WMS was asked if we could once again do some work for Otley Westgate Primary School. We had previously redesigned and made their raised butterfly garden and also installed swift boxes so had established a good rapport with the school. The request was to make some large planters which would be used for growing herbs and other plants. The head teacher of the school is keen to create a more-green space for the children as this school has no grassy playing field but just a tarmac covered playground.
Stuart and Bob M visited the school and in discussion with the Head, agreed to make the planters as requested but also to examine the possibility of making a hole in the tarmac, possibly requiring the use of a Kango hammer, to create a planting space which would be used to grow clematis or other climbing plants which would climb up the fencing, again creating more greenery in the somewhat stark space.
As the school has little spare money, we agreed that they would order the materials since they can reclaim the VAT and that we would perform the work in-situ at the school.
DAY 1:
Tuesday morning, August 19th – Bob E, Bob M and Neil O’Brien ‘attended school’ and began work on the planters! Unfortunately, our co-conspirator Stuart, had injured his back and was not able to join in the activity although did come and gave much appreciated moral support and impart his knowledge of the project.
Work progressed well until we stopped for a lunch break and then decided to look at the possibility of penetrating the tarmac to create the planting hole. Bob M powered up his large angle grinder (eat your heart out Lorenz!!) and made a 400mm square cut into the surface. Neil and Bob M then levered and hammered with crowbars and lifted out the square of tarmac and examined what appeared to be a deep layer of hardcore. This broke up relatively easily and it was decided that no concrete had to be broken up but just the hard sandstone hardcore would need to be broken through. No Kango was therefore required!!
Given the time and also that he was suffering some discomfort, Stuart had to leave and it was down to the two Bob’s and Neil to carry on with the planter manufacture.
The afternoon very quickly passed and good progress was made but it was clear that another day’s labour would be needed to complete the work so all was cleared away into the school hall ready for further work on Wednesday.
DAY 2:
Two Bob’s arrived and re-commenced work on the planters. By lunchtime, these were completed ready for painting and then lining with Visqueen membrane so a break for lunch and decision made to see if the ‘hole’ could be cleared of hardcore and determine if the sub soil could be found. Much hard work using heavy trenching spades and occasionally resorting to using the SDS+ drill on some of the larger pieces of stone resulted in clearing the hardcore which was about 400mm deep and revealing the clay soil below.
Back to the planters – each was given a coat of Ronseal preservative and in the now warm sunshine dried quickly allowing for the Visqueen to be installed before transporting to their final locations and painting again.
Both Bob’s were now feeling ready to quit but cleared the site and messaged the Head with pictures of the planters ‘in-situ’ and the excavated hole. He declared that he was delighted with the results and expressed his grateful thanks.
