The Dogs Home and the Forestry Commission


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Posted by Rob Boden on November 07, 2011 at 07:41:12 user humyar.

I've just got in from a day in Coniston (via a boat trip on Windermere to help launch the Olympic torch route through the Lakes next June 21/22nd). First I called on the Forestry Commission in Grizedale. I'd phoned their estates department and spoke to someone helpful called Hugh. I took along Picts and Martyrs to show him, and a printout of the Lakeland Cam photo.

The first bad news is that Hugh didn't know of the existence of the Dogs Home, though the Forest Ranger, Mark, did but didn't know the AR connection... However, they are now aware and will log this fact.

The second bad news is that though Hugh was very interested and sympathetic, there are of course budgetary constraints so I doubt any money at all would be forthcoming from them.

The slightly better news is that they do employ a buildings surveyor and Hugh is going to ask him to have a look at the Dogs Home, hopefully in the next week. I offered to be there as well. This might mean that a long term plan for the saving of the Dogs Home could be produced, but would need funding.

The best news is that they are interested, and they are happy to work in partnership with another group. This is a much better attitude than many organisations would have. They are also interested in the idea of an information board at Machell Coppice car park. (I also spoke to them about the demise of the charcoal burner's wigwam which was in Satterthwaite forest, and they are even interested in another such reconstruction!)

Initially it is vital just to get the slates back in place, though the wooden battens might be rotten. However, nowadays this might mean erecting scaffolding which would be an expensive operation given the location, though again the Forestry Commission might be able to help deliver materials nearer to the site. So this might mean anything from £500 (two days work by a roofer with a ladder) to £5k just to safeguard it for now. Any future work would be dependent on a proper survey.

After visiting Grizedale I went on to the Dogs Home. An immediate point is that far more could be made of the Dogs Home's existence - the information board for example, but the route through the woods past it is best done anti-clockwise so you approach it from the front. However, how to do this isn't obvious as there are actually two car parks and the route is a loop that goes off from both. Incidentally, it's the purple route - the colour of the dustjacket of PM!

At the Dogs Home, there are also tiles off on the back roof as well as the front ones shown on the Lakeland Cam. The east wall is leaning slightly, though I think this is long-term. There is the odd stone missing, and some of the internal rendering has gone. I couldn't see the roof beams and battens well enough to check their condition. The door is a mess, but that is easier to deal with.

I am still waiting to hear back about what the TARS board thought of my suggestion that it would be appropriate to spend some of the TARS reserves on projects like this. I really think that to get some basic protective work done quickly that this is the best chance. Perhaps people could lobby their local Board member to try and achieve this! In the meantime it would be good to gauge the feeling about a separate appeal, bearing in mind it could need £500 to £5k. If anyone knows a roofer or a surveyor to assess the immediate work needed, please let me know. I can offer a free weekend in the Lake District in return...

Rob


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