From Scala to Cornhow

Volunteers Jim and David help Mark install the bench

Another variety filled week for the Loweswater based ranger team, firstly with the help of Volunteers Jim David and of course Theo we helped valley ranger Mark install a memorial bench at Scala, you probably know it better as Lanthwaite!

This bench was unique as it was made from locally grown oak from a National Trust woodland, and was built by Will, one of our in house joinery team; it contains a relief map of the area showing the surrounding landscape and is positioned to offer a stunning view of Crummock water

Bench with relief map

Once this was completed it was on to Cornhow near Loweswater for rangers Paul and Dan, our instruction was to rebuild a ‘small gap’ in one of our tenant’s garden wall, however  we quickly discovered all that remained was a smallish wall surrounded by some huge gaps ☺

Safety was our prime concern at first as the over hanging wall sections were likely to collapse, so we didn’t have time to photograph this bit,

Ground level at last!

We decided to make the wall safe in manageable sections to give us a stable base to work on, the garden side of the wall was some three feet lower than the top side and took a while to stabilise.

We soon made good progress although when walling with slate it can be difficult to gain height, however the slate also enabled us to include several through stones and a complete coverband to the wall top, a rare luxury when walling with our usual types of stone.

Dan adjusts the coverband

All that remained was to use the remaining stone to top of the wall and with the thanks of a happy tenant we were done!

All cammed up

From here we’re off to the fell wall above High Nook to repair some more gaps! Anyone would think we liked walling!!