Your editor, workday leader and pick-up truck driver reports:
Variety is the spice of life it’s said – hence last Sunday after two weekends of path works at Benthall and Dudmaston; followed by the novel, new task of willow-weaving at Attingham – it was gardening at Morville Hall near Bridgnorth for the group’s volunteers, as a large number turned out to help tenants Mel and family keep the gardens around the Hall in good order – especially with a Platinum Jubilee tea party on the front lawn imminent!




At the front of the Hall – where first impressions count – some super-sharp new tools saw their first use out of the packaging, where there was plenty of green to reduce in height, generally tidy and on which to practice topiary skills!
At the same time, the young ‘uns got a lesson in how to prune from the old ‘uns. Whilst the energy of the young ‘uns effortlessly carried away the green waste others had generated – for now just out of sight over the haha!



For the more adventurous, with good balance, there were sizeable holly trees to prune and keep under control. This necessitated suitable ladders borrowed from the NT team at nearby Dudmaston….and as it turned out, more long-handled loppers than we could muster.




For the more genteel and creative, there were bushes of box in various strategic spots around the garden in need of a good haircut – such as beside the former swimming pool and near the fishpond. These all got very tidy short back and sides!



Heading to the veg garden there were more shrubs to cut back again – amazing, how they’d grown since last time.


There were borders to weed too, as we already started to pencil in the tasks for the next visit in about a month’s time (beech hedge, white garden borders and hedge,….bonfire!). Gordon where were you?


…And all the time in the background there was a high pitch whine, as Dave donned the protective gear and strimmed grass edges & borders for all he was worth.
A very wet start to the day which encouraged us to postpone the brash-burning bonfire until next time, gave way to blue skies and sunny warmth by the afternoon. Though until then breaks for homemade cakes, courtesy of Melanie were taken in shelter of the loggia – with teas and coffees thrown in too. Many thanks for those!



The end of a long day came following an afternoon break for scones with jam and cream, sitting out in the sunshine; and with Mel expressing (..the typical..) amazement about how much the Group had managed to get done in one day.

Based on current plans, the SSNTV visit in June (reed-pulling aside) will be the last chance to work with the family before they move on. Here’s hoping for one more Sunday sat out in the sunshine eating cake!

…Thanks to all for their efforts.