Shropshire and Staffordshire National Trust Volunteers

Chairman Chris was this weekend’s workday leader too:….

Well the good news was that we had seventeen on the workday; the bad news was that the house had been subject to a further internal waterworks flood and so we were not the only visitors on Sunday morning, as a series of surveyors and workmen appeared…..

Our jobs were in the garden. There was weeding at the front of the house in both the beds and the path (…don’t tell anyone but the aubrietia went too); with some people even diving into bushes to pin roses to the wall.

There was weeding down the centre path of the garden and of course the parterre needed weeding and trimming; even the balls at the end of the parterre had a tidy up. There was weeding, soil moving and cutting back at the side of the parterre and up the adjacent short flight of steps. Finally, the mammoth weeding award goes to those tackling the mares tail and other weeds, in the four flower beds where the vines used to be.

In addition there was a select party cutting back the lime avenue at the address, as well as well as those throwing balls for the dog to fetch. ….So keen were some, that extended workday hours were required in order to achieve those personal targets and to enjoy the late arrival of the sunshine.     

Melanie was an excellent hostess, especially considering recent events in the house and looked after us very well, with four cakes including those made by one, her neighbour and two, her mother (fruit, lemon, chocolate and date (- not all in one!) and tea as well as a tablecloth (unheard of);  our own team of Jane and Mags brought tasty chocolate brownies and shortbread. 

Thanks to others for bringing and taking away the tools and ladders, as well as providing the photographs.

Let’s hope the sunshine continues and we can get eighteen out next weekend at Benthall Hall.  Sadly Morville is open under the National Garden Scheme on the same Sunday. For those that cannot make Benthall, the Morville gardens (you get to see four of five)  are open from 2.00pm to 5.00 pm. There may even still be some cake to be had – Covid regulations permitting!