On Saturday 18th March Garry Dawson, owner of local firm "Dinky Diggers" gave his time to come and dig drainage channels for us. We would also like to thank Ellon Timber for donating the drainage pipe.
As you can see in this "before" photograph, we were really sinking in wet winter mud!
It had become obvious that laying paths on top of all this mud was not a good idea - they would subside and look terrible in no time!
Garry arrived at 9am with his digger and motorised wheelbarrow and worked all day.
He removed the soil and stones and stock-piled it out of the way...
...some could be tipped straight into the raised beds saving us lots of heavy work! :)
More raised beds got filled as he worked backwards.
The trenches were lined with gravel...
...and drainage pipe kindly donated by Ellon Timber was laid (this was a bit like fighting a giant cobra!)
Most of the channels drain into this deep trench which directs the water down the slope and into the woods.
Garry's dad and nephew Reece called by to see the work being done in the garden.
So, a HUGE thank you to Garry who even returned on Monday morning to dig holes for the poly-tunnel classroom that we hope to have in future.
It has to be said, that the garden did feel somewhat devastated after he left!! It's a case of looking worse before it gets better!
Once we fill in the trenches and the garden can dry up a bit then we will see a huge positive change...a lot of work for our boys to do now!
