Footpath Clearance at Speke Hall - Sunday 22nd May 2022

Seven of us made the journey to Speke Hall on 22nd May, the workday was suppossed to be himalayan balsam pulling but when we got the there the balsam was too small to pull so ranger Ian organised for us to undertake some footpath work near the pond.

The soil/gravel footpath had become overgrown over a number of years and the rangers wanted it to be useable again.  When we arrived the footpath edging was hiding underneath lots of soil and overgrown vegetation so the task was to dig out overgrown vegetation and sweep away excess soil to uncover the original footpath.  It was like a 'time team' challenge!

                      Footpath at the start of the workday.  Two members working together to dig and sweep.

During the day we did a spot of litter picking around the area where we were working and you unearth some interesting items!

    

                                                                    Litter picking.

                                            

                           Groupwork digging out overgrown vegetation to widen the path.

                                        Clearning and exposing the fishing enbankement.

    

                                            Footpath cleared between two fishing spots.

    

                                            Completed excavation of fishing spot.

During the day the rangers joined the group to start clearing lily's from the pond using lily cutters purchased from America.

                                            Ranger showing us how it is done!

                                           

                                                   MNTV volunteer having a go a lily cutting.

                                                Nearing the end othe workday.

                                                    Path clearned at the end of the workday.

                                                        To be continued.....looks like the end of a disused railway track!

                                                                        Group photo.

Speke Hall have a regular group of volunteers that will be continuing the footpath clearance, not sure how much more will be done but we are back at Speke on 3rd July so watch this space.....

Thanks to Ian, his team and my colleagues for a great workday (but back breaking).

Denise