The weather on Sunday started as it meant to go on - wet and rainy as Nick, John and I drove to the site to join Jude and the group (8 in total) to continue the work that was started on the dry stone wall on the 1st June.
Welcome to three new volunteers Steve, Barbara and Jules!
Again guided by Dave the warden and Derek’s dry stone walling expertise, half of the group sorted stones into piles - those which could be used to build the base of the wall working upwards, and those which could be used as coping stones to add the finishing touch to the wall whilst getting an eye for which stones could go where – very much an improvised large scale jigsaw!
As we broke for lunch and a tea break, the rain decided to come down more
heavily, as we tried to shelter against the already completed part of wall
under our waterproofs (not very successfully) I ended up soaked to the bone
with a lunch box full of water - at least no one would have to wash the
coffee cups!
After lunch we returned to work, swapping our designated task areas. Those who had worked on the base of the wall had the chance to finish the wall with coping stones and vice versa, giving everyone an all round dry stone walling experience.
The sun shone through in the end as we sat down on the now dry grass at the end of the day to reflect on our work. We managed to build up 10 metres of wall and laid 16 metres of coping stones, which would have taken one person nearly two weeks to do. Knowing we have contributed to the ongoing successful restoration of a wall that still has a way to go before being completed made for a very fulfilling day. Who knows, we may even be back before next summer to lend our services once again.
Annaliese