Thursday 18/7/24 There were three Buzzards flying quite low over the mill soon after we arrived. My first job was staking down the insect hotel I made, as I forgot to do it last week and I thought it might have blown over and broken, but it was still standing.
Eddie mowed the grass between the wagon and river bank with Barry’s mower as we didn’t cut this area last time. We cut the rest of the grass last week, so we didn’t bring the ride on mower today. Eddie strimmed all the edges with the battery strimmer and filled the bird feeders.
Anne Marie pulled lots more tall weeds from the wildflower meadow and put them in the compost bay. There are more butterflies in the meadow now, we saw Peacocks and Cabbage Whites. Anne Marie checked the other gardens and noticed some blue flowers growing on the river bank which we couldn't identify.
The visitor centre lights stopped working last week, so I used the steps Helen gave us to reach into the loft and swap the battery for one the garage donated for the slideshow at our open days. The lights are now working and the solar control panel shows it is charging. It was very hot today so it was good to work indoors in the shade. I found one of the HOD banners in the loft, we will need this for the open days on 14 & 15 September.
Emma joined us and pulled up lots of Ragwort from the river bank to stop seeds spreading to farmers fields as its harmful to animals. Emma also cut nettles on the river bank with the petrol strimmer, so walkers on the footpath the other side of the river can see our wildflowers. The strimmer line got jammed so I used the thin pliers and cutters Howard gave us to untangle and trim the line. Emma took the weeds and cuttings to the compost bay. I fitted another tub on the inside of the shed door for storing plant labels and more garden tools.
The D Day diorama display from the May open days was advertised and I asked several museums if they wanted it, but got no replies, so today I took it apart. The sides were removed and I emptied sand from the beach section, then chiselled away filler of the sand dunes to access the screws and take it apart. We’ll re-use the wood, I put it all in the visitor centre loft. Downham Market Council borrowed our D Day displays for their event and they've given us a generous donation.
Emma gave us all a piece of Lemon Drizzle cake made by David’s mum, Joyce, it was lovely, we had it with our lunch in the wagon, as the sun was too hot to sit outside. In the afternoon the Swan family with their seven Cygnets swam up the river to the mill, we all watched them from the river bank.
Saturday 20/7/24 Fred had a work party along the river bank to build up the upper lock, which was too low after Norfolk Rivers Trust contractors worked on this part of the bank, there was a risk of the track flooding.
Fred loaded the trailer with soil which James took down to the lock and tipped out, Fred packed the soil down with the digger to make it firm. Debra raked the soil out and levelled it. The river bank is now high enough to avoid the track flooding. Overgrown hedges and vegetation were trimmed to give more room to get past. Hector the Labrador enjoyed going in the river to fetch sticks, but struggled to climb out up the raised bank.
Fred loaded his truck with soil, David, Ryan and I took it down the track and filled in the large ruts near the mill, we tipped the soil out where needed and raked it level, then drove over it to pack it down. It took three loads to fill in the worst ruts. Today's work was done in time for transporting visitors to our open days in September.
Thursday 25/7/24 I took the mower and trailer with bird food, kitchen roll, a stem of red Lupin seeds for the garden, the Heritage Open Days package and my tripod for taking photos, as I was alone to start with.
I unloaded the bird seed and fat balls and transferred them into our sealed tubs, then filled the bird feeders. I watched Great Tits eating seed and young Blue Tits on the peanuts. When filling the long seed feeder I noticed a fish on the ground nearby which something had been eating, the tail was the only part missing, so it was not an Otter, as they would eat the gills.
I mowed the large and small lawns and most of the grass around the site including paths through the wildflower meadow. The Teasels are starting to flower purple, we will leave them to go to seed as Goldfinches eat them.
I unpacked the free merchandise I ordered for Heritage Open Days in September, there are two new banners, open signs, flags, carrier bags, stickers and survey cards which enable visitors to give feedback on the HOD website, we had some very positive comments last year.
The Ash tree which Beryl, the site owner gave us was overgrown with nettles and weeds, so I strimmed around it to give more light, it looks healthy now with plenty of foliage, we thought it had died last year. There was a Moorhen chick in the river which went in to the shallow water under the wheel, its parent was nearby.
Debra walked down and joined me to help by strimming the river bank near our bridge so its clear for the open days in September, but we will need the petrol brushcutter for this, as the weeds are very dense. Debra cleared the area next to the compost bays which was full of nettles, we both pulled up tall weeds from there too.
A Bistort plant is flowering again with a pink lollipop shaped flower. Debra identified the mystery blue flowers with wispy leaves on the riverbank as Doubtful Knights Spur, Debra said they come from the birdseed.
The small fork fell off the shed door where it hangs up and the handle broke, so I repaired it by drilling another hole and screwing the handle back on, its used for lifting stubborn weeds out.
Abbie and Hector walked down later and Hector went straight into the river, we threw his ball and a stick from our wood store for him, he managed to bring them both back in his mouth and was running around with them. Debra mowed the lawn between the river bank and wagon, Abbie and I moved the table and chairs out of the way.
Graham Bartlett
Interactive Plan Activity Green Grant Wildflower Gallery Volunteer Previous Next
