Thursday 8/10/26 The grass needed cutting so we took the seats out of the trailer, loaded up the mower and took it to the mill. Eddie cut all the grass including the slope of the meadow which will become a lawn, and paths through the grass meadow.
The blue tit box we made in January on the visitor centre wall has not been used, so I checked the nest camera again and took the metal plate off the front in case birds don’t like it. I used seat cushions from the wagon to protect the roof when I climbed up there.
Anne Marie tied up two yellow daisies which have flowered in front of the visitor centre, then weeded most of the gardens and went to see the horses who came to the gate of their field, they often come down to see us working.
The compound was getting untidy and the buckets had rainwater in them so I emptied them and turned them upside down, re-stacked everything, pruned the overhanging tree and cleared some brambles.
It was sunny enough to have lunch outside again and we saw blue tits eating peanuts, there were a lot left over from last week. After lunch Eddie put suet balls out and topped up the bird feeders.
There were thick weed stems on part of the sloping bank so I cut the nettles down with the mower, then used loppers to cut the thick stems which the mower knocked over and wouldn’t cut. I raked the cuttings up and took them away, then mowed the grass again.
Eddie did some maintenance on the strimmer and strimmed nettles next to the tunnel and around the outdoor furniture, then we loaded up the mower into the trailer and went back. On our way we saw a cormorant flying over the field at The Maltings.
One of our volunteers has been in the news recently, Ryan who volunteered in his school holidays before starting work, is now a Breckland Parish Councillor, see the article in Lynn News. Ryan still volunteers at the mill when he is able to and helps at the open days. Ryan also put up some owl boxes.
Thursday 15/10/26 We are very pleased to have found another historic picture of the bone mill which shows more of the building and surrounding land. There are also other historic views of the river and Maltings including boats, see the article.
When we loaded the mower in the trailer last time, the cutting deck caught the metal brackets which hold the ramps in the trailer, so I brought my grinder today and ground an angle on them which should clear the cutter deck.
On our way to the mill I retrieved two lengths of wood from the fire site and took them to the mill for making or repairing things. Flowers had fallen down in the garden, so I got some of the new link stakes I bought recently and propped them all up.
We had a visit from Sally and Kate from Norwich who were walking the whole Nar Valley Way, they saw a kingfisher just up from the mill. I gave them our self guided maps and they saw the finds in the visitor centre and a video of the water wheel turning. I told them about the new picture of the mill and they took a card so they can view it on the website.
Our chainsaw was leaking oil last time we used it so Eddie tested it by cutting more logs, some oil came out so we took the motor housing off, but couldn’t find the leak. Its not leaking too badly now and doesn’t leak when not in use. I stacked the logs under the cover.
The sun came out so we sat outside for lunch, Eddie spotted a little egret flying along the river which then flew across the field, there were dragon flies above us and a peacock butterfly landed nearby. Eddie had filled the bird feeders but we didn’t see anything eating from them today.
One of the insect hotels was leaning over so Eddie brought it back and put it on the saw horse to repair the stand. He put it back and staked it down, the other insect hotel which was repaired a month ago still has all the canes in place.
The great tit nest box was full of spiders webs so I went up the ladder wearing a tool belt with screwdriver and brush, took the front off and brushed out the cobwebs which gives a better view from the camera.
Graham Bartlett
Interactive Plan Activity Previous Projects Workers 5 Years Ago
