Hedge trimming at Speke Hall on Sunday 21st August 2022

Five of us made the trip to Merseyside today to spend the day at Speke Hall.  It was Daniel's first visit since April 2019!  He and David carshared from Styal (crossing the Mersey Gateway bridge both ways) whereas Andy, Christine and Chris went direct.  Ranger Ian met us at 10:30 and set us off on the task which was to cut back a hedge on one side of the car park.  We used our loppers and Speke's shears (very sharp and a joy to use) and formed brash piles at intervals along the hedge for Ian and his colleagues to fetch up next week.

It was a bright sunny day and we were glad of the shade from the trees that we worked under.  All day long aircraft, particularly Easyjet, took off from Liverpool airport next door.  The later than usual start meant we didn't have our morning coffee break until 11:30 and then took lunch at 1.

The car park got very full after lunch.  Ian spent the morning repainting white bay markings in the car park so that in anticipation of a busy August bank holiday weekend more cars will be able to squeeze in.

Before we left some of us took up Ian's offer of a look round the Hall.  We finished the task at 3:30 and as a thank you Ian gave us 20 Easter eggs to share between us!!  They were surplus stock from April's Easter activities with a best before date of the end of September.  Thank you Ian!

Daniel