February 2011 Southern team update
Many hands make light work!
February has been a month where we have been able to get on with stone work once again! The weather and numerous repair jobs around the property have meant that we have not been able to start on some of the larger projects that were planned for the winter months. The cold weather and rain have meant that many walls have tumbled and we have set forth to repair the numerous gaps, as Nick and Ian can be seen working on.
Ian and Nick working on a woodland wall © Sam Stalker
We had a day working with the South Lakes Conservation volunteers and the Fix the Fells volunteer lengthsmen on a hedge in Yewdale on Boon Crag Farm, we achieved such a lot that day! With their help we were able to lay almost 100 meters of hedge in one day, something that we would not have achieved without them.
Hedge laying work party © Sam Stalker
We had a day working with the South Lakes Conservation volunteers and the Fix the Fells volunteer lengthsmen on a hedge in Yewdale on Boon Crag Farm, we achieved such a lot that day! With their help we were able to lay almost 100 meters of hedge in one day, something that we would not have achieved without them. Myself and the team gain great pleasure from working alongside such dedicated volunteers, as so often it is a day of highly productive work, along with friendly banter.
Staff and volunteers hard at work © Sam Stalker
There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a job well done and more quickly than you first thought. This was the epitome of productivity, with staff and volunteers working in unison to achieve rapid and high quality results.
Hall Garth Winter 2011
Our major project for the beginning of 2011 is to repair a track at Hall Garth in Little Langdale, the track leads up to one of our holiday cottages and has become in a state of disrepair due to damage from motor vehicles and water erosion. We are doing work on the track at present to improve access to our holiday cottage and to prevent further erosion, which may lead to the undermining of the adjacent wall foundations, causing more problems in the future.
Part of the problem?!! © Ian Griffiths
Because the level of the track has dropped by up to two feet in places, we are repairing it by building sections of stone pitching on top of the present path surface and then infilling between them with stone and gravel in order to raise the path level and create a sustainable surface.
The team preparing the ground, ready to lay in the pitching and build the water bar. © Sam Stalker
Gavin finishing off building the water bar. © Sam Stalker
The finished article, looking like it’s been there for years! © Sam Stalker
We are currently on course to complete the project by the end of the week, as everything has gone to plan. With new drainage in place and a repaired path surface, I hope to be able to visit the site in many years to come and admire our handiwork!
Written by Sam Stalker, 'Man at the Top' 2nd March 2011
