Stonewalling at Tamar Lakes 23rd May 2015

Today we headed back down to Tamar Lakes in Cornwall...


Our task for this session was too complete the two sections                                                                       of stonewall that we had begun to restore back in April, 

First though Chris had to start things off by getting his 'Tea-making Mantra'...

Don't worry, Esther's grumpy face will fade once 
the caffeine hits her blood stream...

After the tea break kickstart the PEA team got stuck in...




It's very important that you compact the soil 
between the different layers on the wall so that it stays sold

After 2 hours of heavy work it was time for a lunch break...

By the lakeside no less...
Then we were straight back to it, eager to finish off...

Chris and I spent a while debating on how to finish this wall top off...

"I think we'll try this one..."

"Well I think this looks better.."

Whilst the girls sat and drank tea....Thanks girls....

Eventually though the walls were finished...Ooo la la...




As we had all done so well, 
as a special treat Esther decided to share with us...

Her PEA Socks...
Wow..they're um...Lovely Esther....

Michael Gamble-PEA Team

Wildflower Meadow Creation & Bramble Burning 16th May 2015

Today we ventured back up to the surrounding areas of Maker 
on the edge of Cornwall. 


Orginally we had planned to spend the day rhododendron burning in the
beautifully bluebell strewn surroundings of Maker Woodlands.


However upon arriving we decided it was just far too windy to tackle this task 
today, as you can kindly see visually represented by Jules. 

Therefore we hopped back in the minibus and headed up to the main 
Maker site to work on our ongoing Wildflower meadow. 

Someone was extremely glad of change of task for the day...


Which included a lot of additional 'petting'...

However at the mention of 'work' he decided it was time to lounge in the grass for a nap..

Soon we all got stuck into preparing the next quarter of our flower bed





This included removing a ton enormous bramble and nettle roots...
You thought the weeds in your garden were scary

Soon though the patch was all ready..

And with our little sachet of seeds...

The girls happily obliged in sowing the meadow....

Whilst Chris 'photographed' this mushroom....

We then headed back to the bus for lunch, 
including a belting out ALL BY MYSELF at the top of our lungs-much 
to the delight of the nearby campsite...

We then headed down to one of the old maker forts to burn up some drying bramble from one of sessions earlier in the year...

It was rather hot weather....

....so it wasn't long before....
...the bramble was all burned up..

We then had time to award Julz with her 50hours PEA certificate....

And allow some of the PEA members to mingle in their natural habitat...



Preferably within close vicinity of a local ice-cream vendor...


Michael Gamble-PEA Team

Beach Clean & BBQ at Portwrinkle Beach 9th May 2015

This week we were treated to a first taste of summer as we headed to Portwrinkle Beach for a Beach Clean & BBQ as part of The Great British Beach Clean.
This week were driven by Chris who had just passed his mini-bus driving test...
PEA On The Road in the future perhaps?

We were well equipped with our 'little' barbie...

As well as some new litter pickers which the girls were rather excited about...

While Chris is more of a bin hoop kind of guy...

Whilst everyone had the standard cup of PEA-teabreak tea...

Sam got to work on getting the barbie going...ala blowtorch...

 Chris then set about explaining the beach clean survey sheets that we 
would use to monitor our litter picking...
"I think it's this one...."

"No Chris...It's this one..."

During the beach clean we found a few interesting...and strange things...

Some cuttlefish egg shells

A moustache...

A cup...

And 'Huge' sharks purse...

Soon the survey section of the beach clean was done, 
and it was time to rustle up some grub!

Sam took charge as our grill chef...

Meat & Veggie...

Whilst the rest of us sliced and sewered veggies...

No Esther control your inner rabbit!!!

And now..some 'classy' cooking shots....





Whats a good burger without 'lots'
...and I mean LOTS...of tomato sauce...

Mhmmm.....

After the very fine food, we found this little guy as we were washing up...

While Esther's inner rabbit had her sampling the local floral and fauna...Mmm?....

We then polished off the rest of the beach till it was spotless, 
and we had managed to fill four whole bags...


Finally to reward us for all our hard work ,
 Julz very kindly bought everyone an Icecream...
That's 'Everyone' Esther, not JUST you!

Thank you Julz! x

Michael Gamble-PEA Team