Hedge laying at Styal 26 Feb 2012

Another bumper turnout today saw 15 of us meet in the Quarry Bank Mill car park at 0930 for a day’s hedge laying. Those of us with little or no knowledge of this country skill were given an excellent introductory talk and demonstration by warden John. Techniques and styles vary across the country, as described on the National Hedge laying Society’s website:

The style we employed was to use a billhook or bowsaw to cut into the vertical trunks a few inches above ground level and then carefully bend the trunks so that they lay about 30 degrees to the horizontal. The bent trunks were then entwined and pegged down with stakes.

We worked on three sections of hedge along the driveway to the house beside the Upper Garden and got a big bonfire going to burn all the brash. After lunch John gave us a guided tour of the Upper Garden and the 19th century cast iron glasshouses and explained the Trust’s ambitions for the area. We had a spectacular view from the bottom of the garden across the Bollin valley to the mill beyond.

Sunday 19th Feb 2012 at Hayfield

Twelve MNTV volunteers, 3 National Trust Rangers in their new-style uniforms and 2 of their dogs, met to clear rhododendron in Park Hall Woods at Hayfield. It was a cold start with some black ice in the Sett Valley Trail carpark where we met, but once we got to the worksite, the Rangers got the fire going and we started cutting down the rhody and dragging it to the fire, we all warmed up. The day just got better and better - the sun started breaking through the trees, the air was still and the only sound was from the birds and the chatter and laughter of the volunteers.
A great day and we made a big difference by clearing a large area of rhody:-)

10-12th Feb 2012 - weekend at Harris House, Wensleydale

On what was a cold February evening, 9 people joined me in Wensleydale to help give Harris House, Hardraw a little tlc:-)
Tim was first to arrive at 4pm but after a while of sitting by the open fire and no sign of anyone, we decided we'd been stood up!
However, eventually we were joined by Charlie, Carol, Ian and Marita, a little later Neil and Phillipa arrived and we dined on Spaghetti Bolognaise and Chocolate Mousse.
After our evening meal I introduced the assembled company to the local pub, The Green Dragon. At around 11pm Sue and Sarah arrived having travelled up from Manchester after Sarah had finshed Guides and, as Sue had failed to read my instructions as to where the key was hidden(!), we had to return from a warm pub.
On Saturday morning we first prepared the areas that we had been asked to paint - these included the staircase and main hall walls, some of us donned rather fetching disposable boiler suits and began the prep. Having spent the morning prepping we ate lunch alfresco, and then wrapped up warm and walked into the local town of Hawes and back.
After we got back we donned our disposable boiler suits again and started on the BIG paint - the colours that were chosen were County Cream and a rather interesting shade of Caramel, oh and for those of you that were there, the caramel was the correct colour ....... the old stuff had just faded a LOT over the years. That night we dined on Charlies Bean stew with dumplings and Carols sticky toffee pudding. Later we played Articulate.
On Sunday we finshed off the second coats of paint and tidied up, ate some lunch and then the warden, (my dad) arrived to see how well we had done. He was so pleased with the work and thanked those of us who were still there for what we had done.
In all we had painted the staircase, the walls, the door frames, and much more. Tim and Ian had even assembled and varnished four picnic tables for outside.

The participants were: Ally, Charlie, Carol, Neil, Sue, Sarah, Tim, Ian, Marita and Phillipa.

Thank you again all for coming - picture will be up when I get home!
Ally

Pub Quiz at The Plough in Heaton Moor - Mon 6th Feb 2012

We had a good turnout for this social (although not everyone wanted to be on the photo!). The pub was also packed, which helped make a great atmosphere. We formed (after some debate) two teams which we named 'Tigger's Muddy Funsters' and 'MADS' and we looked at the 'Picures' round while we finished our delicious pizza's. The 'Pop Music' round was next - lyrics were read out and question asked, testing our knowledge back to the 70's. The 'Sport' round was followed by 'Last Week' and, despite reminding everyone to check the newspapers for the preceding week, I couldn't remember the name of the Energy secretary's ex-wife, or that it was Mayor Boris Johnson's house that terrorist had threatened to bomb! The 'General Knowledge' round finished the evening and, after our papers were swapped and marked, although neither of our teams had won the £25 vouchers, we had had a great evening - good suggestion Ian!

5 Feb 2012 Styal

Four hardy (fool hardy?) souls braved the weather and turned out to Styal.

The original planned work was hedge laying - but conditions were not ideal - with snow on the ground, and there was higher priority work that would keep us warmer.

So we cleared snow from main paths between the mill, the car park and the apprentice house, spreading salt / grit on any residual ice.

We ducked into the volunteers room at the mill for a coffee break and made a fair sized hole in a packed of biscuits kindly supplied for us. We returned there for lunch.... at which point a number of volunteers were passing the biscuits away from themselves to try to avoid the temptations of "just one more".

As it was quiet after lunch we accepted an invitation to see the work for next time and then visit a less publicly accessible part of the estate. We looked at some barn owl boxes, an orchard and got away from the activity around the mill. Under one owl box there was a fresh pellet lying on top of last nights snow (regurgitated undigested remains from the owls last meals), which confirmed that the box was in use, and that its occupant had eaten recently.

It is hoped that they will breed again this year.

No photos as I forgot my camera.