Our extended visitor centre is due to be completed on the 20th or soon after. This week "Pinelog" and the electricians are working on the inside. They have also put a window into our kitchen for us, re-using part of the old window that was removed from the end wall.
Next week the shutters will arrive for our new windows and doors. At the same time, the inside will be painted with fire retardant varnish. As the fumes are unpleasant (and mildly toxic) the centre will be closed on Monday and Tuesday (16th and 17th. November). After that there is some landscaping to be done. The final task will be to lay down the flooring. This is left until the end so that the screeded concrete floor has plenty of time to dry through, and of course to prevent the new floor from being scratched by ladders etc.
We can't wait! However, once we are into the new building we will have to close for another day to treat the floors.
Reserve extension:
Our midweek volunteers are currently putting in about 50 man/days a month, mostly up on the new land which will not be ours for many months yet. However, there is a lot of work to be done before the public are allowed in. This week we have been cutting viewpoints on Island Pit to improve the views and to enable accurate wildfowl counts. On Pumphouse Pit we have been putting up a new fence to protect the bund and looking after the trees on the north side by removing old tree guards. The County Council has completed their work on part of the footpath that runs along the north side of Pumphouse and crosses the new footbridge near the Anglian Water Depot. This path, which runs from Diddington to the Ouse Valley Way, is now open for use.
