15th February: Mist clung to the trees in Parkfields
as the team headed off to one of our least favoured tasks – clearing leaves
from the Ha-ha along the side of The Avenue.
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| Mist in Parkfields |
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| Ha-ha full of leaves |
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Inspecting the job.
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Blue tits chirped in the oak trees above our heads as we set
about our task; it was hard work and in places very muddy. As the mist burned
off in the early morning sunshine three red kites wheeled over Parkfields, it’s
always a delight to see them. Our peace
was only disturbed by the buzz of a chainsaw which was being used by a team of
tree surgeons felling a magnificent beech tree just outside the Walled Garden.
Why was this magnificent tree being felled? Well, unfortunately it was infected
with a fungus(Meripilus giganteus) as well as with Honey fungus(which was only discovered after it was felled), which could have put the tree at risk of falling – a risk to
visitors (and staff) and to the wall of the Walled Garden.
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| Tree surgeon at work |
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| Almost done |
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| Timber! |
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Finished
|
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The team hard at work
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Leaves were left in piles on the edge of the Ha-ha to be
removed later.
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| Inspecting in the sunshine |
22nd February: We were back in the Ha-ha again,
this time at the far end of the avenue near to the Hollow Walk, a much muddier
environment. On this occasion we bagged and disposed of the collected leaves
ourselves.
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| Ha-ha with leaves |
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| Disposing of the leaves |
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| Cleared, muddy Ha-ha |
Roll on spring!
Phil Coyne & Steve Wootten
