A second week at Picking Gill with just three of us , Val, Chris and Graham. The forecast proved to be pessimistic and the cool morning became a pleasant afternoon instead of the expected rain. The section of wall that Barry and co had started the previous week was completed and looks significantly better than when we started! Liz paid us a visit including biscuits to make up for the cake we had been getting at Low Wood Farm.
No. Waller: 3
Duncan, Rob & Barry formed the pioneering team at Picking Gill, a small nature reserve managed by the local community near Sawley. A brief survey of the perimeter wall persuaded us that commencing alongside the road afforded the best shelter from a cold easterly wind, and we partially dismantled the mainly retaining wall in a tidying-up of the disheveled stint to a firm corner. It took the morning to restore this, finishing with flat tops for want of more material. The afternoon’s work began the steep uphill section at right angles to the corner, the fragility of which was exposed by a collapse while removing some stones and leaving more of a gap than we had planned at the end of the day. A satisfactory consolidation of the corner however and some sound lower courses put into place.
Barry S.
No. Waller: 3
Resources were split this week with Andy, Rod and Graham finishing work around the gate at Low Wood Farm . There will be a separate blog for the start of Picking Gill involving Barry, Duncan and Rob. A fine day at Low Wood Farm, with the completion of the right-hand cheekend linking into a buttress to match up to the adjoining walls. This represented the completion of the job and by all accounts it has been an enjoyable wall to work on. Once again, but for the final time cake (almond and cherry) was provided by Sally who also came to view the final result and thank us once again.
No Wallers: 3
We hoped that this would be our final week at Low Wood Farm but rain and impending bad weather drove us away at lunchtime. Eight of us this time; Andy, Duncan, Rob, Rod, Chris, Val Barry and Graham. Andy, Duncan and Rob finished the final 20 yards of toppers at the far end and Barry and Rod completed the cheek end to the left of the gate posts. Since last week, Richard had fitted the gate providing an almost finishing touch to this mammoth job. Chris, Val and Graham set about the cheek end at the right hand gate post which became a major demolition job and ended up being unfinished when rain stopped play. There will be a final visit next week by a small group to complete the job but lunchtime included a completion toast to this fine wall. For those interested in stats, the length of the rebuilt wall is 92 of Barry's steps and 110 of Graham's. This week's cake, provided by Sally, was coffee and walnut and pies were provided by Rod. We had another long chat with Sally, who once again seemed very pleased with what we've done and invited us back to look at it at our leisure.
Graham D.
No Wallers: 8
