Good Times Ahead

We have had a great start to the spring. Today started with a meeting held at Carr Lane and The Dell with Tony Siebenthaler who has fantastic experience with community projects (he had a big role in the organisation of the lamb banana project) it was really great getting to know him as well as his background in urban development and being able to share ideas about The Dell. He also had a lot of fond memories and history to get a bigger picture on how the dell has changed in his lifetime.

Tony is getting in touch with some contacts who he feels will benefit the project and hopefully get things moving quicker.

The past few weeks have been outstanding seeing groups of people using the benches, taking interest on whats going on, telling us stories, giving advice from dog walkers to school kids mucking about.
A while ago work was stopped by a security guard (Geoff) he took interest in what was going on and today he came over and said how brilliant him and the other lads feel direction of the project is going.

Tomorrow is our planting day and will be held from 9:30am onwards at Carr Lane, L34. Please feel free to come along and help!

Today the sun was shining, the water was cold and the work was fun this is what we got up to..

Completing the first leg of the pathway..

 Mushroom to be completed tomorrow

Decayed Rhododendron packed with macro organisms is just one of the occupied logs along the path

 Dangerous holly tree (Ilex aquifolium) taken down and used for footpat

Pip trying out the footpath 

And Poppy..

Dangerously diseased white poplar (Poplus alba) felled and used for footpath

The daffodils felt quite welcoming in the warmth

We have decided on a logged bridge for the dip by the Sweet Chestnut, this will not only aid users of the wood but it will also protect the trees roots from cracks and fractures caused by compaction

And lastly we made two new habitat areas which will be followed tomorrow by another three

The peculiar thing about The Dell is, no matter how many times you visit and small it may be, you can never fully see/take in everything. There is always something new to look at. The seasons, the weather, your outlook/mood, forever effecting something different to spot or intrigue even the least enquisitive of people.

Today we found a squirrel nest, watched some great tits (jokes welcomed) begin construction on a nest, seen a display of a flight from birds and bees, watched a rabbit scale the cliff face and discover an abundance of habitats hidden away in pockets that go unseen.

As Tony said today "There has always been something spiritual about the place" and to that statement we take our hats off!

The Dell is not just a wooded area with its own micro climate and excellent tree specimens. Its one of the rare places you can go to and swear you seen a fairy or an imp. It cleanses your mind, creates time for thought and allows for fun!

If you've not been down to The Dell yet to check out whats been going on.. Why?

FOTD