This week we hear from Jake our Conservation project leader and about the latest task they have been undertaking:
At the start of this year, it was decided that our old disused aviaries had come to the end of their useful life. Before they became any more dangerous they were carefully dismantled by the conservation project. Rotten boards and unreclaimable wood were separated from any still sound internal timbers that had been protected from the ravages of the weather.
Over the last month, the conservation project has been making use of this good wood by reusing it to make a new fence around the top wildlife pond. It has been a thoroughly rewarding project because we have reused wood that could easily have just been thrown away and the fence would not have been possible if we had needed to buy all the materials new. Moreover, the fence really adds to the garden by providing a visual backdrop to the pollinator-friendly borders in front of it and will provide the structure for a variety of climbing plants such as roses, honeysuckle and clematis to grow up it. Not only will this produce more flowers for the insects and interest for our visitors but when shrubs are added will provide shelter and a safe corridor for wildlife to move through.
In these days when it is important to think of gardening in a sustainable and responsible way, it is good to be able to reuse and recycle as much as possible. We hope this new fence will serve to remind us of this fact as we seek to develop the grounds and the wonderful creation we are privileged to care for.
Please pray that as the teamwork in the conservation area and gardens, many opportunities and conversations will be had to point people to Jesus.
Jake