Mandy, Gwyn and Tracey volunteered with Elvaston Castle and Gardens Trust today. There was plenty of greenery to be removed from between the cobbles, and digging over a patch of soil, putting the weeds into a huge white bag. Some stubborn roots needed extra leverage from a huge rod with a dagger-like tip, and we even found a piece of lead piping!

While we were loungeing around during our lunchbreak, Ben (the volunteer coordinator) pointed out a grey wagtail, strangely named, as its belly is actually a mustardy shade of yellow. He then went on to tell us the great news that Elvaston has received funding for another year of volunteering! The professornal trustees are studying hard to work out the best way to make the money span(ner) out between the hall and the gardens.

Several ideas were floated, including the restoration of the conservatory in the walled garden, famous for growing apricots (it would also be nice to grow plums there). Additionally, there’s hope for a kitchen garden, and a cafe, giving us more dining room. Another idea was to clean up the mausoleum in the churchyard, though we would need permission from the Reverend to do that. I wonder whether there might be a secret passage between that mausoleum and the church. Ben hopes that the sessions would revolve(r) between these different options to give some variety to the volunteers. We’ll have a ball – room for improvement in so many areas.

At the last volunteering session here, a certain doctor was spotted, but this time there’s no sign of anyone wearing a black top; could they have been murdered? Although there is photographic evidence hinting that the culprit in scarlet could have used the rope in the nature library, she’s little miss innocent… Just as in the game of Cluedo it’s the character, weapon and room that haven’t been mentioned so far which reveal whodunnit. Can you solve the mystery?