Countryside Update April 2012

It has been a while since the last countryside update. We have been busy, perhaps to busy to blog! Apart from the usual dry stone walling, laying slate chippings on paths, a snap shot of what we have been up too is below.

Volunteers Clare and Robert get to grips with a post knocker whilst fencing at Dunthwaite House nr Cockermouth.

We were joined by Lead Ranger Operations Geoff. We also met the regional director John Darlington who was on a visit to the nearby house.

We were supervised by Ranger Paul with Rangers Jack and Dan hiding in the background. Also present Clare, Jim and Robert and most importantly Theo, bottom left corner of photo. 120 metres of fencing removed and replaced. Not bad for a days work. We only stopped when we ran out of fencing wire.

What else had we been up to apart from litter picking Buttermere and Crummock? Well the seasonal hedgelaying at Loweswater.

Rangers Dan and Paul are joined by Volunteer Jim - we think we had a record day with three teams of 3  one chain sawing, one laying and the other weaving in and tidying up. A good mixture of Rangers and volunteers laid 130 metres of hedge in one day.

Getting there, time for a lunch break, forestry helmets lined up on the fence.

We have also found time to give the National Trust rowing boats at Loweswater and Buttermere their annual spring clean and paint. It was a tiring day for some!

Spectacular location to work, boats on their winter stands at Crummock Water. Rangers Dan and Jack in the nearest with Ranger Andy and volunteer Christine behind. In the background is volunteer Robert tinkering with another boat. Sanded, painted and keels repaired.

A lucky escape for Ranger Andy from a mischevious Volunteer Christine having been presented with an easy target!

It was a long but rewarding day with a mixture or rain and sunshine - rain, just what you need when painting outside!

We worked that hard we need a new wire brush?

The effort was too much for one of our Rangers - bless!

It would be unkind to name him as he had been rugby league training the night before. If anyone does think they recognise the sleeping beauty please contact Ranger Jack to confirm!

Finally, we think may have seen the last of this brush unless Ranger Mark insists it is cleaned for future use?

Let me tell you a story...

...or rather, let several people tell you some stories!

On Wednesday 28th of March I attended a story-telling day organised by Naomi Hewitt and run by story-telling ace Ian. I think it is fair to say that many of us were not quite sure what to expect, and, as you can see, some of us found it all rather frightening. No, actually Jessie and Phil were role-playing here!

I had expected quite a gentle day when we talked about some of the 'stories' associated with Derwentwater such as Pocklington's Island and Lady Derwentwater's escape. What we got was much more ambitious with demonstrations of techniques and introduction to some traditional stories. Then we broke into small groups to work on 'our' story.

After lunch we moved down to Derwentwater foreshore and looked for locations to suit the stories and then...you've guessed it, each group told their story in the chosen location. If you want to see and hear the results of our work come to Derwentwater foreshore on 11th of April.

Ros Earthy.