THURSDAY 8/9/22 We had two more shelving racks delivered so we took them to the mill with some scrap wood we found at The Maltings for making signs. We had heavy rain recently so I checked the water butts, one is full, the other half full. I tested the walkway in front of them by walking along it and it feels solid and safe.
We viewed the brick floor which was covered with soil on Saturday, this will give a total wildflower area of 670 m2. We examined the concrete structure that was moved on Saturday, it was originally sticking out over the river, but was moved aside in 2015 and became lost in weeds. It’s now displayed next to the cistern. I laminated a sign with original pictures of it and stapled it to a board which I made ready for open days on 17 & 18 September. I put the fence back there to prevent visitors walking on the fragile cistern top.
It started raining hard so we did some indoor jobs, I laid cables along the length of the visitor centre so we can power the illuminated shelves and display screens at both ends of the building for the open days. I had created a slideshow of making the wildflower area so I added it to the small screen and viewed it, Eddie spotted a spelling mistake on the caption, so I had to correct that. We put an oil can and hand drill from The Maltings on display, plus a two man saw which we made wooden blocks for, to hold it on to the wall.
After the rain we tightened the loose coach bolts in the seat of the green bench using my dad’s spanners, then repaired the other bench as the folding table part had broken, we fitted a long woodscrew which has fixed it.
Eddie weeded the wildflower meadow and several other areas, as well as pulling up Ragwort from the riverside lawn. Large areas of the site were weeded on Saturday and they look good. Ryan couldn’t join us today as it was his first day back at school.
While working we saw the news that the Queen was ill and after I got home, I learned the sad news of her death. Thinking about the Queen reminded me of our Clean For The Queen event in April 2016 to celebrate her 90th birthday. RIP Queen Elizabeth ll, thank you for your long, devoted service to our country.
SATURDAY 10/9/22 There were 6 of us including Anne Marie who answered our volunteer appeal notice on the Nar Valley Way and spent the day clearing weeds and debris around the wildlife habitat and insect hotels which were very overgrown. They are now tidy and fully visible, we could see the drilled logs in the habitat have sealed ends where insects have laid their larvae.
Emma weeded behind the water wheel at river level and pulled Ivy off the river wall, while David strimmed the river bank. Eddie repaired the cycle rack which got damaged last week, then strimmed around all the features and buildings. Emma tidied the railway wagon which will be the kitchen at the open days.
Ryan cleared rubble and debris from the downstream tunnel, took it back and tipped it in the yard and brought back water for making tea which we forgot to bring. He then helped David take apart the swinging footbridge as it would not rotate, I went home and got a socket set so the seized bearing could be removed. Ryan and I then went back to get the mower so Eddie and David could cut the grass. We have not needed to mow since July due to the drought.
While having lunch outside we discussed plans for the open days and decided to put the parking direction signs out on Thursday afternoon. Emma made a checklist of all the things to be done. Ryan is going to have an area where visitors can try out metal detecting.
I fitted the new swivel bracket for the main display screen in the visitor centre, this gives a much better viewing angle. I then fitted the new rack of parts bins in the shed, Eddie and I filled it with screws, nails and other bits & pieces. Ryan and I started connecting wiring in the visitor centre to the illuminated shelves and display screens using new busbar terminal blocks.
Eddie cleaned all the outside chairs then unlocked the water wheel. David connected hoses and started the pump which got the water wheel turning ready for the open days. On our journeys along the river bank we noticed Swans have made a nest just upstream from the bone mill.
Graham Bartlett
Interactive Plan Activity Heritage Open Days Green Grant Wildflower Meadow Volunteer Previous Next
