November Working Weekend

posted by Nigel Thompson on Fri, 30/11/2012 - 02:01

Whilst one group of L&B volunteers headed north to represent the L&B at the Warley Model Railway Exhibition, a hardier group of individuals tackled the
drainage and clearance required at Rowley Cross - our latest land acquisition.

This report and photos from L&B Trustee and Working Weekend co-ordinator Pete Snashall

As many of you are no doubt aware last weekend proved to be extremely wet from most of the UK, not least for Devon and the West Country. Despite these conditions and although flooding did prevent some of our regulars being able to join us, we still had upwards of 20 volunteers on site each day. As a result of their efforts in what might be described as difficult conditions(!) a magnificent amount of work was undertaken and our goals for the weekend were achieved.

Perhaps not surprisingly when we arrived at Wistlandpound on Friday we found conditions were extremely poor, to the point of being dangerous, with mud and water above wellie height in places. As this was more of a “nice to do job” rather than an essential, the decision was quickly made to move on to Rowley Cross to make a start on the fencing jobs planned for Saturday and Sunday.

As Nigel has already mentioned, we again employed the technique we've used previously with L&B fencing. Every third post being rotated for use with high tensile wire and the intermediate posts being removed for the future and for replacing “blown” posts. With the wire runs tensioned, droppers fitted and sheep wire attached the result is a fence that should be good for many years to come.

As the fencing run on the north side of the cutting was a Southern installation with all the posts in good condition, all that was required was to strip out the old wire, straighten the posts, rewire and then fit the droppers followed by the sheep wire.

Mention must also be made of our resident grotto elves (Grottettes!) Sonia Oakey and Julia Snashall, who have once again produced a magnificent grotto. Sonia and Julia would like to thank Sandy Hector and Judy Williams for their assistance and also those who have donated decorations, helping this year's grotto to be bigger than ever.

Thanks also to Judy W for providing us with such wonderful hot lunches. I'm sure I can speak for all our volunteers in saying these were very much appreciated, especially when working in such foul weather!

If you fancy joining us for one of our winter working weekend the next is planned for the end of January. For more details keep an eye on the website, drop me an email or give me a call.

Thanks again to all who made this a successful weekend.

Pete

1. Maurice Hartnell watches as Martyn Budd uses the auger to drill a hole for a new straining post.

2. Rowley cutting looking towards Barnstaple.

3. High tensile fence wire strung, clipped and ready for tensioning.

4. Dave Fuller and Malcolm Hector straighten and pack fence posts. The recently installed crash barriers on the A39 can be seen as can the resulting debris that had to be cleared from the fence line.

5. Steve Castle, Ian Corney and Jerry Oakey start tensioning the fence wires.

These photos from Sunday were provided by Nigel Thompson - who once again deserves our thanks for his efforts with a camera.

1. General Manager Martyn Budd on the trackbed by the smouldering bonfire.

2. L&B CME Chris Carder with his chainsaw, having just cut down some of the trees in the cutting.

3. Steve Orchard adds more branches to this bonfire, at the top of the bank.

4. Fencing progress, with new wire fixed to the original posts.

5. Some of the old concrete fence posts were removed for re-use elsewhere during the fencing programme here at Rowley Cross cutting.

6. The gang progress the re-fencing beyond the cutting.

7. Tea break time.

8. IoW Group volunteer Stuart Duddy helps himself to milk and tea from the urn heated by the onsite generator.

9. The whole Sunday gang pose for the camera during their tea break in the cutting. Aptly, this is the site of a PW hut.

10. Back to work - the intermediate steel spacers (droppers) are fixed in place.

11. Working on the fence line which separates the trackbed from the A39.

12. The bank bonfire - burns all the felled branches from this area above the cutting.

13. Back at Woody Bay for lunch, catering manager Judy Williams serves everyone a chunky-chicken casserole, Yorkshire puddings, and tea and cake for afters.

14. Judy used the recipe from her acclaimed excellent 'Woody Bay Station Cookbook' available from the online shop.

15. The gangs enjoying their lunch break in the new all-weather marquee.

16. Fred the dog entered into the early Christmas spirit decorated by Olly Budd with a Christmas hat as a collar.

17. A good chance for the volunteers from Devon, the IoW, Hants, Kent and Gloucestershire to socialise once again during the working weekend.

18. The "Grottettes" -Sonia Oakey and Julia Snashall, decorated 'Santa's Grotto' during the weekend.

19. The first re-fenced section completed today.

20. View of the cleared cutting and trackbed looking towards Parracombe.

21. The trackbed can now be used as a roadway to carry fencing materials etc. on and off the site.

22. There was also fencing underway on the other side of the trackbed.

23. Stock-proof net fencing is being installed here as the field and trackbed are still being used by the farmer for the time being.

24. Affixing the stock-proof fencing.

25. At the end of the cutting, the fencing has to cross the trackbed to keep the sheep in the field and out of the cutting.

26. The gang fix the wire anchors on a straining post of old rail.

27. Much activity everywhere as the teams complete their allotted tasks.

28. Judy Williams came to inspect all our hard work on the trackbed. Our thanks to Judy for providing us with the excellent lunches to keep us going in the inclement weather this weekend.