The Jurte at Saint Catherine's.

Yesterday, Central and East lakes Rangers based at Saint Catherine's spent part of the afternoon erecting a 'jurte', with invaluable assistance from Debbie, the Footprint Supervisor, and her two daughters, Rosie, and Hannah back home from university.

Jurtes originate from Germany and look like a cross between a bell tent and a yurt; they are extensively used in Germany as scout tents.

The jurte will be used as a heavy duty shelter for green wood carving courses and for school and family bush-craft camps.

In this image Ray and James are transporting the jurte with all its ancillaries...in the inestimable tracked power barrow... up to the wood above the Footprint building and on to site.

The start of the 'unboxing'.

The main roof section being unwrapped.

The site.

The wild daffodils were dug up to be transplanted out of harm's way.

The three centre poles being lashed together.

The roof being spread out...all 8 metres of it!

"YOU GOT ME IN CHAINS"!

Getting ready to raise the roof.

"...did we do that last bit correctly?  I'm not so sure, but hey ho let's give it a go!"

Debbie, Hannah and Rosie ready to lift up the side poles having attached the guy ropes.

Hannah supporting the wooden side pole while James hammers in the steel peg which will tension the guy rope.

Hammering in the peg.

The almost completed structure. There is an option for side panels but it was considered that keeping the structure open will allow people to feel more in tune with the beautiful surroundings.

The central roof opening which may be used as a smoke vent for wood fires. There is a roof cap that can be fitted in the worst weather conditions.

Finally, today (30th of March) Bruna, Academy Ranger who has recently moved to Saint Catherine's  for a year,  planted up the daffodils that were removed from the site yesterday.

Help from the South lakes Rangers and Volunteers at Birdhouse Meadows.

Recently we met up with rangers from the South Lakes team and volunteers. They had generously offered their help in taking down and removing an old  fence at Birdhouse Meadows, at the north end of Windermere, prior to us putting in a new fence.

As we left our base at St. Catherine's, on our way to meet them, we were struck by the view. Above the cloud inversion from right to left can be seen the snow covered Langdale Pikes, Great Gable, Bow Fell, Scafell Pike, and Crinkle Crags....

...and south of them, Wetherlam.

Volunteers and rangers hard at work dismantling and removing the fence, flattened by recent floodwater. Much of the stock netting was very rusty and needed digging out from the ground....note. this is how the cloud inversion looks at a lower level!

The wire fence had been put in years ago to supplement the old iron railing fence that was no longer stock proof. This too was removed in the interests of safety and the fact it was so unsightly!

Part of the old fence being taken away...a mixture of rotten fence posts, old stock netting and extremely rusty iron railings.

Loading up the trailer. Many thanks to the South Lakes team and volunteers for their invaluable help. Sadly the cloud or temperature inversion stayed with us at this lower level all day. It made for dank and clammy working conditions.

With the old fence cleared away, contractors with a tractor fitted out with a 'post knocker' came along to knock in the 'strainer posts'. (snow covered Red Screes makes a nice back drop!) This was a few days later when the temperature inversion had long gone...so much clearer skies.  They were already contracted to do some work in the adjoining fields to the Trust owned Birdhouse meadows.

knocking in a 'strainer post'.

A section of the new fence.

...and a close up view. Some sections of railing proved to be too difficult to remove as the trees and their roots had grown around them and held them fast. An angle grinder powered by a generator will have to be employed at some stage to complete the job!