Thursday 23/1/25  The Swan and Cygnets were in the river beside the mill when we arrived and stayed there most of the day. It was raining in the morning so we had a cup of tea in the wagon with the fire alight. We saw a Robin in the trees from the wagon and a Cormorant flew over when we went outside.

We repaired the bench seat we started last time, working in the buildings to keep out of the rain. Eddie worked in the shed removing fixings from the bench end as they were damaged and worn out. Eddie got the fixings out by grinding the heads off using a new attachment he brought today, he then ground paint off the bench ends.

I worked in the visitor centre marking out and centre punching hole positions for screwing the wooden bench slats into the metal ends. Eddie drilled and countersunk the holes, then I started to assemble the bench by fitting the slats using screws left over from repairing our bridge.

We had four visitors, Ruth & Graham from West Mersea, and Alan & Eileen from Monmouth. They looked round the visitor centre and watched videos of the water wheel turning and the model mill, Eddie made Coffee for us all and I explained the exhibits. Then they explored the outside areas and gave a generous contribution in our donation box, I gave them biscuits for their walk back. 

Eddie bought Papworth’s sausage rolls and put them in the oven for lunch which we really enjoyed. After lunch I fitted the other bench end after Eddie finished grinding paint off, we need to make two more backrest slats next time. 

When we were clearing up to come back I noticed the Swans had come out of the river and settled down on our lawn, they stayed there while we loaded up near them and drove away.

I have added historic maps to the website which show the bone mill buildings, these were sent to me by Oona who gave us the Industrious Rivers book last week. I continued reading the book today and noticed Little Cressingham Mill is mentioned, which we visited in 2015.

Tuesday 28/1/25  We had an extra day at the mill to work on the bench seat, it was raining most of the day so we worked in the visitor centre again.

Eddie found two more pieces of wood to use for the backrest as some of the original pieces were cut up and used for something else. Eddie cut them to length and we fitted them, then I cut the damaged part of the armrests off and Eddie ground a rounded edge on them and we fitted them to the bench ends.

The bench was not very rigid when we tested it by sitting on it, so I found a wide length of wood to use as a bracing piece. I centre punched the metal frame and Eddie drilled and countersunk four screw holes. We fitted the brace with two screws each end and tested the bench, this has made it solid with no movement at all. 

When Oona gave us the Industrious Rivers book, she also brought us mince pies which we ate today after lunch and they were really nice. Later in the day we saw a Cygnet on the grass near our river bank and a Chaffinch in the tree. 

It stopped raining eventually so we worked outside, Eddie ground old paint off the wooden bench slats ready for repainting while I tested the metal detector to make sure it still works, I tested it with pliers on the ground which it detected, so volunteers and visitors will be able to use it.

One of the insect hotels we made was leaning over so I tightened up screws in the base and added some more to keep it upright. While working in the meadow I noticed the Oak sapling, which we thought was dying, is looking more healthy now after we put mulch and bark around it.

Thursday 30/1/25  Eddie painted the wooden parts of the bench seat we repaired last time which came from his mum’s garden, next time we’ll paint the metal ends with black Hammerite paint.

Oona and her husband Vince visited to give us a book about the Methwold fruit farm colony, which encouraged self sufficiency in rural areas as a reaction against industrialisation, my wife Jan’s ancestors are from Methwold. Oona also gave us some very nice biscuits which we had with our tea. I showed them both round the mill, Vince was very interested in our solar panel system as he is planning a similar installation.

Jonathan and Michelle also visited with their Golden Labrador Willow, who enjoyed going in the river fetching her ball which we threw for her. Jonathan makes Owl boxes from re-used materials and he was looking around our site for a suitable place for one. I showed them both round and they saw our visitor centre, where I had videos playing of the water wheel turning, the model mill and the wildflower meadow in bloom for all our visitors to see.

A pair of Swans were in the river and a Cygnet settled down behind our water wheel. I crossed our bridge to see if there was any nesting material in the Kestrel box near the mill as it can be seen better from the opposite bank. Kestrels were seen nearby today and the Kestrel box at the Maltings has nesting material in, but I couldn't see any material in the one near the mill. 

Other wildlife seen in flight today was a Red Kite, Cormorant, Heron and Egret. There was also a Wren on our grindstones and Moorhens were eating something on the ground next to the wildflower meadow. Eddie filled all the bird feeders up today.

I cut up the rest of the small branches from the fallen trees we brought back before Christmas, Eddie put them in the logstore and took several buckets of logs to the wagon as we had the fire alight again today. Eddie then sorted out the logstore so the seasoned and un-seasoned logs are separated.

Graham Bartlett  

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