Just back from his holiday, Chris B lead the group at Benthall on Sunday, as the day started with a card, marking the Chairman’s XXth birthday…..
Sunday dawned as grey and damp as the weather man predicted…but this little matter did not deter the force 12 which made up our volunteer group. Gardener in charge, Nick took pity on us and tailored the task to give us protection from the rain, with a warming fire or two. So we set off in search of the overgrown tramway he’d decided needed a haircut around a tottering bridge.
Having reached the outermost parts of the estate, we spread out and began the clearance. As your workday leader had forgotten the fire-starting equipment, SSNTV’er Matt stepped up with his own emergency kit, wasting no time getting a good bonfire going despite the wet. This gobbled up all the brash and cuttings we could supply so fast that “cake o’clock” was late…Quelle horreur…! But this tasted all the better for our being very hungry and it being so chocolatey!!
By now our fire was going so well, fears were growing for any passing horsey being spooked by its size and heat, so a second was lit before lunch. After that, the haircut went apace and by the end of our day a long section of the tramway (a possible remnant of former coal extraction workings) and a stream culvert were cleared, plus the bridge survived intact – ‘totter ye not’ little bridge…
Nick hopes we might be able to return to this rather lovely site for our next workday at Benthalll on 10th November.
Save the date…please…your workday leader needs you and hopes next time to remember the matches! So too, that his better half will make another cake (I might she writes!)…Thanks for today’s!
PS: A thank you too to everyone who helped look for the ‘missing’ loppers – happily what was lost has now definitely been found.
Shropshire and Staffordshire National Trust Volunteers 