volunteering – T E Shepherd

When I last visited #Felbrigg 18 years ago at the very end of the last century it was to slash and burn the dreaded #RhododendronPonticum (top left) into the grassy Meadow it is today (bottom). Sign of burning to the old beech tree (top right) was just collateral damage… #nationaltrust #conservation #workingholidays #volunteering

Thomas — Wed, 24 May 2017 21:03:43 +0000

When I last visited #Felbrigg 18 years ago at the very end of the last century it was to slash and burn the dreaded #RhododendronPonticum (top left) into the grassy Meadow it is today (bottom). Sign of burning to the old beech tree (top right) was just collateral damage… #nationaltrust #conservation #workingholidays #volunteering

Turfing

Thomas — Sun, 16 Mar 2003 21:26:00 +0000

Today was the best kind of day for NT volunteering, clear, sunny, with all the lovely spring flowers sprunging into the world. This Sunday it was a short stroll down the road to Waddesdon Manor (a neo-French chateau in the heart of Oxfordshire) to lay turf and sort out the edging of some newly renovated paths in the grounds.

In other news, my novel is going well again with some successful writing yesterday, although I am struggling as to how best to convey Lindsay’s and Clayton’s thoughts and motives in the time (and it is has to be clear that there is time!) before they come together at the ball and the whole flyht thing kicks off again. I’m about to get back to it to do another half hour before 24…

(oh, and I may be getting Pepper tomorrow!)

Tree planting in February

Thomas — Sun, 16 Feb 2003 19:14:00 +0000

It was cold (and more importantly grey) when I woke up this morning at 8 o’clock (too early on a Sunday by rights) – but I’m glad I did. The gloom eventually lifted, and it was in truth quite warm in the winter sunshine. I joined my mates from Maidenhead & South Bucks along with a dozen or more vollies on a weekend Acorn camp at Hughenden Manor on the outskirts of High Wycombe to plant a row of fir trees along the estate boundary and then replanted some hawthorn hedge. It was a glorious day, and one of those, that I’m glad I had to go outside on – because it was worth it, and I might not have done otherwise.