Task Reports

Today we unloaded the kilns. However, as expected, they had not burnt well. We had had to close the kilns down whilst the indications were that the process had not completed but it had got too late. We did manage to bag a reasonable amount. 

We also prepared other timber, ready to season and use in the future, and repaired the saw horses.

Today we were a group of 9 volunteers

Today was an unusual task for us here at BEES as it was our last task with Nick, but our task at Boar’s Well was a fitting way to send him on his way to new pastures. Our main objective was to clear the paths of nettles brambles and other vegetation and make them accessible for the public, so we split into small group and began to clear the paths.

Some used loppers and shears to remove overhanging branches and larger bushes, whilst others used the sickles to sweep away the grass and nettles. Like many of our sites we also did some litterpicking and removed Himalayan Balsam, and mowed a strip alongside the path.

Once the task was finished we returned to Culture Fusion and had our final farewells with Nick for his years of dedication to BEES, and headed to the Lord Clyde in true BEES fashion.

Today we had a group of 13

This week we travelled back to Northcliffe Woods to continue the work on the footpath we started in November. We also were asked to work on the paths and remove the top leave litter to make the paths passable. So we split into group and began work, 1 group worked on repairing and strengthen the footpath within the woods. We did this by construction a frame and the filling it with hardcore.

The other group worked on clearing the paths and removing the topsoil along the length of the footpath, and also using loppers and shear removed and brambles or nettles from the path (making sure of course to protect the bluebells which looked lovely this year).

We were in a group of 10

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The weekend is a great opportunity for people to learn and practice the skill of dry stone walling. We needed to finish some sections of wall ready for the world’s cameras as the Tour de France passes by in July!

We succeeded in completing two sections, and actually wished we had been more ambitious and taken down a greater section to avoid the bulging section that remained.

Some of the group walked the scenic route back along Cray Gill one night, it was full of flowers and prepared me for the Field Trip excursion the following Tuesday

We will carry out general maintenance tasks at the Orchard. As always there will be plenty to do to keep the site looking cared for as the harvest season approaches. This included mowing the grass next to the path, and weeding around the trees and raised beds. The belvedere was looked at, with the old graffiti and vanish removed and a new coating painted on.

On the day too we had a wonderful surprise with a family of wrens, with the fledging hopping in the freshly mown grass and a strange encounter with a colony of caterpillar.

Today we were in a group of 13 

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First things first. It didn't rain today. At all! No wet feet, not winter fleeces. Phew. 

Today was a mixture of carry timber up the hill (thanks to the help from golf club green keepers we didn't spend all day, and all our energy doing this), sawing, splitting logs and stacking the timber. 

Two kilns are now ready to burn. 

There was plenty of insect life around to keep us entertained. Of note were the lacewing larvae who seemed to like the metal of the kilns, fast moving (hence blurred photos) violet ground beetles, and several unidentified catapillars.

 Today we were in a group of 9

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Today task was to attend and further manage the sites at Woodside Community Garden, Reevy Mill Dam, the Community Orchard where the plants required some attention. Also as well as this the grass at Reevy Mill Dam was mown and the group undertook some litterpicking. The Ration Garden project at Culture Fusion and the Orchard, which is part of the commemoration of the start of World War 1. 

Today we were a group of 9

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We will continue with our project to landscape the Canal road Greenway. Today we will be raking over the ground alongside the tarmac path to create suitable conditions to sow seeds. This will ensure that the tarmac strip blends in nicey and will complement our work planting the trees.

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We will prepare the ground and sow seeds at the side of the tarmac strip. * Leave Culture Fusion 9.30am

Click Here to view the rest of the day pictures

Click Here to to view the BEES Flickr page