 |
| the green-fingered Charmian |
This week husband and wife team, Geoff and Charmian -- one the unsung hero of Gibside's wooden edging and the other a welcome green-fingered addition to the team -- tell us a bit about themselves, their work at Gibside, and their other interests too.
In March 2012, I started as a garden volunteer, initially just a half
day as I was still working as an Associate in a landscape architectural
practice in Newcastle. Hence the related interest in ‘all things
green’! I quickly settled in, thanks to the other friendly volunteers
and staff. One year on, my husband Geoff, a retired civil
engineer with interests in ‘all things structural’ joined the gang.
Living nearby, we have had an interest in Gibside from the early
days of the National Trust involvement, when the Estate available to the
general public was much smaller. Now there are so many different
experiences to be had - the Skyline walk in particular gave we gardeners
delightful walks in wintertime when weeding wasn’t on the agenda! Great
views from the tops, apart from the newly installed wind turbines at Kiln Pit
Hill that are a jarring note viewed from there
and elsewhere on the estate where carefully cleared vegetation and
seats offer rest to our visitors and a chance to view the Derwent Valley. I
wonder if the effect of the turbines on the historical setting of our Listed
Buildings got a mention in the Environmental Impact Assessment!
 |
| king of the wooden edge, Geoff |
A typical day involves instructions from Keith or Tam, then ‘High Ho
High Ho, it’s off to work we go’ in our rosy NT tops, chatting to visitors as
we work! Me to the ‘softer’ gardening chores while Geoff prefers the tougher
stuff so has been wielding a pick and mel in the heat of summer, edging
planting beds and part of the road system, anchoring the corners of the new apple
tree stations, his eye for ‘all things straight’ put to the test.
We both enjoy a nice cuppa and something delicious from the Potting Shed
café once we are done, such an improved ambience ... and just the occasional passing
wedding guest teetering along in impossibly high heels!
As for other stuff, we both manage Ebchester Community Association and
Geoff is heavily involved with several local organisations including a group
which has been set up to restore or replace Ebchester Boathouse (an NT property)
and encourage further recreational use of the River Derwent.
I have sung in choirs for over 40 years and am Chairman of Newcastle
Choral Society; I love Pilates, take care of gardens and grandchildren,
socialise, (garden visits always a passion) and oh, maybe
the occasional bit of dusting!
Charmian & Geoff Marshall
No comments:
Post a Comment