Park Works
The necessary park works are also on the agenda this winter. After the North ditch was dredged last winter, the South ditch will be dredged this year. This will be done with slightly smaller equipment. We do not expect to have to close the South Lane for a long time. This, unfortunately, is still the case with Chestnut Avenue - which remains closed for the time being.
We will also carry out safety pruning again. All avenue trees whose branches could pose a potential hazard to park visitors, passers-by and local residents will be pruned. In some cases, trees will need to be removed entirely. This round of safety pruning is no different from the work the municipality does with trees along public roads, and it falls under the duty of care. Of course, new trees will be planted to replace those that are felled.
We will also get to work on the so-called ‘yew field’. This is the turf between the gazebo and the vegetable garden, with - yes - a total of eight yews (a type of evergreen tree). The turf was already in poor condition, and this spring's heavy rainfall has made it downright soggy. This wouldn't be so bad, if not for the fact that the yews are literally drowning. One of them has unfortunately already perished. To address this, we plan to carefully raise the yew field with a thin layer of sand. We are also exploring additional drainage options. Our ultimate goal is to make the lawn "croquet-worthy," so feel free to start planning. Perhaps there will be more updates in the next newsletter.
This summer, we teamed up to raise the gravel in the rear part of Central Lane and the Roundabout. It was a tough job, as the gravel had to be transported by wheelbarrow from the gate. In total, we moved about 15,000 kilograms, delivered in nine large bags. If winter and workload allow, we will tackle the front part of Central Lane next.
How are the sheep?
The return of the dreaded blue tongue virus this summer kept us quite busy. During the "peak weeks" in September and October, we monitored the health of our sheep daily. And yes, all of them showed symptoms of blue tongue again. Fortunately, the health damage was less severe this time. The resistance they have built up over time helped them withstand the virus better.
A keen observer will notice that all the sheep are now walking less easily. The blue tongue has caused permanent damage to their hooves and joint health. However, we take comfort in the fact that our middle-aged and elderly sheep are still in excellent condition. As our shepherdess Regina Kouprie always says, "They couldn’t have it better than here!" So, they’ll be sticking around for a while longer.
New Volunteers and One Vacancy in 'Communications'
Our volunteer corps – the beating heart of Wester-Amstel – has been strengthened with five new volunteers for the garden and park group. The reception group also welcomed two new members. This was great, as other volunteers had to reduce or even stop their involvement. As a result, we’ve maintained a nice balance in these three groups. We don't actively recruit, but we always have space for a volunteer who brings additional expertise, manpower, and/or charm.
Our communication group is a different story. Monique, our highly valued addition, unfortunately had to say goodbye. So, we’re looking for a successor! The main tasks are assisting with the newsletter (this one!) and handling the announcements for our concerts. Are you interested? Please send a message to our chairman at slmovig@wester-amstel.nl.
By: Søren Ludvig Movig