This blog is really getting harder and harder to write, as the VO’s who actually run the daily tasks are often not around on Mondays!!! – as a result it is mostly done through guesswork and photos, so apologies if anything is missed out!
Tuesday
By all accounts this was the final day at Berwick Law. Looked like cross-drain building was involved, along with redefining the main path and laying some left over Type 1; does this seem accurate??
"Put your left leg in...."
Wednesday
We headed down to Melrose and the Borders General Hospital, to continue the work from last Tuesday. Basically they’ve got a really large field, surrounded by large bushes and trees, which they want to turn into a community/staff/patient garden-thing. We had been called in to cut back the bushes and trees and to try and relocate the original fence which had been lost in the midst of time.
As it had taken a fair while to actually get down to the site, there was just time for a very quick mug of tea and a tool talk – supplemented by Willie. The group split into two sub-groups; Rob taking the first to tackle the larger conifer trees, and myself and Dave taking the other to start on the sloe bushes. Everybody cracked on at a great pace and by lunchtime (a slightly less respectable 12.15) most of the fence was visible; although from a distance it looked like the hedge had moved into the field a few metres – this was the neat pile of clippings which were left behind. – No not habitat piles this time – they were waiting to be chipped.
Around this time, Chris came into action with a chainsaw, and Alan and Derek located a long plastic drainpipe which they experimented with as use of a didgeridoo.
Unfortunately we didn’t have time for a lichen survey, which was a real shame as the sloe bushes were covered in the stuff (there was more lichen than blossom in some places).
Thursday
Thursday was somewhat of a fraught, frenetic day. We were down at Stanwell Nursery in Leith, creating raised beds. Due to bad time keeping (not on our part) the materials hadn’t arrived by Wednesday; so unfortunately Rob had to head to the site for 8am in the morning on Thursday – just in case they dained to arrive before the main force arrived (we were banking on this – with the idea that he could start cutting up the wood!). Suffice to say this didn’t happen as planned.
It was impressive however, that so many people turned up (given the appalling weather)! Managed to get down to Leith fine, and with the help of local knowledge (Rob H), managed to find somewhere to park the van without paying. It was during this time that the materials also arrived – to add to the chaos.
With 5 raised beds planned (some with slightly obscure designs), the group was spilt up, with Pat and Pam taking (what looked like) the most complicated.
I don’t really know what happened next, as I went home early….its possible there are photos out there somewhere…if I could find the camera…….?