Wednesday 13th February 2013
With the temperature hovering around zero and strong winds, the
conservation volunteers assembled at Cherryburn, the birthplace of Thomas
Bewick (1753 - 1828) - artist, wood engraver and naturalist. The forecast snow
was already settling on the fields on the other side of the Tyne.
We were at Cherryburn - one of the
four properties in the Gibside group - to create an adventure play area
for children in the wildlife garden, a construction job for a change, with or
without the approval of the wildlife.
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| Tasks being alllocated |
The various tasks were allocated to
small groups of volunteers: setting out a "stepping-stone"
path of tree trunk discs; digging in larger pieces of tree trunk to form seats;
creating bamboo chimes suspended from a wooden A-Frame; and, most
imaginatively, planting posts into the ground with side pieces attached to
mimic stilts used in Thomas Bewick's time to cross the River Tyne.
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| The "Stepping Stones" being dug in |
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| The A-Team |
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| Playing a tune on the bamboo chimes |
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| Creating the stilts |
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| Phil prunning |
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| Terry and Mary hard at work clearing the cobble stones of mud. |
The light snowfall of mid-morning became heavier by early afternoon; an early finish was welcomed by all.
The job is due to be completed on Thursday, when the
weather is forecast to be much better. Families are sure to like the play area,
but what would Thomas Bewick have thought?
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