For ages people have asked what is the purpose of the curved pieces that could be seen in front of the plat. I have explained, but it has been difficult to imagine.
Now, the work has been done to erect the sections to form a covered space.
What a wonderful room in which to take shelter from sunshine and rain alike.
After three very wet winters, the outer canvas was in a dreadful state. The fabric needed to be removed. Also, there were signs of inhabitants other than the children.
So, the structure was stripped to the wooden frame.
Then, a new inner cotton layer was draped, the woollen insulation was replaced, and two layers of canvas were wrapped around the whole structure.
How thrilling to see the beautifully restored ‘tent’ emerge.
Thank you JustYurt.
In the outdoor environment, one learns that nothing is permanent. In our homes, there is the illusion of permanence; the reality is that impermanence is the rule.
What we appreciated to be a beautiful entrance surface a year ago proved to be an unsuccessful experiment.
The pleasing floor of sliced log rounds with pebbles between them began to disintegrate as the winter rains made their impact. The resultant hazardous surface had to be removed.
The shallow cavity needed to be filled, and the soil required was sourced from the site allocated for developing a paddling pool. So, two tasks were being addressed at the same time.
There followed laying chips and sand.
And then the fun began as cobble stones were carefully located.
What a shame that the clean, bright surface had to be spoiled by the process of adding mortar between the stones.
After a good wash we have the intended result, but what about permanence? Just wait until a dozen muddy boots have trampled the surface!
At the end of January, work began on a second barn for storage purposes. The construction was similar to the one built two years ago, but it was to have the floor made from pallet wood.
By February, it was left incomplete but usable by virtue of a tarp covering the roof to keep out most of the water. The only photos are incidental – ones taken of the whole plat from a drone.
Work recommenced in August, and the priority was to get the roof felted. A deluge of rain had been forecast following months of drought. So once the tarp was off, there was an urgency about the task.
The rains came, and satisfyingly, when every container was overflowing, the water ran off the roof to perfection.
It was time to tidy up the roof, pay a little attention to details and get the straw bale walls sorted.
This week it was not children but adults climbing in the woods. To make everything safe for the next school year, dead wood was removed from the woodland area where children regularly play.
A fallen tree was cut down.
And then the exciting stuff: up to the level where branches had to be removed.
Meanwhile, more mundane work continued too.
The grass may have dried up in the summer drought, but nettles and brambles continue to thrive, taking over any space possible. Clearance of the unwanted growth takes hours, but it is satisfying to see order restored. Nevertheless, it doesn’t quite compare with tree surgery.
If the children were on site, they would have demanded, “Can I have a go? It’s my turn”
We are grateful to have the benefit of modern technology that allows us to compare and contrast and see the progress made on the plat over time.
Two years ago, on 23rd June 2020, we had just begun work on the site. Clearing the growth that occupied the plat looked like the image below.
A month later, things were just beginning to take shape.
The first aerial photos were not taken until March 2021. Here is an example.
There was no covered play kitchen or children’s dining room. In fact, the real kitchen for preparing children’s meals was under construction as the photo was taken.
Here is the equipment employed in taking photos.
So, from the heavens, here is how we look.
We have developed a children’s encampment, nestled on the perimeter of beautiful ancient woodland. This is our gentle environment where little people can blossom and flourish.
After nearly two years of attempting to handle paperwork out in the elements, we have added to the structures one last building for an office.
There was excitement when a lorry struggled down the track to deliver the summerhouse for self assembly. So much was the interest that one little chap made a model of the vehicle.
Then the structure began to go up, bit by bit…
..until, eventually, the building began to look reasonably complete.
There was help on hand to remove the masking tape used during painting the building, and any number of essential tasks.
Now we are organised.
There are signs and labels everywhere. Whoever said that you would not have labels on things in the outdoor environment? Here is an example. And notice the decorative squirrel – it is a red squirrel, of course.
January brought some sharper temperatures with heavy frost, but beautiful sunshine later in the day. Eating in the warmth of the sun on the field, in preference to the shade of the outdoor dining area, was very appealing. This prompted the construction of a couple of child size picnic tables.
In common with much of the work at Tarly, the tables and benches are made of pallet wood and pieces of sleeper. This reuse of materials reflects our emphasis on sustainability.
Twelve months ago, we had gone from the wettest October on record to a winter of named storms. The result was the destruction of tents and wallowing in mud on the plat. Last January, told the story of replacing the marquee with a yurt. Now we turn our attention to the surface on which we walk.
Winds battered the marquee, and the bark intended to protect from the mire failed. We were walking in slime.
So along with upgrading from tents, there came a project to construct decking and a variety of walkways.
We began at the rear of the plat and continued in front of the yurt. Then we started a completely different style at the main entrance to the enclosure.
Between the decking and the logs, the project has been completed with a surface constructed with pallet wood laid diagonally. The practical benefit is enormous, and it looks good into the bargain.
