Today saw us return to Lyme Park for the first time since 1st March and the national lockdowns. We were proud to be the first large group to be invited back and Chris Dunkerley (Lead Ranger) used our visit to trial the covid protocols designed to ensure the safety of volunteers, staff and visitors.
12 of us spent the day rhodybashing in Lantern Wood. Covid safety measures included social distancing throughout the day, use of hand sanitiser at all breaks (especially before cutting the chocolate roulade that Daniel had baked!) and nobody swapping loppers and bowsaws. Before we began work, Chris ran through the worksite risk assessment (including covid) and we all signed a form to say we had heard and understood it.
We worked with ranger Alex Bond, once of MNTV. I'd not seen him for several years and it was great to catch up with him and hear about how his career is progressing with the Trust. From Styal he had moved to Dunham and now to Lyme. Alex's enthusiasm for his work is infectious!
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| Neil, Andy H and Adrian stoking the bonfire (photo: Jenny) |
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| Group photo towards the end of the day (photo: Abbey) |
We cleared a large patch of rhody during the morning and into the afternoon and then from 2pm stopped cutting and focussed on burning all the cuttings. Alex used the leaf blower to aerate the bonfire and bring it back to life whenever it was dying down.
We left the worksite shortly after 3pm and left Alex and Chris to make the fire safe. It had been an excellent workday and so nice to see old faces after a gap of nine months and meet two newcomers (Abbey and Anna).
There are acres of rhody still to clear and we will tackle another patch when we return in January.
Daniel
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