Wednesday 26th January 2022
Report written by Katherine (she/her)
5 Goodgymers took on the challenge to support Bring Back Guys Cliffe with creating a new rockery.
After a quick warm up outside the Fat Pug, we headed off on the 1.9 mile (3km) jog towards Warwick (including running up the not inconsiderable Spinney Hill). Arriving at the beautiful Guys Cliffe House in the dark was a real treat as it was lit up and looked stunning.
We were introduced to the pile of rocks that needed moving and then walked along the undulating trail down to the bottom of the cliffe where the new rockery was being created. Two of Guys Cliffe's regular volunteers were waiting to receive the rocks and place them in position on the rockery.
It was then a walk back to the top to load up the wheelbarrows and wheel them back to the bottom of the hill, avoiding the snow drops and mud where possible! We were perhaps a bit too keen with loading the wheelbarrows the first time and some momentum was needed to keep the wheelbarrows moving up the hill and the opposite was true whilst taking them down hill to avoid rolling down the hill with them.
We managed two full trips offloading the rocks at the bottom (perhaps being a bit more realistic with our load in the barrows the second time around!) before it was time to say goodbye and head back towards Leamington. We had clocked up a further 2 miles walking up and down the hill with the wheelbarrows before running back to the pub.
A great workout for everyone and we will definitely be back soon to finish the job! Many of us also plan to return in the daylight as visitors to better appreciate the beautiful Guys Cliffe House.
When legends fade... Long, long ago when the world moved at a gentler pace the land and greenwoods harboured special places, evocative retreats where certain delights of nature stirred the soul... Guy’s Cliffe is one such place and it blossomed from such humble beginnings to have an Oratory founded here in the 5th Century and thereon it afforded shelter to the legendary 10th Century Guy of Warwick, resident chantry priests also made their home here in the middle ages amongst whom was the noted 15th Century antiquarian John Rous whose history the site is now mostly lost. Latterly the famous Georgian actress Sarah Siddons stayed here often in the welcoming bosom of the Greatheed family, who along with the succeeding Percy family did further embellish the location to see it become a country manor of some worth and intrigue... Ultimately and sadly though it ended up somewhat slighted for it suffered greatly at the hands of negligence and fire, but all was not lost... Its present owners rescued the 15th Century Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene and ancillary rooms in the 1970’s armed with limited resources but bountiful determination. Now the outer grounds need that same commitment and attention and indeed the determination is there but our resources are few... We really need your help!
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