|
Working party weekend
Many thanks need to be expressed by the site staff
to all the volunteers who gave their time during the weekend.
Explorers from Bolton East & Farnworth,
Leaders and parents from Bolton North, West, South and East. Margaret
from Hoole with help from , Hillary and Debbie and breakfast help from Mark
C who reluctantly served eggs who fed the work force of over forty
volunteers. Not forgetting Pat and Catherine our ecology advisers.
A special thanks needs to be given to Mark
Smith who without his persistence and tenacity the weekend would not
have taken place.
The jobs completed included the construction of 3
newt hibernacula's, the spoil heap in the conservation field was landscaped
to make the area safer for later pond dipping use. The Explorer scouts and
other young people planted 500 plus shrubs along the bunds around the site
roads. One team erected two gates adjacent to the end of the new
entrance road and made good the fencing on either side whilst another put up
wire on post erected 18 months ago to nearly complete the fencing of an area
of trees. Two leaders and a few scouts removed barbed wire from fencing up
the main drive. The motorway fence is now fully completed, with all
four gates erected mesh stretched and clipped up. The spoil heap in
the equipment compound has been reduced by using several trailer loads on
the hibernacula construction, some has been spread in the entrance to the
conservation field and the rest has been moved landscaped to form the
campfire circle. The hand digging of a new pond, just to show the location
and size was also achieved during the weekend.
Completion of this work allowed the site with the
support of the ecologist, to hold another smaller working day to further
shape the new pond, profile the campfire circle to allow the newt fence to
be removed and thus completing our newt licence obligations .
|
Activity Barn
A great
deal of effort has been put into completing the Archery and Rifle range, and
abseiling wall which have now been completed.
Local to
the east entrance of the building a concrete slab has been laid and an
additional stanchion positioned to accommodate a roller shutter door which
has now been fitted .
Thanks to Bolton Industrial doors who donated and fitted the roller
shutter door
Now the
roller door has been fitted and the climate within the barn can be better
controlled some remedial work associated with the climbing wall can be
undertaken. i.e. Removal of the 'climbing holds' to allow the wall to be
painted to avoid the formation of mould on the wall surface.
Service Crew and Duty Warden Quarters and Farm House Development.
The farm house refurbishment is
nearing completion. First fix electrics and plumbing fixings has been
completed in the Service Crew quarters and plastering has commenced.
The first phase of the Service Crew quarters is planned to be completed by
the end of May.
Reservoir
A
further meeting with United Utilities has taken place and legal
agreements are now being drawn up to enable access to be from the
south end of the reservoir.
Discussions with the TA with regard to them locating the containers local to
the reservoir for change room and storage purposes have also taken place. It
looks has though it may be mid summer before they can move them. A small
marquee will provide a temporary solution for change room
requirements.
Major Events held in May at Bibbys Farm.
Pike View hike: A record 53 team entered the event
this year.
A fund raising triathlon organise by St
Josephs school to help finance an exchange visit of some African young
people. The exchange is to take place in July and they will be using Bibbys
Farm as a base.
Wigan District Camp, when over 150 Beavers, Cubs,
Scouts and Explorers visited the site. |
