Thursday 27/7/23  Ryan brought the petrol strimmer and cut down weeds around the tunnel exit, then put the bridge across and cut the area where the bridge swings round, as it was overgrown with brambles, the bridge now operates easily.

I brought some laminated signs I made at home, one for the Anchor Bracket found in the river, as the original sign got water damaged, also a notice and pictures of the Blacksmith’s shop before it was covered over with soil, so visitors can see pictures of what it looked like and an explanation of why we covered it.

We all tidied the shed as it was very cluttered, we took the contents outside to sort out and we swept the bench and floor. I fixed a piece of builders band on the wall to hold the multi tool in place. The cycle rack was taken to the small lawn, everything else was put back in the shed tidily, its all easily accessible now, I don't think the shed has ever been so tidy. While we were working, a Hornet flew into the hole in the outer shed wall and we saw baby Hornets come out.

Eddie strimmed around the wagon while Ryan mowed the grass nearby with Barry’s mower. I put my wellies on and got the ladder to go into the river and pull up weeds behind the water wheel, when I put the ladder back I saw baby Lizards basking in the sun on our logs. We checked the nest cameras and noticed the mystery egg has gone from the Jackdaw / Barn Owl box.

Eddie weeded the gardens around the trees and I put the fence and sign back near the water wheel to block off the fallen wall. My last job was getting all the stationery (Drawing Pins, BluTack, Velcro, Staple Gun etc) from the wagon and putting them in a tub on the visitor centre shelf, where they are needed for maintaining displays.

Thursday 3/8/23  I took the mower and cut the track on the way there and back, at the mill I cut the upper river bank and pathways through the wildflower meadow. Eddie started cutting the rest of the grass but it was too wet and kept clogging, so we waited for it to dry.

I unpacked the Heritage Open Days parcel which arrived, there are lanyards, bunting, tote bags, stickers and HOD Open signs. I tried one of the lanyards with my volunteer badge. These are ready for the open days on 16 & 17 September.

Ryan mowed the area around the wagon with Barry’s mower and strimmed the edges, then used the ride on mower to cut the rest of the grass on site when it had dried out.

I made a laminated sign about Frank and Barry and put it on the wall of the railway wagon, to remind us of their time at the mill. The article I wrote about Barry was read out at his funeral.

I brought four more Bistort plants which have pink lollipop shaped flowers which Bees are very attracted to, they thrive in wet areas and spread well. I planted them both sides of the wildlife habitat next to the stream and on the river bank. I watered them and used our plant labels to mark them. I also brought Love-In-The-Mist seed heads which we will sow next time.

We had lunch outside, Beryl gave us Greengages from her tree which are very nice, I had two for lunch and a bag to take home. I saw a baby Lizard again in our log store, this is close to the nest box we fitted under the visitor centre for them, so they are probably using it.

Graham Bartlett  

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