project birdhide

week 1: monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday

after the soggiest July imaginable Project Birdhide got off to a sunny start on Monday. We have two tasks to carry out this week - building a birdhide and creating an accessible path through the undergrowth. The path didn't look very promising at the start but after a day of clipping, snipping, shearing and clearing you could have driven a bus through there!

A team of top men and women, led by Manor Farm Country Park Ranger Duncan Gilmartin, got to work on the birdhide. By the end of the day the footings were solid and we'll be ready to start on the floor tomorrow!

Thanks to everyone who helped today: Elena, James, Tony, Andrew, Martin, Michelle, Simon, Gary, Paul H, Paul C, Ryan, Neil, Carlos, Andy, Lorraine, Claire, Ben, Gareth, Katherine, Kevin. Nicky and Robert, plus HCC, Groundwork Solent and QE2 Activity Centre staff and volunteers.

Tuesday 4th August

Not such a sunny day but at least the rain kept off. The path is looking more and more like a path and the floorboards are (mostly) on the floor. There's still a lot of work to do but we're getting there.

Thanks to today's team of helpers: James, Adam, Robin, Luke, Kevin, James, John and Isla; Zoe, Carly, Clare, Michael, Michael, Philip, Lauren, Alex, Katie, Reuben, Ashley, Kevin, Mark, Pete, Vicky, Stephen, Suzanne, Alex, Leroy and Jacob and all the staff from ILG

plus, of course, HCC, Groundwork Solent and QE2 Activity Centre staff and volunteers.

Wednesday 5th August

With help today from Solent Youth Action and Slams Youth Club plus the guys from Anglesey Lodge things moved on further - so thanks to Elena, David, Andy, David, Heidi, Ashley, Lenita, Thomas, George, Joe, Collin, James, Erica, Cat, Amy, Amy, Herman, Carlos, Anthony, Peter and Neil.

Tomorrow should see some walls going up and some scalpings going down. Let's hope for good weather!

Thursday 6th August

A very successful day with the path really taking shape and the framework for the sides and back of the hide in place. Our team of workers today came from all over the Southern Counties - not just Hampshire but two groups from Dorset and one from Surrey!

So, today's roll call of honour: thanks to Paul and Phil; David, Christine and Colin; Ryan, James, David, Richard, Peppe, Matt, Aisling, Robin and Abi; Clara, Justin, Simon, Mark and Jann; Carrie, Mark, Anthony B, Anthony D, Ryan and Paul. Not forgetting the guys from HCC Manor Farm and HCC Rights of Way, the Groundwork Solent team and the volunteers and staff from the QE2 Activity Centre: Elena, Becky, Megan, Sarah, Alan, Steve and Mary, Pete, Dan, Nick, Kerry, Katie, Graham, Mike, Tim and Phil.

the path has gone from this . . . to this . . . to this . . . in just a few days!

Friday 7th August

The end of the first week - the framework of the hide is more or less complete, just the cladding to do now; the base for the path is complete (you should have seen the path laying team go this morning!). Paul, Phil, Trudi and Trina from CareUK got stuck in, alongside Mary, Steve, Becky and Alan while Elena and the guys from Groundwork Solent kept on with the hide.

At lunchtime a photographer from the Southern Daily Echo came along and took some pictures; then we had one more team of hard working volunteers; thanks Damien, Tim, Martyn, Kevin, Darren, Jamie, John, Emma and Robyn who helped fill in some pot holes on the path.

Thanks to everyone who has helped to make this amazing week possible

Thanks to the 100 adults with special needs who have worked on the project,

Thanks to all the accompanying staff from visiting centres, homes and day care providers for their support

Thanks to Keith, Matt, Ian and David from Groundwork Solent who have been here all week and done such a great job. Thanks also to Seth and George who each did a few days earlier in the week.

Thanks to Hampshire County Council Countryside Ranger Duncan Gilmartin for his help in putting the project together and for all his efforts this week

Thanks to other HCC Manor Farm Country Park staff and volunteers and to HCC Rights of Way Access Officers for their help. Thanks to Simon Harrod, Ashley Barnes, Sheila Macgougan, Sam Smith, Martin Jewel, Mick Simpson and Bernie.

Thanks to all the QE2 Activity Centre staff and volunteers Dan, Graham, Nick, Kerry, Katie, Mike, Pete, Tim, Elena, Steve, Mary, Becky, Megan, Sarah and Alan

Thanks to the Baily Thomas Charitable Trust and Rise Computers for financial support

Anyone from BDO Stoy Hayward reading this - don't worry - we've left some work for you guys to do next week!

Phil Oates, Centre Manager

Monday 10th August

During the main week of Project Birdhide an amazing amount was achieved. What started as an overgrown thicket ended up as a wheelchair accessible path; what started as a pile of timber ended up as the completed frame of a birdhouse. But it wasn't quite finished. Over the weekend Countryside Rangers put on the roof and on Monday we had a team from accountants BDO Stoy Heyward and solicitors Thomas Eggars helping to move things along.

Simon Jones, Bali Rai, Michelle Trench, Wai Leung and Liz Padley from BDO were joined by Patrick Osgood, Hannah Clipston, Dan Byrne, Hayley Bevis, Kirstie Johnson, Laura Walkley and Alexa Collis from Thomas Eggars. Thanks to all of you.

At the end of the day this is what the bird hide looked like:

There is still some work to be done, including thatching the roof of the birdhide, which will happen shortly, in time for a grand opening . . . watch this space for details!