Thursday 6/10/22 We started clearing the green container as it will be taken away soon, it has been replaced by our shed as part of the wildflower meadow project to give better views.
Eddie and I re-organised the shed to make room for things from the container. We put a screw in the wall to hold the harrow in place so the wheelbarrows fit next to it, also screws for hanging up chairs and brooms which gives more floor space. I restacked things under the bench to make more room.
Eddie brought wood from the container which I put in the loft of the shed. I gathered up hollow weed stems, pine cones, wire netting and pallet planks from the container, these were put in the corner of the shed ready for making another smaller insect habitat. Eddie also salvaged a wire mesh panel from a kingfisher tunnel which arrived broken, we have a replacement.
I cut some table legs from an old fence post at home last week, today we fitted them to the old picnic table top which was in the container, this gives us another table which has been put outside for use, removing another large item from the container.
Anne Marie cleared weeds from the river bank, Cyclamen grow there at this time of year, but we didn't find any, there was probably not enough light with all the weeds. Snowdrops also grow on this bank in winter.
Emma got us another sack of bird seed which Eddie transferred into sealed tubs, then filled all the feeders, Great Tits were eating from the long feeder again. Bird food from the green container was stacked under the bench in the shed, and spare wildflower seed was put into tubs to stop mice eating it.
I cleared and strimmed the area near the brick stacks to give more room for vehicles when the container is taken away, this should avoid the need to drive on the seeded wildflower area when turning round.
I took recent finds from the wildflower meadow and a washer and 3 pieces of metal found near the container and put them on the new display shelves, I put the fabricated sheet metal found by Heritage Open Day detectorists under the shelves.
On our way back we saw 3 Swans on the river and a Jay which flew along in front of us and landed on the track.
Thursday 13/10/22 We saw a Woodcock fly up from the river bank on our journey to the mill and 4 Moorhens were on our wildflower area when we arrived, they were probably eating the seed. We noticed the grasses are starting to grow on the wildflower area. I looked at all the tunnel ends to see how much work will be involved in repairing them.
One of the fence posts around the cistern had fallen over so Eddie put it back with bricks to hold it in place. We then cleared the container of all the nest boxes, solar panels and other green grant items and took them to the shed with the arch former, this holds tunnel bricks in place while mortar dries.
Anne Marie cut the grass in front of the railway wagon and all along the river bank, then after lunch, went across the bridge and mowed the Nar Valley Way public footpath opposite the mill and strimmed around the seat, arch and sign.
Two cyclists from East Grinstead (I forgot to ask their names) crossed our bridge and I gave them a guided tour and explained our projects, they were cycling from Dersingham to Thetford Forest.
While having lunch we saw a pair of Pied Wagtails on the shed roof. After lunch Stephen and Karen from Suffolk visited, they were staying in the holiday cottages and walked down to look around the mill and visitor centre, I showed them the video of the water wheel turning.
Eddie and I sorted out all the buckets of finds from the container, large metal parts were put on permanent display on the small brick floor. Oyster shells and various other things were put in storage in the visitor centre loft, scrap items were taken to the skip on our way back. Our shed is now rather full, but the container is nearly empty, ready to be taken away later this month.
Graham Bartlett
Interactive Plan Activity Heritage Open Days Green Grant Wildflower Meadow Volunteer Previous Next
