A photographic diary of our volunteering activities
(Paul / Andy write:) Our task was the prune the huge hawthorn hedge next to the allotments. A lopper and bowsaw job with plenty to do. The sycamore was saved to use around the tree house being built in the opposite corner of the estate in October.
We made good progress and very nearly finished. We had scones and cakes in the fresh air outside at the restaurant when we finished. The weather was lovely and warm for the end of September.
Attacking the hedge (photo: Andy T.); The gang at work (photo: Paul H.)
Before and after (photos: Karen J.)
Here's a task we recently undertook at Oxburgh Hall, involving forestry tasks, scrub clearance and fixing tree guards.
All photos by Andy T.: Fixing up a tree guard; Another tree slayed; Tony and Peter lopping and hooking
Before bramble clearance; After bramble clearance
Now for a variation on all the photos we have below – some videos from last winter. The left film is of a January path building project at Anglesey. The video on the right is of a bonfire we made at Wicken Fen on 5th December.
Thanks to Pete J. for both.
On this task with a high turnout (thanks, everyone!) we first removed metal tree guards then dug out turves in preparation for a new footpath outside the walled garden. Some of us removed stones from one part of the site. Phil, the head gardener, helped with a mechanical digger.
Left, Centre: Filling the wheelbarrow with turf; Right: Phil, the head gardener, scooping limestone (Photos: Margaret G.)
Left: Phil in the digger; Right: Digging out the stones (Photos: Karen J.)
Left: Footpath with turf removed (Photo: Margaret G.); Centre: Break time; Right: Trish removing a tree guard (Photos: Mark T.)
We mowed and cleared grass on one of Ickworth’s more diverse grassland habitat areas. Removing the cut grass in this way reduces the level of nutrients feeding back into the ground. This helps maintain the presence of wild flowers and keeps brambles and hawthorn from taking over the area.
(All photos by Paul H. – there are many more in his photo album.)
| Back to home page | Older diary page >> |