Weekend away at Hardwick Hall – 15th - 17th October 2010

(Tom writes:) There was only five of us at the Hardwick Hall weekend (15th - 17th October). We staying in the bunkhouse next to the Hardwick Inn down the hill from the Hall. The task was away from the Hall, we were clearing an old green lane on Saturday and on Sunday thinned the trees in an old orchard adjacent to the green lane. Weather was showery on Saturday but lovely and sunny on Sunday. Finished with a look around Hardwick Hall which had an interesting history.

Photo - The start of the overgrown green lane Photo - The cleared green lane with Mark, Pete, Tony, Steve and Ted the warden

Left: The start of the overgrown green lane; Right: The cleared green lane with Mark, Pete, Tony, Steve and Ted the warden (Photos: Tom H.)

Photo - The bunkhouse when we arrived on Friday

The bunkhouse when we arrived on Friday (Photo: Tom H.)

Photo - The bonfire of clippings Photo - Fire-watchers Tom and Tony

Left: The bonfire of clippings; Right: Fire-watchers Tom and Tony (Photos: Mark T.)

Tom has provided other pictures on Flickr, including Pete’s Jenga sculpture. Pete has other pictures, including the inside of the basecamp, Tom and Steve lopping and carrying, the orchard we cleared and Hardwick Hall itself.

Repairing tree guards at Wimpole – 10th October 2010

(Roger writes:) There were 14 volunteers on Sunday for Simon’s task so we split into two groups, one group removing old rotten tree guards and replacing with metal guards. The other group continued painting of the new metal fencing in the paddocks behind the farm.

Photo - Augering Photo - A group of us next to the painted railings Photo - Bolting the guard together

Left: Augering (Photo: Andy T.); Centre: A group of us next to the painted railings (Photo: Roger J.); Right: Bolting the guard together (Photo: Andy T.)

Pete has provided a video of all this work, which I (the Editor) have edited together. He’s provided more pictures of the materials we used, some augering work and inquisitive sheep.

Clearing moats at Lyveden New Bield – 19th September 2010

(Tom writes:) The task consisted of clearing reeds from the moats at Lyveden New Bield. We managed to clear the defined parts of the moat, and the weather didn’t even rain. Clyde drove the tractor to clear the area of the reeds we had pulled out.

Photo - Tony putting on some waders with the unfinished house in the background Photo - An area of moat before we started

Left: Tony putting on some waders with the unfinished house in the background; Right: An area of moat before we started. (Both photos by Tom H.)

Photo - Roger, Ruth and Laura in waders pulling out reeds, note the piles of reeds to the right on the bridge. Photo - The team at work with Clyde next to the loaded trailer

Left: Roger, Ruth and Laura in waders pulling out reeds, note the piles of reeds to the right on the bridge (Photo: Tom H.); Right: The team at work with Clyde next to the loaded trailer (Photo: Roger J.)

(Roger writes:) A mucky, muddy job needing wellies and waders but good fun as can be seen from the piccies…even the wildfowl paid us a visit, photo shows two white Pekin ducks (also known as dabbling ducks).

Photo - Pekin ducks Photo - At the end of the day minus reeds except a few piles on the bank we didn’t have time to clear.

Left: Pekin ducks (Photo: Roger J.); Right: At the end of the day minus reeds except a few piles on the bank we didn’t have time to clear. (Photo: Tom H.)

Joanna-Marie H. has more pictures.

Path repair at Wimpole – 12th September 2010

We continued constructing a path through the pleasure ground by laying edges to the path. Andy Taylor has taken some pictures of the task.

Photo - At the start Photo - Heidi sawing

Left: At the start; Right: Heidi sawing

Photo - With edges Photo - With wood chips laid

Left: With edges; Right: With wood chips laid