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You are here: Home / News / Work Party Report – 21st September 2017

Work Party Report – 21st September 2017

23rd September 2017 By John Roper 2 Comments

Objectives

Although we aimed to continue the work of the very successful August working party – see Report Work Party 17th August 2017. this was an extra-ordinary meeting as we had two one-off events scheduled at the same time, which was a distraction.

We will deal with these first.

Reinstalling the Entrance Poles

Right on time the blacksmith from Essendon returned the two iron poles which had been straightened through the application of heat and a power press. The costs of this project, including the contractors’ (Maydencroft) costs for the initial removal of the poles and their re-installation,  has been entirely funded by the Friends, following a generous private donation.

Removing the bent poles
Paul and Radek reinstall the straightened poles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poles re-installed

 

 

Another Hole found – an unexpected further diversion.

About 1 metre from the right hand pole, Maydencroft’s Richard casually leaned on a steel rod which promptly disappeared into the ground until it hit rock! The following photographs show the red-brick hole on the left from which our entrance poles came, and the one on the right shows the new hole, also lined with brick walls, that nobody has yet explained! It seems that there might have been a far more elaborate iron-work Victorian entrance structure than any of us imagined!

The Red-brick Pole Hole
The newly discovered brick hole 1 metre away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Installing the Water Cabinet/Shed

Another Project funded by the Friends reached completion too, or very nearly so. The mains water supply funded by the Borough Council needed protection and the new shed hides a standpipe and tap, to which a hose reel (for plant watering) will ultimately be connected.

The shed is secured to the concrete base and it is planned to store low value hand tools there too, for the convenience of working parties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintenance 

While all that excitement was going on, the work party quietly carried on: weeding some of the Victorian Planting Beds, excavating

the gullies on the Top Path and further exploring the decorated pebbled wall that was discovered on the Top Path last month.

Weeding the Beds

Excavating Top Path gullies

 

Pebble patterns
Pebble Wall emerging

 

 

Elevenses

Fencing

Under Stephen’s direction, John struggled to lift the two fencing panels that were recently discovered by Stephen’s grandson using his plastic metal detector. They had been buried under 12″ soil for perhaps 100 years, and John could not photograph this manoeuvre and breath at the same time. Next month we will re-enact this for the family album if Stephen is present.

Future Meeting Dates

After some discussion during ‘elevenses’ it was agreed that for a trial period we will meet twice a month as follows:

3rd Thursday each month – Working Party meeting at The Fernery at 10 a.m. as at present.

1st Saturday each month – Gardening Group meeting at The Fernery at 10 a m

Social Media – progress

This Report and all future Reports will now be published on our website www.danesburyfernery.org.uk even though it is still under construction.

Our  FaceBook page @danesbury fernery , and our Twitter account @danesburyferns are both up and running.

British Pteridological Society

Andrew is inviting all Friends to let him know if they would like to be included (i.e. ‘named’) as a member of a Group Application for membership. He has a supply of Application Forms for those who wish to join individually but, as an alternative approach, Friends can join as a collective, but only if they are registered as such in the Group. So please let Andrew Beattie know how you stand on

Date of Next Meeting

Thursday 19th October – Working Party

Saturday 4th November  – Garden Group

 

 

Filed Under: News, Work Parties

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. mike h says

    24th September 2017 at 8:38 am

    hi john.
    thanks for the report and pictures – i like the new format.

    re the new hole – i would expect it to be one of a
    matching pair if it was part of the entrance structure
    so we could look 1 metre to the right of the other pole.
    Are you thinking it was where the 3rd pole lived?

    Reply
    • John Roper says

      24th September 2017 at 9:03 am

      Hi Mike

      Thanks for being the first ever person to ‘comment’on this site. I am glad you like it, but there is much more to do to get it as we want it.

      There has to be a 4th hole in my view and we will have to start looking for it. I have found a photo taken earlier this year that shows a pole laying on the ground in the middle of the dell. Later, I will dig that photo out and publish it to see if anybody can remember finding a pole there.

      Reply

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Copyright © 2022 Friends of Danesbury Fernery (FODF). Non attributed photography by John Roper.