Gardening at the Lodge!

Lodge Park Sherborne

Another deadline, this time the season opening of Lodge Park next week , meant a slight change and somewhat surprising days work with Mike this week. Wasn't sure what was in store to start with but didn't expect to be wielding a hoe and rake this morning. First job was to weed the old gravel path in readiness for the delivery of fresh gravel. My jaw dropped when I witnessed the ten tons of gravel being delivered and the area Mike hoped to cover. Two positive things in my favour, similar gardening experience at Chastleton,  and the other, Mike's expert use of his tractor to help position the piles of gravel. Between us we made a decent start on the paths, see below, before all ten tons was used up. We finished the day clearing the woodland path using the leaf blower and bow saw plus loppers. Really must get the Park garden volunteers, who are more than capable of doing this,  organised to help do this in the future. 

Freshly gravelled  & weeded path

Meanwhile earlier in the week more 'ranger' like duties with Martin, fence clearing at Clump Farm. Didn't  manage to complete but other important liaison duties intervened. First Martin had to fit in a side trip to Snowshill manor to help direct the drystone wallers and the second was to gain agreement with the tenant farmer at Clump Farm to plant some  oak & ash trees on new ground. Hope to be involved in this planting which along with Mike's planned ash tree planting will balance the winter's more destructive but necessary thinning & clearing work.