NEXT WORKING PARTY MEETING – THURSDAY 17th MAY 2018
Visitors
We are expecting to welcome the Borough Council’s Deputy Mayor Cllr. Barbara Fitzsimon
Outline Work Plan – Immediate Priority – Garden Restoration
As we stated two months ago, to prepare for the Open Day on Sunday 17th June, Garden Restoration now takes priority over excavation work except, of course, mechanical excavation work carried out by Maydencroft to an agreed plan.
MECHANICAL EXCAVATION – AN UPDATE
After several postponements, and with the arrival of better weather, the Borough Council granted us two weeks access to Maydencroft’s skilled team of mechanical digger operatives, starting last Wednesday. Mark was in the chair assisted by Richard.
Benefitting from constructive thought and planning, Maydencroft’s intervention has in just three days led to an amazing amount of new excavations and discoveries.
- On Wednesday we discovered a huge soak-away in front of the grotto, to take water away from the basin at the foot of the dropping well.
- And on Wednesday a third tier was discovered beneath the two-tiered planting bed on the East side of the dell.
- On Thursday an electrical trace attached to the lead water pipe in the dropping well revealed that underground lead piping is feeding from the direction of the House all around the dell.
- On Thursday the large central bed was cleared of rocks, and re-profiled.
- On Friday the rocks were placed around the edges of the newly profiled central bed and made to look ‘original’ through meticulous soil packing by Maydencroft’s James and Immogen.
- Also on Friday the bed by the retaining wall was cleared and re-profiled. The good news here was that we proved that this is yet another of Anthony Parson’s special ‘tanked’ beds with a concrete base and a drainage hole. The disappointment was to discover that the red-brick wall at the front edge has, over the years, been robbed and is likely to be 3-4 courses too low.
- On Friday all the grass beds had a second spray of selective weed killers.
WORKING PARTY TASKS – THURSDAY 17TH MAY 2018
TASK 1 – Continue nettle weeding in the prepared planting beds.
TASK 2 – Continue rabbit protection of planted trees
TASK 3 – General watering as required
TASK 4 – Clearing, scrubbing and cleaning the Rock edging on the sloping North East path past the Pulhamite outcrop.
TASK 5 – General site clearance
GARDENING GROUP TASKS*
Friday May 18th 2018
TASK 1 – Plants will be selected and purchased from Rochfords by Sarah and Ann, supported by Andrew.
Saturday May 19th 2018
TASK 1 – Plants to be unloaded in two tranches from a trailer parked in the road and carried to the site
2 x strong volunteers needed
TASK 2 – Sarah will place the plants – after placement assistance will be required
TASK 3 – Planting out
4 x GARDENING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – 3 x to plant and 1 x to water in
Monday 21st May 2018
TASK 1 – Sarah to collect a second tranche of purchased plants from Rochfords
TASK 2 – Plants to be unloaded from a trailer parked in the road and carried to the site
2 x strong volunteers needed
TASK 3 – Sarah will place the plants – after placement assistance will be required.
TASK 2 – Planting out
4 x GARDENING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – 3 x to plant and 1 x to water in
- Times to be confirmed
GARDENING GROUP COMMUNICATIONS – PLEASE SIGN UP
Will all volunteers who would agree to attend ad hoc gardening meetings (for example, see above meetings on 19th and 21st May) please send a WhatsApp message to John Roper so that you can opt-in to the WhatsApp FERNERY GARDENING GROUP which was recently established.
The purpose of this Group is solely to facilitate short term communications to arrange such meetings.
MEETING PLACE
We will meet at 10 am at The Fernery on Thursday 17th May 2018. The leaders will expect to be on site from 9.30 onwards to get the tools ready, so if you are an ‘early bird’ and can help, please do so.
All team members should have good quality garden gloves and wear strong boots, and bring a hot drink for elevenses. We will provide small hand tools for general use.
For newcomers, the Fernery can be found at the top end of North Ride on the Danesbury Estate, AL6 9RD. For more details please go to ‘Where We Are‘ tab at the top of the page.
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