Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
In preparation for the open weekend in a couple of weeks we have a couple of extra days at the Drop Redoubt - we will be up there tomorrow and next sunday from 10:30 carrying out a range of duties from weeding, bonfire, rubbish pick, etc
Please come along if you want to lend a hand
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Nice day to be at the Redoubt working
Shame I am at home doing REAL work on a sunday morning
Been nice knowing you :)
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
thats if you dont mind the odd shower or two.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
just a reminder of tomorrow's work day, a report on how many turned up and the odd photo would be appreciated.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
final reminder that work starts at 10. 30 a.m. weather looks ok at the moment.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
About 16 people - all spread over the place working at the Drop Redoubt, Grand Shaft and North Entrance. Lots of weeding and grass cutting, final preparations for the open weekend next week
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
quite an impressive number paul bearing in mind the inclement weather forecast and a brit in the mens singles final for the first time since 1936.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
Here we go - having a good crack at the buddleia and shrubbery at North Entrance this morning.
About lunchtime us evil people then got back together and conspired how we were going to sell off the Heights, formulating our plan. Then we did some grass cutting in the moats and went home ready for the carnival.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
thanks for that phil, every time i walk past there i think to myself "that would be a great site for a housing estate made up of tiny units".
i will consult with roger as we both think that we could provide tenants currently residing in the folkestone road and surrounding thoroughfares.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Great work, there, Phil and Paul, and all volunteers.
Out of interest, do you also pull out the roots of weeds and unwanted bushes?
If the roots remain, the weeds will always return.
Did you know that, once unwanted roots are pulled out, other forms of "short-crop" vegetation, ie vegetation that doesn't overgrow, can be planted that do not damage masonry, but through their presence prevent unwanted weeds-bushes etc. from encroaching.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
they are called protesters,feed once a week they should florish.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Phil, I had a look in that area today, the one you photographed above, and there is a brick which is loose at the top of the wall where the stairs are, and it could come tumbling down any time soon.
You need to get it removed, along with the one next to it, or have it replaced and cemented so it remains steady. It cannot stay like that, mate!
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Yes we know Alexander - the Heights are falling down and needs a lot of repairs before it becomes unsafe for the public to walk around it !!!!!
How about actually HELPING by doing something??
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Paul, having finished work at 9, I managed to do my shopping before the 10 pm shop-closure.
Having had a look yesterday, while on the Heights coming back from the meeting, at the walls which are pictured above, my assessment is that anything growing between the bricks must be cut off before it can cause further damage.
For that one needs a long ladder, or a van-operated crane-basket (this is a much more expensive option though). Cutting the grass at the top of the walls in that area is also a risky job, as the walls are high, and the ground slopes steeply towards the top of the walls.
I'm not sure if volunteers are simply allowed up there just like that, and to do this sort of work, one needs to dedicate many days of work, it can't just be done with a few hours here and there.
There is also a railing going up the steps, it's rusty, and needs painting.
It can't be done with just a few hours here and there.
But that brick does need removing or re-setting with cement, and the one next to it.
There is an immediate danger of it coming down and hitting someone.
It's only those two bricks, Paul, the rest of the walls there are stable.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
Yes we know Alex. We're just a small bunch of dedicated volunteers trying to do the best with what we have got, very limited resources and little money. We have all got day jobs and some of our younger volunteers are still at school or college.
We desperately need new tools and equipment which is why we'd like as many people as possible to come to the Open Weekend this Saturday or Sunday. All entrance fees are put towards buying equipment for jobs such as this and other renovation work.
You are, of course, more than welcome to come and help us next month, or anytime in the future.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
alex,if you are worried about a couple off bricks falling,why not take some sand and cement and water up there and fix them.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
"or have it replaced and cemented so it remains steady" - sadly you don't understand how works on Scheduled Ancient Monuments works.....
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
took a gander at the result of last weekends work yesterday.
looks like the volunteers used a job lot of napalm.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Needs a lot of work all the time, but even just weedkilling is a health and safety nightmare on someone else's (English Heritage) land... !
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
had a look today going past, i assume this is what alex refers to.
not a job for volunteers i would have thought, professional expertise and equipment required to deal with this.
