The last Sunday in March was both Mothers Day and the day the clocks moved forward so we decided to have a later than normal start at 10 am, at Styal. Six enthusiastic and hardworking MNTVolunteers arrived to put up the chestnut fencing by the Apprentice house at Quarry Bank Mill. This will divide a farmed field into two sections; the smaller section will have a pond and wildlife meadow and the larger section will continue to be farmed.
When we arrived the fence was about 2/3 of the way across the field and a gate post hole had been dug but no post erected. We started work to extend the fence towards the far side. The ranger, Craig, thought we would manage about 1.5 posts each during the day, and the Wednesday group would finish off the job. So the challenge was set to get 1.5 posts and more in and MNTV like a challenge!
The first three holes were a little problematic - we found a clay drainage pipe in one, the next it started to fill with water (oops!) and in the third we found a blue plastic water pipe. We tried hard to keep the fence straight and level despite the obstructions.
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| Caution ... water! |
After elevenses of muesli flapjacks and orange chocolate brownies we continued to make good progress. After lunch and a rest we went back to work digging holes.
Things were now a little more straight forward and we focused on reaching the edge of the field by 3:30pm. When we reached the edge we hadn’t quite finished but the challenge had been set so we all agreed to stay on and finish the job which meant two more posts and cutting extra holes in the post so we could turn the corner and join up to the new fence along the side of the field.
We finally put down tools a little later than usual at 4:30pm, tired and proud that we had not done 1.5 posts each but two posts. Craig was very pleased with the achievement. Give MNTV a challenge and it gets done! What are Wednesday’s volunteers going to do? Well, that will take some thinking about by the rangers.
Jenny
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