WEST HILL BLOG No. 107 How to build a Rustic Guide Rail
Working with my visually impaired volunteer Ruairi I am constantly amazed by how much he achieves & wants to achieve in the garden given his very limited sight.
That said, he often says to me 'if there were more guide rails around, I would be more independent'. So that's what we've done.
Using natural materials from the site, a collaborative effort with volunteers has resulted in more rustic guide rails, spanning a bridge & linking the Sensory Garden to the Woodland Path.
Using thin conifer trunks as upright poles, deep holes were dug
into the bank in which they sat, then filled
with compacted crushed stone.
Beech branches (which were too thick to lay on an old Beech hedge) were cut to make the horizontals. Then with a bit of bending & heaving they were manhandled into place & secured with a knot.
Volunteers Liz, Nick & Andrew
It is my plan to extend the rails through the wood which will give independence to the visually impaired & an opportunity to explore new areas
In other news, Ruairi has been collecting seed
(with a little help from Mary)
Collected seed
Mahonia looking & smelling wonderful
