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Six of us turned out today. Martin, Steve, Dave, Matt, Marcus, and Paul. We split into pairs and cracked on with jobs that were starting to become slightly overdue.

Martin and Dave seeded the scallops that we created on the most southerly bit with a bee-and-butterfly friendly wildflower mix.

There was also a large bag of seeds that I had collected at the end of last summer, so hopefully we will have a riot of colour and loads of nectar for all the insects.

In the margins elsewhere there is stuff starting to push up.

We need to be really careful not to strim too deep into the scallops when we are trying to keep the path a decent width. It would be such a shame to lose this growth before everything flowers and drops seeds for next year. As long as people can walk two abreast, I am happy.

Steve and Marcus split a load of snowdrops from our secret supply and filled in a load of the gaps on our snowdrop bank.

This will give us the snowdrop carpet eventually.

Matt and Paul opted for the staining of the last four picnic benches.

The worst job because we end up going home looking like Spotted Dick – hold that cake thought for a moment.

One of the benches overlooks our brook…

Here I am, back on the theme of running water…

I’m a Pisces – what do you expect…

We broke for coffee and a delish date-and-walnut cake baked by Matt’s wife (I told you to hold that thought!!).

The cake was to die for, as were the views up, down, and across the countryside.

I found a few pockets of time over the last week so I caught up with bench re-staining for the stragglers up the other end.

Someone had a little fire, which is fine.

We gave up on fires a long time ago. So sick of going home smelling like a smoked kipper.

Hmmm, that actually looks rather tasty…

We also did a litter pick.

It really is the gift that keeps on giving!!

Dunchurch Bridleway

Just me and Ian turned out this week, but because the grass is nice and short, it’s an easy job and a decent 250 metres got strimmed.

Hopefully, you can see how we are trying to leave a wildflower and grassy margin between the tightly strimmed path and the more established shrubby stuff behind it. In September we will cut deeper into the scrub and allow the wildflower margins to be a lot wider. We want to develop the trail so that it’s a series of glades with mature trees in the centre of each clearing.

It’s gonna be fun trying to pull this off!!

We broke for coffee and muggins here forgot the biscuits…

The only upside was for my waistline.

We are about ready for the Easter Holidays and everything is about to burst into life. It’s looking pretty good.

Next week we are at the Jaguar Land-Rover bench sorting out another bit that floods.

Until then!

Paul