We have been keeping this path clear, open and as a nice nature-walk for about ten years now.
We have had a lot of people pass through, joining work parties for a few weeks, a few months, a few years, or been on it since the start. It is nice to know that everyone who has helped out has found the calming and therapeutic aspect of getting out into the countryside, as well as the physical exercise and just making friends with like-minded people.
It is also a bit worrying when I look at my wardrobe and almost every garment is a shade of green or brown!!
However, the greenway is not the only outdoor project that I have. I also do Dunchurch Nature Trail. A bridleway that connects Dunchurch to Cawston, and most of my working life is spent outside in green spaces, so maybe I am not as obsessed as it first appears!!
We have another project that is an off-shoot of all of these green spaces. It is making benches and aimed at helping young adults to gain skills and confidence, as well as helping the users of the benches to enjoy the green spaces that we are creating.
Find out more here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/paul-hayden-hart-2?utm_term=4Be68ky2d
This week we had Marcus, Reece, David, Mick and Paul pushing back the bramble scrub in our first greenway open space. We have four open spaces with picnic benches along this bit, and each one offers something different.
As you can see, coffee and cookies have become an important aspect of our workdays.
We are creating habitat piles for spiders, insects and small mammals.
Our good friend, Andrew, gifted us a load of English Bluebell bulbs and a dibber to put them in with. Hopefully, as they spread, the nettle growth will be suppressed a little bit.
Everyone hard at work clearing bramble and pulling up the roots.
Or chatting to passers-by, explaining what we are doing and hoping they join us in the future.
All-in-all, a nice open space with bird-feeders. Great for a coffee or picnic, for walkers, runners or cyclists, or just to stop and feel the benefits of being in the countryside and connecting with nature.
Next week we are planting trees given to us by The Woodland Trust. Start at bench #1 and work down towards bench #4. there are 105 of them in total.
Paul
