Arleyensis

Over the past few weeks, and apart from the regular strimming of the Arleyensis plot, I have been laying the ducting, about 25 feet of it at the moment, with junctions, for our automatic watering system and, of course, the wiring to make various aspects of the models and features work.  So conveniently, I have had them come up underneath the control cabin site, so that all wiring and watering can be controlled from within it, when built! If you or anyone you know has a couple of water tanks about 500 gallons capacity, we would be glad to take them off your hands.

(The waterfall feature and automatic watering system will have to be gravity fed.)

 

 

Volunteer Sue

Ken our newest volunteer is keen to have a go at construction of the watermill, and he will shortly  be supplied with plans and instructions and whatever help he may need to do this.

Sue, my volunteer assistant pictured right, is involved with the administration side of Arleyensis, and is the lady that you will come into contact with should you become a volunteer. We need all types of volunteers from ‘diggin oles’ to website development. As a volunteer, we have projects you can do at home as well as on site.

Our new Volunteer, Wesley, came and spent a day with us and has made great strides in levelling the pitch for the control cabin.  We’ve got most of the slabs down in a level-ish sort of manner ready for the floor joists and the floor. The ‘shed’ has become quite an important thing now to carry on with, as we need a place to store our tools without having to take them all away each time, and, provide shelter for our volunteers during inclement weather. Good news – Wesley’s wife delivered a lovely 10lb baby girl – our first infant from an Arleyensis volunteer.

Arleyensis Map
Andrew Arleyensis

Andrew, the volunteer who is also constructing the windmill, busied himself for 6 hours the other day and put intermediate posts around the new fence. We decided that as this fenAce is going to be the ‘lean-on-able’ type, it could do with some extra support, so between every post, he has put an extra one. 

As I say, Andrew spent a lot of time doing that, and has since completed another 25yds of fencing! This is no mean feat as the ground is extremely hard. We still have the curvy bit of fence around the docks area, and gates to be fitted before the Arleyensis plot is enclosed.

Monster Machine Eats Stumps for Breakfast!

Stumpmaster
Paul, the 'Stumpmaster', actually controls this monster machine with a small radio control unit

 

Strimming of the whole plot, is a regular job at Arleyensis (we will not be using any weedkillers) and had to be done before the stumpgrinder arrived last week, to expose the stumps that we want ground out. In all, 47 stumps were ground out to provide Arleyensis with a clear planting area, with all the mulch being returned to the land. This took most of the day and left lots of landscaping opportunities

  • Before
  • After

This machine marches relentlessly across the ground with its spinning cutting disc moving left to right, deeper and deeper until stump and roots have been ground into a fine tilth to a depth of 6-9 inches.

 

IF YOU FANCY GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE ARLEYENSIS PROJECT RING PETER ON 07816 447380

 

What shall I do with these?
What shall I do with these?

After the stumpgrinding had been done, some landscaping took place to form a sort of terracing effect with areas set aside for the features to occupy. To avoid moving any trees plants or shrubs once planted, we are  burying the utilities in 110mm/4inch ducting. The area that the castle will occupy has now been established and the Italian Garden prototype is being experimented with. Although it replicates our own Italian Garden, the fountains differ, and are experimental as far as Arleyensis is concerned.

(Another volunteer opportunity if you want to play with a low voltage mini water feature!)

 

The Ducting Jigsaw
The Ducting Jigsaw

WANTED: SKIP DETECTIVES

(another way to volunteer)

A Skip detective is a person that looks into a skip and having seen something interesting, (skips on industrial estates are always more interesting. If you need guidance as to what is interesting, speak to me.) asks the owner if it can beremoved for our use. This must be done legally, and the only legal way is to ask first.

 

BECOMING NECESSARY

  • WATER SUPPLY
  • CONTROL CABIN WITH SEDAM ROOF (do you fancy growing some on for us?)
  • TRACKS AND PATHS (remember, it's a small world)
  • RABBIT PROOFING
  • FINISH DUCTING AND PULL THROUGHS
  • PLOT DEMARCATION
  • PLANTING LIST