Cambridge National Trust Volunteers

Diary page 14 of 21: October 2011 – January 2012 [older | newer]

Weekend away at Brancaster — 20th - 22nd January 2012

This is our annual re-paint / re-varnish / spruce-up of an NT children’s activity centre in a quiet and beautiful part of the north Norfolk coast. We have food laid on for us, and there’s time on the Sunday for an interesting walk along the coast path. The pictures show us painting one of the internal corridors and part of the walk at the end of the weekend.

Photo - Getting the walls painted Photo - Split photo showing one room before and after Photo - The walk

Getting the walls painted; split photo showing one room before and after; the walk (centre photo: Andy T.; other photos: Tom H.)

(Andy T. writes:) Pete and I opted for varnishing the cupboard doors. We spent [Saturday] morning sandpapering and then wiping them down. Then we had lunch – “New Year Soup” – which was nice, spicy and warming and sandwiches. Then in the afternoon we varnished half the cupboard doors. Half because there was not enough space to varnish them all. We finished at about 5pm after a break for coffee in the afternoon. [On Sunday] Pete and I finished off the cupboard doors whilst the rest of the gang did some gloss work. Then we had our lunch - leak and potato soup with sandwiches and left over cakes.

Andy T. has more pictures, as does Tom H. (first set, second set).

Ickworth — 15th January 2012

Photo - Clearing brambles Photo - The bonfire Photo - The group of us

Clearing brambles; the bonfire; the group of us (right photo: Paul H.; other photos: Andy T.)

(Andy T. writes:) The task was cutting down a load of scrub between a path and a field. The scrub was in a ditch next to a fence. Then one of the wardens left and the other, James, stayed with his chainsaw and helped us for the whole day. We also had a bonfire on either side of the fence. At the very end of the day we did some bramble pulling and cleared a small area in no time at all.

We finished at about 4pm and had a group photograph before heading to the “Engine Room” at the main house for coffee, tea and cakes. [Both Andy T. and Paul H. have more photos.]

Anglesey Abbey — 8th January 2012

We re-covered a temporary track we had created on a previous task using bark chippings. That job complete, we trimmed the hedge at the edge of the site.

Photo - Before we started Photo - Digging the mulch Photo - All finished

Before the work, digging the chippings ready for laying, and after we had finished (left photo: Mark T.; other photos: Tom H.)

Wimpole Farm — 30th October 2011

A task involving the creation of a fence (with a bit of help from a big digger!)

Photo - Line of the fence Photo - Getting everything put together Photo - Heavy machinery

Line of the fence; Getting everything put together; Heavy machinery (photos: Paul H.)