Nine intrepid conservationists set off on foot from our workshop in the direction of Fishpond wood, armed with saws and loppers. We had unfinished business with the rampant rhododendrons.
Off we go - ready to do battle with the rhododendrons.
There was a great deal of lopping of tangled branches and sawing of larger ones. Some spreading limbs were uprooted and small growth snipped off. Bush after straggly shrub met its fate and the piles of waste grew taller.
Angela and Alistair start work on the trees
at the bottom of the slope.....
...whilst Ruth, Joanne and Dave get going at the top.
Coffee was called at 11:15 and we needed no further bidding to have a break. Between coffee and lunch the bushes dwindled and the brash piles grew. Some were even moved to avoid toppling onto the path. After lunch the assault continued on the opposite side of the track until the workforce felt too many sore spots.
It must be coffee time. Note that people
are still smiling at this point.
The beast is tamed from both sides at once.
Oh good. It's 12:30 pm. Everything stops for lunch.
The smiles are not so much in evidence now. Tiredness is setting in.
John decides the other side of the path is safer for lunch -
no one can pinch his goodies from there.
We reassembled at the barn and began to clear sand out of the newly made bread oven. This caused some amusement as first Angela, and then Alastair, put their heads right inside in the cause of removing the sand. It was like a tardis - more and more sand was bucketed away before the oven was declared empty.
Anita takes over from Ros and the sand keeps on coming.
She decides to have a good look inside.
She decides to have a good look inside.
Long armed Alistair is drafted in to reach the back
of the oven and Ruth waits patiently with the bucket.
A small kindling fire was lit – without the aid of diesel, paraffin or petrol as suggested by the more sceptical members. It was then allowed to go out, with Ros E. standing guard until it did. The aim was to encourage a slow drying out of the clay to avoid it cracking. We drifted away, covered in sand.
Finally the 'small fire' is built by Will....
...and, as this video shows, within a short time it is a raging inferno.
Well - almost.
Well - almost.
Anita can't resist giving it a little rake.
Everyone stands back and enjoys watching the flickering flames.
Ruth
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