Halleluia! If I could sing that like Mrs Brown on Mrs Brown’s Boys, I would, but I can’t, and you are all the luckier for it! Saturday 16th February 2013 was our 25th day of working on the Devonport Leat project. This was after cancelling this particular work day three times in succession because of the awful weather we have been having this winter. Today was different, the weather gods were smiling and the sun was shining and we had a terrific day.
A backlog of cake!
First, the important bit: our lucky volunteers, who were suffering from symptoms of cake-withdrawal, were delighted to be offered a choice of lemon drizzle, Victoria sponge, walnut cake and chocolate cake. Can it ever get better than that?! Our enormous thanks to our Cake Queens today, Mally and Elaine, for their sterling efforts.
DPA volunteers at work …..
The photograph above shows volunteers tidying up the cut material into habitat piles or short “windrows” – this is where cut material e.g. hay was stored in long, raised rows to dry by allowing the wind to blow through it. It is also used longer-term for composting.
Habitat pile formation.
I seem to have all photographs today of tidying up and none of the primary work being done – possibly because we are all too busy for photographs?
Speaking of being busy – we were. My goal for the day was to reach the last bridge on the cycle track, which we did by lunch time! Perhaps I set too low a goal for the group – hark! Do I hear cries of anguish? I must say that everyone worked hard, so my thanks once again to Bob, Chris, Derek, Elaine & John, Helen & Tony, Ian, John, Mally, Neil, Sylvia, and Val, who including myself, made 14 willing souls.
Last bridge on the cycle track
The photograph above shows the goal for the day which was exceeded. I had hoped we would clear up to the bridge but we went beyond it.
Planning the next move?
The area near the bridge was cleared of brambles and we received several “Thank you’s” from passing cyclists, including the resident who cycles with his dog named “Bracken”.
Strimming alongside the leat
The upper end of the leat was strimmed on the main road side, leaving some work on the other side for our next visit.
Inlet from drainage on Yelverton WW2 airfield jolning Devonport Leat
A particular pleasure was seeing the old drainage channnel from the WW2 airfield at Yelverton (RAF Harrowbeer) re-emerge from beneath a thick growth of brambles. Our main strimmer, “Big Bertha” certainly earned her keep today.
Our next visit will see us at the end of the road, or rather, the leat! Thank you, everyone.