Estate Apprentice, Summer 2013

This summer's estate apprentice has been a big success, as we've renovated the footpath near Crow Wood with help from hundreds of tiny hands. We've had three events, and great turnouts for all of them, helped no doubt by the cracking weather.

All potential apprentices were kitted out with an Edwardian-style flat cap and waistcoat, before they grabbed a mini rake or shovel and got to work helping the rangers on the footpath. As the old adage goes, many hands make light work, and our army of mini rangers did a sterling job.

Our army of apprentices hard at work with the rangers

Along with the pathwork, several volunteers from our Wednesday volunteer group demonstrated the ancient craft of drystone walling to encourage the next generation to "Have a go". Who knows, perhaps the baton has been passed to some of the wallers of the future? 

The walling team get their stall set out 

And for those who weren't quite as keen on the "hands-on" activities, there was always the chance to sit in the tractor and pretend to drive...so everyone was a winner! 

The tractor proved to be very popular!

Many thanks to everyone who came along and helped, and as ever to our volunteers who contributed to making the event a success. And to volunteer ranger Graham for supplying the photos.

The Big Family Day Out

Last Tuesday at Lyme, the ranger team were given a helping hand thanks to a new scheme being trialled by the National Trust in the North West region.

 

The Big Family Day Out is a new project to provide great experiences for families by helping them spend time together, whilst helping us get work done!

 

Employers who sign up to the scheme allow members of staff to have a day off to volunteer with their family at a Trust property. This year the scheme is being piloted in the Manchester and Liverpool area, and it was our turn here at Lyme Park last week.

 

 

On Tuesday morning, after an icebreaker session, our volunteer families made their way to the Fallow Deer Sanctuary, where the conservation task we had selected for them awaited. After a quick tool talk, the families were ready to get stuck into their mission of renovating a footpath through the sanctuary, that had been slowly eroded after years of rainwater and footfall.

 

Everyone worked extremely hard throughout the day, and we managed to get a good stretch of the path completed. The children and parents from different families created a work force to be reckoned with! By lunch we’d emptied a whole trailer load of stone. To put that into perspective, that’s about three tonnes! And after refuelling with a barbecue down at the Timber Yard, we managed another full load after lunch!

 

 

 

 After that, it was time for a wander through the fallow deer sanctuary, keeping an eye out for the conspicuous residents. The families listened intently to Doug’s talk about one of our two resident deer species, learning about all sorts of deer related facts, from antler formation to their eating habits.

 

 

 

The day was rounded off with a trip to Crow Wood Playscape to let off a bit of steam before heading home. A big thanks from us all at Lyme park for everyone who got involved in this great scheme, and for giving us a helping hand!

 

 

 

 

Click on the link below to see more opportunities to get you and your family involved with us here at Lyme!

 

 

 http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park/things-to-see-and-do/events/