What a strange winter and early spring it has been, with unseasonable heat waves followed by deep frosts and snow showers, and long periods of heavy rain followed by near-drought conditions. Work doesn’t stop for the weather, however, as routine cutting back and tidying has to happen over winter; and at least the volunteers working on the new building were inside, where, if not warm, it was dry!
The electrical connections were finally completed, and cladding fitted: this is being primed for future painting. Progress is also being made on the flooring; and choosing and installing fittings will be next.
We have unfortunately suffered from vandalism over the past few months. Some damage to the Bath House doors has meant provision of more substantial fastenings and locks. In the garden, Victorian edging to beds and around the Shelter have been subject to repeated aggression; and restoring these areas will need a different approach. It is always disappointing when some of our limited funds have to be spent on remedial work, rather than on enhancement.
Even so, on a fine spring day we can only admire the Bath House and its setting.
Regardless of both the erratic climate and unwelcome visitor behaviour, our hardy spring flowers once again created a delightful display. The first snowdrops were a welcome sight in January, along with the delicate blooms of the Witch Hazel (Hamamelis). In March the new rockery was brightened by the appearance of primroses. But perhaps ‘best in show’ was the beautiful tapestry of colour in the woodland area where the lungwort (Pulmonaria) now flourishes.
Seasonal work was disrupted by the heavy rain in late January and February. The sloping grass paths, worn down by the combination of wet weather and many feet, became not only unsightly but unsafe, so we fenced off the lower area for restoration, and it will remain closed to allow the re-seeding to take effect. The adverse conditions also delayed, but did not cancel, our annual back-breaking preparation of the wildflower meadow!
It was, however, a beautiful sunny day for the unveiling of the statue of Congleton’s suffragist heroine, Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy on 8th March, International Women’s Day. We set up a stall in the town centre and our display attracted a lot of interest from the crowds who’d come to watch the unveiling by Lady Hale of ‘Our Elizabeth’, as she is locally now known. We included information about another extraordinary woman, Emily Elizabeth Waller, the local medical herbalist whose life overlapped that of the suffragist. ‘Our Elizabeth’ campaigned for girls’ education and many aspects of women’s rights as well as the vote; and would certainly have approved of Emily’s determination to study for a professional qualification and run her own medical practice.
The team are now all working hard in this busy growing season as spring burgeons into early summer and, before we know it, preparations will soon be in hand for our first event, Spring Open Day, on Saturday 14th May.
Past visitors will be pleased to know we’ve invited our regular speaker, medical herbalist Barbara Wilkinson, to guide visitors again. Look out for more information on the website, on our Facebook page, and in the local press.
