The steps from the stile into the paddock have been shut off for a while since we found that they had become unsafe. The wood used to construct them had begun to rot away making them slippery, especially after it had rained. We began the repair last week, when the UWE students were with us, to get a head start before the work party we had on Wednesday this week.
We had removed the old wood that formed the treads, the side pieces and the risers, and found some new pieces as possible replacements.
The old stuff was just left in an untidy heap!
At the work party more wood was recovered from the cuckoo pen where we had previously been coppicing and used to form new risers and side pieces, then Erika and Mike began to fit it all together like a giant 3D jigsaw.
Everyone had a go at sorting out the new steps and despite the light rain all morning we made some new and safer steps. Woodchip was liberally sprinkled to level them up and finish them off, then Erika 'officially' opened them.
While this was going on, Dendy reclaimed all the old wood from the steps, plus some other bits and pieces that were lying around, and turned them into a splendid home for some of our local wildlife and invertebrates.
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