Return to Brookside

Despite an elongated scenic route to site for both Graham and I, occasioned by road closures, a good sized gang made a start on the wall at Brookside farm in preparation for a group of corporate volunteers arriving on the 7th August. Rod, Barry, Catriona Graham and I took down what is left of the surviving wall and did a couple of courses and arranged the rest of the stone in suitable order on a pleasantly warm day with no rain in sight!

Richard H.
No Wallers: 5

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In other news.

Since the diversion in our route sent Graham and I near to an old site I decided to have a look at the Old Sheepfold at Winksley. As you can see from the pictures it is not easy to get to, there's no clear pathway, the whole wood is overgrown, the entrance to the sheepfold is littered with fallen branches and the interior of the fold is completely overgrown.

 The other side? Oh yeah, that still looks pretty good!

Hot and Sticky

A decent sized team worked in the heat July to add a bit of height to Hillend. Rod, and Catriona worked on the southern end, and was a welcome appearance from Tony who sorted out the northern end, whilst Justin and I worked in the middle. Barry, very selflessly, acted as quarryman and courier, finding useful stone in Justin's ever diminishing stone pile and hand delivering to the wall side.

And the reward for everyone's efforts? Spending their lunchtime filling in blinking AONB forms!

Morning

Lunch time

End of the day

Barry attributed, and photographed, stone of the day 

Start and end of the day (Tony's photos)

Richard H.

No. Wallers: 6

Toads and Newts

Not a lot of building done today,  as Justin, Graham, Catriona and I took down the next section of wall. We're getting to the steep section on both sides of the wall so it's a bit slow going. Apart from shifting stone and muck we came across 5 or 6 toads and a newt who were all re-homed further up the wall.

Richard H.
No. Wallers: 4

Toppers On

Justin Catriona, Graham and I endured the midges of Hillend too put the final 2 courses up and finish it orf with a few upright toppers. Our supply of which is now exhausted as was I after having put some of the larger specimens in place.
Just the other half to go now!

 Just before lunch

 Field side end of the day

 Track side end of the day

Track side end of the day

Richard H.
No. Wallers: 4

Hillend

Steady progress this week with Tony (who walked to site from the Heathfield caravan site) joining us - well we joined him really as he arrived first.
Graham, Roderick, and Catriona  worked on the build assisted by Justin for the morning, while I began dismantling the pile of stones and grading them. A good supply of large stones brought up the wall height to a satisfying finish at 3pm.

Barry S.
Photos by Barry, Tony and Graham
No. Wallers: 6

Hillend week 2

Arrived slightly early this morning to find Graham already on the job with a line up and Justin in attendance.
Decided to part-excavate the retaining wall (which has only a face of stone) in order to give it more substance so the first hour was spent barrowing earth off site with Rod & Justin, while Catriona and Graham built up the top section.
Foundations laid in the new trench plus another course and a bit, and the top section ready for coping stones next week.
A welcome tray of tea and simnel cake from Liz & Hester mid-afternoon sustained us for the last hour of work.

 Greenfly everywhere

Wall at lunchtime

End of the day

Barry S.

No. Wallers: 5