Where would we be without our work parties?  At the beginning of June about 30 people gathered to work on the estate and in the house.  A great kitchen team kept us very well fed, even supplying wonderful cake at tea time!  Others did clearing out and cleaning and the whole work party spent one day on essential tasks around the house,. trying to turn a blind eye to the glorious weather outside! .....  

Estate work started with a wet afternoon but after that sun protection was needed.  The emphasis was on controlling invasive species.  Spanish bluebells had been planted in the garden in the past and were threatening the native species in the woodland by hybridising with them.  Cultivated Ladies’ Mantle had escaped on to woodland paths and was similarly a danger to the native species and bracken has been threatening to take over the whole estate, smothering the existing plants and the animals dependent on them.  

Removing the Ladies Mantle from the rocky paths was difficult and, as with the bluebells, continued monitoring will be needed.  On land like Scargill’s bracken is best controlled by trampling as it grows, labour-intensive and needing care to minimise damage to the important plants we are trying to protect,  The stamina and scrambling ability of a mountain goat are also useful!

Great care was taken to avoid disturbing any nesting birds with the team being quietly withdrawn from one meadow area when a curlew’s nest was located, a highlight of the week.   All this work would be impossible for the small number of us regularly trying to bring the house back into use and care for the estate so we are VERY grateful for all the effort and fun supplied by everyone who contributed.  It is an essential part of bringing Scargill back to life. 

Irene Tinklin