Diary page 7: June - August 2008

A photographic diary of our volunteering activities

Anglesey Pond Dipping Platform - 24th August 2008

Following on from our work with Goldman Sachs volunteers, we decided to include a further
task into our programme to complete the platform and progress the disabled access path.
The morning started wet and drizzly but never-the-less nine CNTV volunteers started work.
Progress throughout the day was excellent and by 3:30pm we had finally assembled the
platform and made good progress on levelling the access path.
Nine weary volunteers returned to the restaurant for a cup of tea, cake and a rest!!

(Photo: Roger) Left: Nigel tightening bolts ....
(Photo: Roger) Right: Neil and Nigel fitting handrail supports
Clare and Maxi sorting decking planks (background).

(Photo: Roger) Left: Tom, Val, Jacquie and Betty levelling the disabled access.... (Photo: Tom) Right: Nicely levelled entrance

(Photo: Roger) Left: Clare and Maxi eaze a handrail post into position....
(Photo: Roger) Right: CNTV volunteers testing handrails and platform.

(Photo: Roger) Above: Platform assembled - thanks from Roger to all the Goldman Sachs volunteers and today's CNTV team.

Barchams Nursery Visit - 17th August 2008

see Autumn newsletter.

Anglesey Pond Dipping Platform construction with
Goldman Sachs Volunteers - 5th to 8th August 2008

Occasionally CNTV get asked to support larger tasks, and this task was for us quite a challenge.
Rather than actually "doing" the task, we were asked to lead two groups of volunteers daily for 4 weekdays.
Since many CNTV members have regular work, this type of task requires time out from work.
We have created a separate diary page of our week with the many enthusiastic Goldman Sachs'
Community Teamworks Programme volunteers we had the pleasure to meet and work alongside.
Click here for our Goldman Sachs' task diary pages

Wimpole Gardens - 27th July 2008

A day working with Andy and Jake in the Victorian Gardens.

(Photo: Tom) Left: pruning and weeding...before.... (Photo: Tom) Right: and after

(Photo: Tom) Left: Val pruning apple trees.... (Photo: Tom) Right: a motley looking crew, would you risk your garden?? (Nice legs!!)

Ickworth Path Widening - 20th July 2008

An eventful task cutting back bushes on the public pathways. Steve managed to stand on a bees nest in an old rotten tree stump
- the bees were not happy and several of us received stings. Fortunately no-one was allergic to the stings!

(Photo: Clare) Left: Clare getting tangled in the brambles.... (Photo: Roger) Right: path getting wider

(Photos: Roger) Left / Mid: Martin and Steve lopping down the overhanging branches....Right: Colourful hairy caterpillar - variety unknown?

Wimpole Folly part 2 - 13th July 2008

Continuing our 8th June task clearing the Folly - today our task was to make a 6 foot wide clearing ready to fence
off the rear of the Folly. We also asked Simon Damant if he knew the history of the Folly, here is what he had to say:
"Designed some twenty years earlier by Sanderson Miller it was not implemented until Capability Brown included it in the new north park,
Essex did a little bit of redesigning. As far as I know it WAS built as a ruin and probably later made into accommodation for estate staff namely the
game keeper and a horse shed was also built. Once covered in ivy which was removed by the NT. Allegedly a Barbastelle colony roosted there
but has since gone. Somewhat it a poor state of repair now and in need of renovation. Did have castellation at the top so it looked like a castle.
Oh yes when they apparently knocked down the church they used some of the stone to face the folly in white clunch" [maybe clunch from here?]

(Photos: Roger) Left / Mid / Right: clearing in progress....Val clears felled trees and branches

(Photos: Roger) Left: Lunch break....Mid: a large bramble bush blocks our way....Right: Nigel attacks the bramble bush with a slasher

(Photo: Simon) Left: Brambles gone, work group pictured at back of Folly....(Photo: Roger) Right: Bees working in their ground nest

Anglesey Abbey Wildlife Weekend - 15/16th June 2008

An extremely busy task helping the staff at Anglesey Abbey with the Wildlife Weekend.
Experts were on hand to answer questions about wild flowers, bugs, butterflies, moths, bees, insects, bats...
There were activities for youngsters - bird box building, pond dipping, bug netting, insect identification, bark rubbing and
wildlife related games. Overnight camping included dinner and breakfast (great food thanks to the chefs and staff!)

So here is a short diary of the event from the view of a volunteer - to read the full text you'll
have to wait and read Val's article in the summer newsletter! (Coming soon....).

Saturday 10:00am - arrived and started work putting up gazebos and setting up activity tables.

(Photo: Roger) Left: ...gazebos assembled ....
(Photo: Roger) Right: Alison, Aubrey, Joan, Jane and Betty setting up games table (or maybe just playing..)

Throughout the day - informing and helped visitors to get the most out of their visit
including handing out maps and identification sheets for the wildlife walk.

(Photo: Roger) Left: visitors inspect some of the insects captured at Anglesey ....
(Photo: Roger) Mid: The Wildlife Trust stand - full of information and some lime Hawk Moth caterpillars ....
(Photo: Roger) Right: the colourful lime hawk moth caterpillar eating lime leaves.

Saturday 4:00pm - the property closes, our work continues. It was off to
set up the camp site and put our own tents up.

(Photo: Val) Left: Harry instructs Sally (Mum) on how to put up a tent ....
(Photo: Harry!!) Right: Sian taking a quick nap.

Saturday 7:30pm - reported to the restaurant to help serve the evening meal to the 42 people
who had signed up for the camping and overnight activities.
After eating ourselves it was out to the kitchen to get on with the washing up
[hmmmm I can't remember that bit I think I reluctantly had to help set up moth traps....Roger]

(Photo: Roger) Left: ... Sian and Jane serving the dinner to guests .... (Photo: Roger) Right: hey Harry what's this..wine tasting already??

Saturday evening - visiting moth traps and looking for bats....meet Bertie below

(Photo: Roger) Left: ... Bertie the bat...my best effort yet to photograph a bat in the dark
(helped with a bat monitor and using flash - what type of bat? most likely a Noctule as it is quite red)
(Photo: Roger) Right: ... Iwan shows the young visitors the moths and insects caught in the moth trap.

Sunday morning about 12:30am! - hot chocolate and marshmallows then off to get some sleep.

Sunday morning 3:45am! (yes really!!) - wake up and off to the Noctule bat tree to see them returning -
sadly they had decided to get an early night. So it was off for a walk round the property with Dave
listening to and identifying birds (goldcrests, jays, black caps, green and spotted woodpeckers) during the dawn chorus.

(Photo: Roger) Left: ... Noctule bat tree ...... (Photo: Roger) Right: ... Dawn chorus walk in the Abbey grounds.

Sunday 6:30am - full English breakfast and for us more serving and washing up.

Sunday 8:00am - back to the camp site to pack up tents.
Sunday 10:00am - a repeat of Saturday informing and helping visitors to Anglesey Abbey get the most out of their visit.
Sunday 4:00pm - tea and cakes for the volunteers and then off to home for a rest.....zzzzzzzzz.