Thorn Park Garden Restoration & Mini-Bus Scrub 25th July 2015



This week we headed off 'all so far' - a 10 minute journey to 
Thorn Park, just North of the city centre of Plymouth.


With an ample team today we were ready to assist with the ongoing
 restoration of these Victorian medical gardens based right in the heart of the city.


The beds have grown wild and the walls crumbled, so it's really in need of the 
ongoing TLC which it's receiving from the regular garden volunteers.


Plenty of snails...


And the odd newt or two!


Some pretty bright orange day lillies...

Unearthing a bit of paving...


We were really fortunate for bright sunshine throughout the day though, 
even this frog with trying to catch a tan...

Look how lush it is!!!


At lunch we were treated to some cherry jam made
 by one our volunteers Todd, along with some fresh rolls baked by Chris to enjoy it with.
Thank you Todd!!! Absolutely delicious!


After lunch we got back to work! 
We unearthed this patio buried under a mass of foliage.


The flower beds got a good weeding too; hopefully one day 
they will be full of medicinal plants again!

A Red Admiral butterfly enjoying some buddleia flower nectar in the sun! Look at that BLUE sky!!!

Our day wasn't over though as, with the good weather still holding,
 it was the perfect opportunity to give our trusty minibus a spruce up! 


Many trips worth of volunteering grime...


Chris really got stuck into the cleaning...


...And even got chance to practice his mountaineering skills 
scaling the bus roof..


After many buckets of soapy water the bus was squeaky clean...

Mike-PEA Team

PEA-Rhododendron Burning-Maker 16th July 2015




This week with the weather fine and the winds low we headed up to Maker woodlands for a session of Rhododendron Burning!




Hold it!


What is that?!


Why it's Chris's new hat!...And it's reversible too...Fancy that!


On our walk down to the woods we spotted a Peacock butterfly-But more on butterflies later!




These shiny little gems are intact bluebell seeds..


With the blossoms all but gone it's time for the plants to go to work shedding their seeds for next year's spring blossom!



The awaiting mass of dried Rhododendron cuttings!



WOLVERESTER!!


Soon after a bit of prep we had a roaring fire pit 
going that ate through our pile of cuttings in no time!



Here's Todd prepping for our next session..


Looks just like a little fairy grove right?




As we all prepped and cleared up, Esther found a really old skittle bottle!


Beautiful view of Cornwall and the Tamar!


After putting our fire we hiked back up the hill to do our first butterfly survey as part of the
 Big Butterfly Count 2015! 






It was amazing to see just how many butterflies and insects
 we were able to spot around us in just under 15 minutes!




For our hard work today we decided to stop by some nearby cherry trees on the way home! 
We filled almost half of a bag for life, and they were some seriously good cherries!



And go amazingly well in a ice-cream sundae!

Mike-PEA Team


Wild Pond Survey & Bird Box Sighting at Antony house 12th July 2015!



Today we headed off to Antony House in South East Cornwall!



Mark the Antony House Gardener



The House - spectacular even on a cloudy day!


Before our work we headed off for a guide tour around the estate! 

Wow look at this huge Oak tree!




Check it out -Insect hotel which PEA volunteers put together in 2012!



Hayley found a newt


Brian putting up the first bird box, which we made a few weeks ago!


Todd positioning his bird box


Todd pre-nailing the bird box before climbing the ladder. 
Did you know that if you hit the sharp end of the nail with a hammer before putting it though the wood it does not split the wood

Bird box in position!


Brendan putting up his bird box!



Laura putting up a box!


Crystal with her fixed box!



Looking out across the estate



Team shot!

Next it was time for a OPAL Pond Survey


What have we found?

Todd pond dipping 

A newt!!!

A dragonfly larvae

Toad Tadpole - a TOADPOLE?!!!


Despite the drizzle we had a great day at Antony, 
time to go home now and wring out our socks!

Chris-Project Officer