Thursday 20/8/26 A pair of swans were in the river on our way to the mill. The railway wagon doors were hard to open so Eddie oiled the hinges. Rain was forecast all day, but it was a sunny start so we decided to cordon off the area we seeded last time to stop anyone walking or driving over it, particularly at the open days next month.
There is no more fencing tape or rope so I found some old bunting from the Coronation and VE Day celebrations which was in the cupboard under the seat in the wagon. We tied the bunting between the small oak tree and the hedge, then hammered stakes in along the edges and put the bunting around them to fence off the seeded area. Bunting flapping in the wind should also deter birds from eating the seed.
We didn’t water the seeds today as there was heavy rain later. I sorted out the cupboard in the wagon and put everything back so the Heritage Open Days banners, bunting and self-guided maps are on top ready for the open days.
Coreopsis, viola and cosmos are still flowering in front of the visitor centre, but the sunflower has finished, we’ll keep some of the seeds and replant them, birds can have the rest. Lobelia and hollyhocks are still in flower around the trees.
The water butts we use to water the gardens ran dry this summer, so we had to use buckets of river water, I checked that this was allowed and monitored the river level. Its better to use river water than treated drinking water which is more precious in a drought. I checked the water butts today and they are nearly full again.
We had a cup of tea outside while it was sunny and saw a pair of cormorants fly over. There was also a red kite over the field and a little egret flew over the mill. A kingfisher flew from the river across near the wagon and over to the stream on the other side, but I couldn’t get a photo. There was also a robin in an elder bush near the bridge.
There was heavy rain later so we worked indoors. The wildlife sign for the meadow has a whiteboard area for new sightings, so I added red admiral butterfly and wren to the board as both were seen recently. The board is put in the meadow at open days.
There were exhibits on the visitor centre floor including a historic hand drill, we mounted them on the wall above the cabinet, which looks better. Eddie swept rust (from the metal items) off the top cabinet shelf and re-arranged the displays. We had lunch outside but there was a thunder storm in the afternoon, so we had an early finish.
Saturday 22/8/26 Nar Valley Benefice held an event called Everyone Has a Story in the local churches. I told the story of how I got involved with the bone mill, with displays in Narborough church. See the updated article for more information.
It was back in August 2021 that we were awarded a grant to create our wildflower meadow, use the 5 Years Ago link (below) to see the announcement and early stages of work on the project.
Thursday 27/8/26 Thunder and heavy rain were forecast all day so we decided to work under cover at The Maltings, taking seats out of the trailer ready to take the mower to the mill and cut grass for the open days nearer the time.
Fred and his family camped at the mill last month and they put the seats back in the trailer as they needed it for transport, so today Eddie worked in the trailer with a spanner on the bolts and I laid on the ground underneath undoing nuts holding the seats and we removed two bench seats which gives enough room for the mower.
Fred gave us captive nuts which have claws to grip into the underside of the trailer floor to make it easier to get seats in and out, as bolts can be undone from above without having to lay underneath. We fitted two in the trailer by putting bolts in and tightening them up which pulls the nuts into place.
We decided to go to the mill as there had been no rain in the morning and we needed to drill out four holes in the trailer to fit the other captive nuts, and our drill is at the mill. We also had things to take to the mill. On the way we saw horses in the field.
It rained hard soon after we arrived, so we covered the remaining seat in the trailer with black material to keep it dry and had a cup of tea in the railway wagon. We brought the displays back from the Everyone Has a Story event last weekend and I put the copy of the information sign back on the wagon wall and put pictures back in the folders.
I put the old notice boards in the visitor centre loft, then went over our bridge and put one of the left over Open Days flyers, which I laminated, on the gate frame so walkers know about the event.
When the rain eased up, we drilled out holes in the trailer floor to suit the captive nuts and fitted them by pulling them into place with bolts. Eddie repaired a broken broom handle with builders band, screws and Duck tape, he tested it by sweeping the floor.
Some of the paper Coronation bunting flags used to cordon off the seeded area had come off the string in the wind and rain, so I tore off the rest and put them in the rubbish bin, the other bunting is weatherproof plastic. We took the trailer back and saw swans in the river on the way.
Graham Bartlett
Interactive Plan Activity Previous Projects Workers 5 Years Ago
