Springing forward

It has been a busy few weeks - again! Half term proved very popular with visitors as the sun came out and the snowdrops really started to come into their prime. On Thurday 16th February we ran a family volunteering day - working with Susie and Bec from our family engagement team, I met five families and took them out to the front park where we planted 51 trees to restore a woodland screen that was part of Humphry Repton's original park layout. As well as the planting, the group enjoyed a picnic lunch and the chance to explore Attingham after the work was done (I think most made a beeline for the play area - and well deserved!).

New hawthorn leaves

The crocuses are popping up all over the place

General estate work has included digging in a long stretch of rabbit fencing, another trip to Wenlock Edge to coppice hazel, hedgelaying, chopping and delivering logs, mulching newly planted hedge, creative building in the soon-to-be new play area and a special day on the 29th February - the Local Leap 2012. This is a day when the Trust encourages its staff and volunteers to do something that will benefit the local community and the people that live alongside us. Senior park and estate warden Colin took a team over to St Eatas Church in Atcham and the team worked in the churchyard clearing vegetation, pruning and tidying. It was a good day enjoyed by all, and the locals of Atcham were really pleased to see us helping out. For my part in the Leap, I took some of my neighbours to Wenlock Edge and showed them how to coppice hazel - the cut wood was then taken back to Frankwell to be used in a community garden that I am helping to set up.

Meanwhile, spring is merrily springing away - the crocuses are up on the tearoom bank and more daffodils are coming into bloom everyday; the hawthorn is bursting into leaf across the estate; the skylarks have been singing to us as we work. Lovely!

The daffs will soon be out everywhere