Thursday 1/8/24 The Swan family were on the river bank on our way to the mill, they moved into the river to let us past. At the mill I noticed tiny fish in the shallow water under the back of the water wheel.
We've not used our greenhouse for growing plants as they would need watering often and we're only there once a week, so Anne Marie raised plants at home and our greenhouse was only used for storage. We have decided to convert the greenhouse into a timber store.
So today Eddie removed the clear panels from the end and moved everything out of the greenhouse. I brought my saw again and made a door for the end, as we need access for lengths of wood. I fitted the clear panels to the door and fixed hinges and a catch to keep it closed. Eddie cut down and refitted the triangular top panels.
I used the steps Helen gave us to get our wood from the shed loft, Eddie put most of it in the new wood store, the pieces which were too long were put back in the loft. Now the wood is shared between the loft and wood store, its easy to see what we have and get out what we need.
I emptied small pieces of wood stored in a planter which Helen gave us, Eddie put the wood in the new store at the bottom where there is still room for pots and a few other gardening things. I took the planter to the wildflower meadow, we can plant trees or shrubs in it. I noticed unusual blue and white Cornflowers in the meadow.
Emma walked down and weeded the brick floors, hammer mill and outdoor finds display. We discussed the Heritage Open Days which are on 14 & 15 September. This year’s HOD theme is Routes, Networks, Connections, which applies to the mill, so we will have displays about this.
Last week I set up the wildlife camera Howard lent us to monitor the cornfield flower area, as we saw there was an animal run and Howard thought ground nesting birds might also be there. I reviewed the pictures and saw a Muntjac on the animal run, but no birds. So we can now cut the footpaths again through this area.
I brought the sign for the upper lock used at open days, as we need to change the wording, because Norfolk Rivers Trust damaged the historic upper lock during river works and its no longer visible. I put white tape over the part of the sign that says you can look into the water and see the lock.
On our way back we saw a Kingfisher near the mill, flying upstream towards The Maltings. When we repair our fallen wall we will install a Kingfisher tunnel in it, as they like to nest in vertical banks or walls.
Sunday 4/8/24 Howard and Gabbie walked to the mill and continued on the circular walk back to the village, Howard took photos of a Yellow Hammer and Kestrel. We fitted a Kestrel box near the mill, so it may be using it. Howard reported that the bench opposite the mill on the Nar Valley Way needs to be repaired.
Thursday 8/8/24 We noticed the Hollyhock beside our Cherry tree is much taller and flowering well. Anne Marie walked down and picked Blackberries from the track on the way, then planted and watered Montbretia which Eddie brought today, they have orange flowers and should spread well. The Bistort in the sun have several pink flowers, but the ones in the shade on the river bank have none, so Anne Marie moved one to a sunny spot near the wall and weeded the river bank, as Cyclamen should flower there soon, so they need plenty of light. Anne Marie also pulled bindweed from the trunk of the small Oak tree which now has Acorns again.
I brought the mower and cut paths through the wildflower meadow again including the clearing for the picnic table. I also cut paths through the Cornfield flower area, as we now know that birds are not nesting there from the wildlife camera pictures. I noticed insects are using the new insect hotel we made from a chutney box in the meadow.
Eddie and I crossed the footbridge to look at the bench seat on the footpath, as we had two reports that it was broken. We removed two rotten slats and put an Out Of Use sign on it. We went back and found some planks for replacement slats, but they need to be cut down to length and width, so next time I’ll bring my saw and we can repair the bench. Someone has cut the footpath very recently.
Eddie mowed the two lawns, top river bank, and most of the other grass while I made a catch from thick garden wire and fitted it on the middle door of the wood store, formerly the greenhouse, as the bolt keeps going out of line. Eddie strimmed the tunnel exit which was overgrown with nettles, then topped up the bird food.
We had lunch at our outside table, we had Greengages for dessert which Beryl gave us from the tree in her garden. Debra joined us for the afternoon and cut the short grass between the wagon and river with Barry’s mower, then strimmed around the visitor centre and chimney base.
Debra and I pulled up lots of tall weeds in the wildflower meadow. We carefully cleared around three small Oak trees that were planted in April, they are growing well, they have sticks to mark their position and support them, otherwise we would not have found them. I saw two Cinnabar Moth caterpillars when pulling up weeds.
When we were having a last cup of tea outside, before clearing up and coming back, we saw a white Dove, it landed on the water wheel and visitor centre roof and kept flying between them.
Graham Bartlett
Interactive Plan Activity Green Grant Wildflower Gallery Volunteer Previous Next
