Posted in Paths, Steps, tagged Chorlton Water Park, Mersey Valley on August 18, 2019|
Today we were in action at Chorlton Water Park. We were working first on some path resurfacing following water damage, then repairing two sets of steps.
Posted in Paths, tagged Peak Park Conservation Volunteers on May 19, 2019|
This weekend we were back near Tittesworth Reservoir working with the Peak Park Conservation Volunteers. Sadly, parts of a boardwalk we helped construct back in 2011 have now been condemned as having rotten supports, so this time we were replacing parts of the structure with a path.
We also had a chance to check on the progress of the hedge we worked on this past February and last October, and were pleased to see it’s doing well! See updated pictures here.
Posted in Paths, Residential weekends on May 27, 2018|
This month saw SACV’s first international outing! We spent a long weekend in Ireland and joined in with voluntary work being done by Mountain Meitheal, a group of environmental volunteers who have for the past fifteen years undertaken conservation and restoration projects on mountain and forest tracks and have won awards for their work.
Our volunteer Mike is a past member of Mountain Meitheal and nobly organised the trip over to Ireland for nine SACV members. In glorious weather, we worked with Mountain Meitheal on path maintenance and waterbar construction on Three Rock Mountain (Saturday 5th) and were taken on an instructive guided walk (Sunday 6th) around Glendalough to see some of Mountain Meitheal’s past projects.
It was a great weekend. Very big thanks to Mountain Meitheal who gave us a warm welcome, contributed very generously to the cost of our accommodation and were informative and engaging guides to the local area. And of course – very big thanks to Mike who came up with the idea and planned the weekend, booked the ferries and youth hostels, drove the minibus and pulled the whole thing together!
Posted in Paths, tagged Friends of Chorlton Meadows on September 4, 2017|
Yesterday we were out with the Friends of Chorlton Meadows. We and the Friends were edging and gravelling a section of path that has been getting extremely muddy (sometimes impassable!) in winter – all being well it’ll now be better able to cope with the winter ahead!
Posted in Paths, Wildlife education, tagged Lower Moss Wood on July 25, 2017|
This past Sunday we were in action at the picturesque Lower Moss Wood, home to a wildlife hospital and wildlife education centre. We did some maintenance on one of the footpaths used by school trips – and were able to take a look at a current resident of an aviary for which we helped to clear the ground on a previous trip!
Kestrel at Lower Moss Wood
Posted in Paths, Residential weekends, tagged Peak Park Conservation Volunteers on May 14, 2017|
This weekend was our second trip to the Peaks this year, working as usual with the Peak Park Conservation Volunteers (PPCV). On Saturday we worked on the Pennine Way to help with areas which need improved drainage. On Sunday we were very pleased to join (as two years ago) the annual Pick-and-Play day, which was again organised by Peak Mountaineering and PPCV: this followed the usual formula of litter-picking for one half of the day and then a choice of outdoor activities for the other half. This time we SACV volunteers opted for a mix of activities, including bushcraft, a guided walk, orienteering, climbing and abseiling – and as previously we had a fine time, with a torrential downpour in the middle of the day failing to dampen enthusiasm!
Posted in Paths, Willow structures, tagged Longford Park School on March 19, 2017|
Today we were back at Longford Park School to complete the willow tunnel and path which we started helping with last month. Thanks again to LPS for the warm welcome and hospitality – and especially for the home-made cake!
Update, 8th June 2017:
Nearly three months on, it’s good to see that the tunnel and dome are developing nicely!
Willow tunnel and dome growing well
Posted in Paths, tagged Alderley Edge, National Trust on March 7, 2017|
This past Sunday, six hardy volunteers braved rain, sleet and mud to give the National Trust rangers at Alderley Edge a hand with path maintenance! The work was to clear and dig the mud off a path which ought then to dry out for easier access later in the year, thereby taking the pressure off the other paths in the area, which otherwise get badly worn. A couple of channels to divert water away from the path were also put in place. Congratulations on the perseverance shown by those who turned out!
Posted in Paths, Willow structures, tagged Longford Park School on February 5, 2017| 1 Comment »
Today we had a very warm welcome from Longford Park School, where we were helping with a willow tunnel and arch. The willow was planted a couple of years ago, but work was needed to clear the grass around it and through the tunnel, lay a membrane and woodchip along the path, plant some new willow whips to provide more of a lattice supporting structure, and tie the tunnel in place. And throughout all of that, we were sustained with excellent home-made cake and tea!
Posted in Hedgelaying, Paths, tagged Friends of the Bowdon Bollin on November 6, 2016|
Today and a fortnight ago (23rd October) we worked with the Friends of the Bowdon Bollin. As well as doing some general tidying and maintenance of hedges we have laid previously, we did some work to open up and allow light to other parts of the footpath and to the riverbank. The original plan had been to work on the installation of two kissing gates but unfortunately this wasn’t possible for logistical reasons – although with luck the kissing gates can be planned for some future Sundays!
SMCV 