A RETIRED gardener and woodsman is putting his skills to good use after joining Barnard Castle’s volunteer group of workers.
After spending a couple of years working in a Somerset orchard, Colin Merriott honed his horticultural skills in the walled and lodge gardens at Langwell House, Berriedale, Caithness, north-east Scotland.
He was also in charge of about 3,000 acres of woods surrounding the lodge and gardens, that form part of Langwell and Braemore Estate, which in turn belong to the Welbeck Estate.
After retiring last year, Mr Merriott, who turned to horticulture and forestry after starting out in the pharmaceutical industry, moved to the dale with his wife Jacqueline, who works at Beaconsfield Court Care Home, in Barnard Castle.
A riverside walk along the Tees in Barnard Castle led to Mr Merriott’s involvement with the volunteer workers, who form part of the town’s Christmas lights group.
“I noticed a small footpath down by the weir that had not been thinned for some time,” he said.
“I went and saw someone in the council office and asked if I could cut it back and he put me in touch with Roger [Peat].”
The workers plan to tackle the weir path in a couple of weeks, but in the meantime Mr Merriott joined the group on a project to clear out the seated area and footpath next to the County Bridge.
Mr Peat said the idea was to open up the popular spot so that anyone sitting on the bench could enjoy the view of both the river and the bridge.
“We are cutting it right back. There is also ivy growing over the wall which needs trimming back,” he said.
“We have also come across a stretch of wall that has collapsed into the river, which we have reported to Durham County Council.”
Mr Peat said the group had been granted permission to carry out the work at the weir.
He said currently, walkers would only know of its existence because of the metal fence which was installed when the weir was installed in 2014, replacing the original structure built in 1963 at a cost of £1million.
“I got in touch with the footpath officer at Durham County Council and was told to contact the Environment Agency,” said Mr Peat.
“I rang them, answered a few questions and as a result we have been given permission to tidy it up.”
