Our first work sessions – progress to 23 April 2021

Well, we couldn’t have asked for better weather for our first week back ‘on the ground’ at Honeywood. The sun shone throughout, with sessions from Tuesday to Friday. It was lovely to see everyone in person, rather than on screen during our fortnightly online sessions that we’d been having since January. Old friends met, and introductions were made in person.
 
The weeds had been enjoying a respite during lockdown, and were just beginning to put on a fresh spurt of growth, so it was a very good time to be able to restart. An encouraging amount of progress was made, both in the back and front gardens. We are scheduling weekly morning and afternoon sessions from now on, so progress will continue, and looking forward to the time when we will be able to invite the group to be able to all come together, rather than in smaller groups.
 
Work has started on clearing planting areas, with these varying from surface weeds to brambles and some scrub. We have been careful to avoid areas where birds may have set up home and built their nests.
 
Some of the Edwardian burr-brick planting area retaining walls have already begun to reappear, allowing for further investigation and recording.
 
An interesting detail emerged during the clearance of the bed in the southeast corner of the garden next to the Pound Street wall. I thought that the whole bed was edged with burr-brick (overburnt brick). However, it appears that this only applies to the eastern end next to the sheds area. The other end is edged with flint. This suggests that the bed has been extended at some point. Not very significant in itself but as we learn more it may fit into a bigger picture.
 
Overall a very successful few days; we couldn’t have asked for a better start.

Then – the northwest corner of the garden at the start of work on Tuesday

Clearing the bed

Now – the same area from a slightly different angle on Friday afternoon with the weeds cleared. The mill stones came from the former Grove snuff mill at Westcroft (not to be confused with the mill which still stands in The Grove Park)

The newly cleared bed in the southeast corner of the garden next to the Pound Street wall. The bed edging on the foreground is burr-brick. The edge in the background is mostly flint which tails away to nothing

Graham - guess which side I've been working?

John - this will have to go!

Sue – clearing the burr-brick bed edges

John - making progress

Sue, cutting up waste