Thursday 24 December 2015

Picture Gallery of Volunteers.

Just some examples of the work volunteers have been
involved with in the Central and East Lakes region over the course of 2015. 
With thanks and good wishes for 2016!
 Matthew clearing away wind-blown trees from woodland wall. More firewood for the Footprint woodburner!
Combating invasive plants at Dora's Field Grasmere.
Himalayan Balsam and Japanese Knotweed.
Newton Rigg students replacing worn out steps at Wetherall Woods, near Carlisle.
Cumbria National Trust Volunteer Group.
Putting in stone setts at Ambleside Roman Fort.
Working Holiday Group upgrading Millerground Footpath and lake shore revetment work.
Volunteer group from Shardale.
Footpath improvement and resurfacing work.


Thursday 10 December 2015

Interim repairs to the St. Catherine's drive.

In the aftermath of Storm Desmond repairs to the three hundred metre plus drive to St. Catherine's, The Footprint and Gatelands, are now well underway as the following images show...

Blue obligingly posed to give some sense of scale to the problem.
Central East Lakes pick up and two ton tipper trailer put to work.

Craig and Nick from the South Lakes region were quick to offer their assistance in the running repairs to the drive. Here Craig is loading the dumper driven by Nick with material washed down in the flood.
...another load of salvaged aggregate ready to be raked in.
James, Ray and a special mention for Leila, academy ranger from North Lakes, in helping to spread the retrieved aggregate brought up by the dumper. 
John gathering up more aggregate.
Here come the cavalry....The firm I.T Shaw were commendably quick to arrive on the scene with the heavy plant machinery needed to deal with the massive amount of work required just to reinstate vehicular access to the property.
The excavator at work with the dumper in attendance.
A twenty ton load of MOT Type one sub base arriving from Burlington... making it two hundred tons delivered up to press...ready to be spread and rolled. The final top layer will be put down in the New Year, once the drainage for the drive has been reinstated and improved .

Thanks are owed to I.T.Shaw and their prompt response in dealing with the situation and to Craig and Nick from South Lakes, and Leila from North Lakes for all their valuable assistance.


Sunday 6 December 2015

After The Deluge

Images from around Ambleside and Windermere in the aftermath of Storm Desmond. Sunday December 6th.

The calm after the storm! Rayrigg Meadow, Bowness.
Sheep reflecting sheep in the now unruffled flood water.

Stock Ghyll Force looking impressive after 'unprecedented' rainfall.


The wrecked driveway..to National Trust St. Catherine's, The Footprint, and Gatelands.. after Wynlass Beck burst its banks during the relentless downpour.

The drive is extensively damaged throughout its entire length with ruts of over two feet deep in places.

Tarmac ripped up by fast flowing flood water. Ambleside.

The rubble strewn A591 at Troutbeck Bridge.

Waterhead Marine.

Lake Wardens going to the assistance of a stranded Land Rover.

Jenkyns Field.

The dry boathouse at Jenkyns Field!

The A591 between Ambleside and Windermere with flood water gradually receding but more rain forecast for the week ahead...