New sign

Just over 12 months ago I visited Aughton Woods for my annual Bluebell Pilgrimage. I usually take some soapy water and clean the sign the main reason being that it features one of my images. Last year I noted that the timber surround was in a poor state of repair and offered to make a new one. I managed to ' squirrel' some English green oak from another Wildlife Trust project cut it down to size and had it planned up and left it to season in my garage. I have spent my evenings for the last couple of weeks cutting joints, rebating, pegging and gluing the frame together. I am no joiner, I failed to inherit my late Dad's genes, but I think he would have been proud of my effort. It won't win any prizes but it should last a good few years and I've an excuse to visit every year to continue with the annual clean up.

The woods are well worth a visit right now as Bluebell are in full bloom.

You will have often heard 'as hard as oak' and I can testify to this. Cutting mortise holes requires multiple chisel sharpenings. No wonder it was the chosen wood of the British navy. I would imagine cannon balls bouncing right off ships hulls.