Volunteer Expansion

In an effort to increase the number of volunteers who come to Styal and the differing types of work we could have volunteers engaging in, we ran a Saturday afternoon drop in session during a snowy weekend in February.

The result has been a really good response in volunteers. I have just about finished interviewing everyone, still a few to go though. One recruit was a volunteer volunteer manager. This role is there to not only look after new recruits, seeing they have all the support they need from an admin point of view, but to assist in recruiting new volunteers.

We are just setting up log in's and sorting software to be used on the PC but once ready to go, the post will be invaluable to the estate.

One thing we looked at today, was the Youth Rangers group that we hope to set up later this year. We are looking to involve two local schools and have up to 20 youth rangers to carry out practical tasks across the estate throughout the year.

We are also setting up a link to a volunteer specific blog, where you can go to find out all about the work volunteers do and....how you can join in.

New play area

Beautiful day to be creating a new play area in the upper garden.

Sent from my Windows Phone.

Mystery Solved!

For a while now I have been cursing the IT guys as my mouse attached to this laptap keeps on freezing. It's been really annoying as you have to unplug the USB connection, wait, then reconnect. Just linked what's causing it as I sit here!

My radio has just gone off for a member of staff to check their radio. As I replied the mouse froze. This has just happened for the third time. Just pressing the transmit button on the radio cause the mouse to freeze?

Strange as the mouse is cable connected not wireless and we have no wireless connection in the building. Mystery solved. So now I have to go see if I can freeze other peoples pointing devices?

Bridge repairs

This is not a troll but a blacksmith looking at one of our bridges with a view to installing new steel decking and handrails.

Sent from my Windows Phone.

Youth Rangers Group

We are going to start up a youth Ranger group meeting at weekends. Probably Sundays. Do you know a young person that would be interested in joining? Ages between 14 - 18. Drop us a line. We will be doing practical work as well as carrying out surveys and other countryside related work.

Blogging mobile

If this works then we should be able to blog on the go?

Sent from my Windows Phone.

Arrival of Spring

It would seem that Spring has arrived at last. The birds are very noisy now in the mornings and as it draws dusk. Three crows have been nest building locally, breaking off branches then flying to a nearby oak tree to weave them into the new nest. Why three crows have been involved here is a mystery? Two have been seen in recent days though, perhaps the third was just confused?

Hedges are starting to flush with new growth and the landscape greening up. Ploughing last years arable fields has begun. The smell of freshly turned earth is certainly a smell of spring, as well as the neighbours newly cut lawn.

I had a meeting with a contractor yesterday to look at one of our bridges on the estate. It's called 'Centenary Bridge', built to commemorate the National Trust's centenary in 1995. The bridge hasn't weathered all that well and has been closed off for the last couple of months as it was in a dangerous condition. 

It's a steel structure but clad with wood. The aim is to remove the wood, which is the part that's failed and replace this with steel components. When it's all painted black it will look very smart in its position in the wood.