Workday leader Matt reports: A gloriously sunny Sunday saw a good number of the SSNTV group returning to Benthall Hall to work with Head Gardner Nick on a trio of summer garden jobs, but with the promise of an extra Benthall Bonus at the end of the workday (more on this later..)


The jobs that Nick had lined up for us were working on improving the garden paths (by digging out the soil and gravel, riddling the mix to separate the gravel and re-spreading it onto the paths – as we started last year), filling in the potholes along the track by the farm, and weeding/cleaning out the bricks at the back of the house



The keen volunteers divided themselves up amongst the jobs on offer and cracked on with the necessary work enjoying the nice weather and usual banter








Cake O’clock became Cake and Cookie O’clock, thanks to Chris’ donation of his bargain 25p cookies (yum, yum!!), and we all reconvened on the terrace to enjoy a bite and a brew, along with a potential new group member who was also looking for a fair share of cake!




As the path crew had almost completed the digging out phase, it was time for Nick to roll out our old favourite and the “Destroyer of Peaceful Sunday Afternoons”, namely the gravel riddling machine, and just in time for the afternoon visitors to “enjoy” it, yay!!

Following a return visit to the terrace for a very civilized lunchtime and another round of tea making and subsequent washing up, due to the Benthall dishwasher being broken (big thanks to Lucy for her extra pair of washing up/drying up hands), all of the crews were back to working hard, but with the brick crew “cheekily” seconding/coercing/kidnapping * Neil to their job for the afternoon (*chose the most appropriate option)



With the workday drawing to a close, all of the worksites were looking great, so we packed the tools away and it was time for the promised Benthall Bonus!




BENTHALL BONUS
As part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Nick advised us that the whole of Benthall Edge has been designated as one of the “Queens Green Canopy” woodlands (there have been a total of 70 woodlands designated nationwide). This is also combined with national tree planting schemes and the designation of 70 ancient individual trees (see website here for more details https://queensgreencanopy.org/ancient-trees-and-ancient-woodland/70-ancient-trees-and-70-ancient-woodlands/)
The Benthall Edge designation reads

So as a celebration of this success for Benthall Edge, Nick very kindly took us down into the woodland for a nice and relaxing walk to enjoy the “Green Canopy” in all its spring glory.


Once again a huge thanks to all of the volunteers for coming out and working so hard and to Nick for giving us the usual fantastic welcome, support and the extra “Benthall Bonus”