Installing timber barriers at the deer sanctuary at Lyme Park on Sunday 23rd April 2023

Ten of us spent today, Saint George's Day, volunteering at Lyme Park with ranger Alex Bond.  In the morning a large group of scouts and parents paraded with flags from the main car park to the Cage and as we worked we had a good view of them on the skyline.

Our task was installing timber barriers along the boundary of the deer sanctuary that extends out from East Drive to Coalpit Clough.  There is no fencing along the boundary of the sanctuary (so presumably the deer come and go!) but instead there are deer signs at regular intervals and low-to-the-ground T-shaped timber barriers.

The job had two elements, the first being to dig out the existing barriers (many of which had rotten supports) and replace with new ones.  The old barriers had three supports and one horizontal rail but to make the new supports go further we replaced three supports with two which usually meant repositioning one of the two supports.

Charlie and Sue digging out an old barrier

The second element was to instal new barriers in the gaps between the old barriers to give a stronger visual impression that the sanctuary was fenced off and discourage walkers from venturing into it.

Martin, Victor and Andy installing a new barrier

One of the new barriers were installed

By 3pm we had installed old and new barriers as far as East Drive Cottage so called it a day.  On our walk back to the main car park we stopped outside the rangers' yard for a group photo in front of the tractor that Alex had been driving all day to move timbers up and down East Drive.

Daniel