This page is a log of the efforts put in by the Back Dane volunteers each working weekend
Easter 2012 6 bags of rubbish left by previous group taken away (again !) Thank you. All washing done, Laundry final coat of paint done, Fire circle cleaned out where clever groups have tried to burn bottles and cans (Once again thank you), Pin replaced in fire extinguisher where someone had pulled it out, Tipping trough in filter bed replaced at last, Filter in storage heater cleaned, New signage put up, Electrical work in end barn, New catch put on front door to keep it open, Pipe hanging down in dining room removed
Feb 2012 New shelving put up in sitting room, Dry stone walls continued, Radiator installed, Monet hung ! Anti-pipe-freeze gizmo installed, Pillow cases and towels washed, Door to hall refixed back on
Jan 2012 Water system restarted after failure, New signage put up in toilets, sitting room and kitchen, Games cupboards sorted out, Tipping trough for waste system modified, Laundry room painted, Replacement heater fitted in small bedroom, Survey of land area and photo record made, Fire extinguishers replaced
New Year 2012 Large end bedroom painted, Shower room painted, Tie Bars Painted, All pillow cases and cushion covers washed, New fire installed in sitting room, Barn cleared of old junk, Work started on repointing the barn walls, Redundant shower curtain removed
Nov 2011 Middle bedroom painted, laundry painted, Shower window made "non see thru", All kitchen knives resharpened as well as other tools, Fireplace tiling grouted, Tie Bars fitted in middle barn, New coooker installed (Thanks to Combat Stress donation), Water filters changed over. Thanks to all on the weekend !
Oct 2011

Painting in the kitchen and new laundry room. Replaced tiles on fireplace hearth in the sitting room. Washed pillow cases and many more routine tasks.

Sep 2011 Most of the high deer fencing removed, Small Bedroom painted and recarpeted, stairs painted, Kitcken thoroughly cleaned, Pillow cases washed, Store room tidied, Thanks to the last group in (again) for leaving us a mess to clean up - Cheers !
Aug 2011 Bedroom light fitting repaired, Garage tidied, Lawn mower repaired, Wood cut, Stile by the river repaired, Some painting in the kitchen. Thank you to those who burned holes with cigarettes in the newlly varnished dining table, I am sure that you know it's appreciated !
Jul 2011 More water system faults corrected, more wood chopped up. New bark filled area created under climbing frame, All blankets / pillow cases washed. "Sue's Shop" resorted out, Windows cleaned, Grass around the swing cut and nettled cut down, Ovens Cleaned, Painting in various places, Plastering in laundry room nearlly completed, Swing tree rope checked, Started the process of removing the high fence around the tree field as the trees have grown to a Deer resistant level now.
Jun 2011 Chopped up loads of wood, repaired faults in the water supply system, cleared up mess left by previous groups (Thanks again)
May 2011 Pressure washed dining room and kitchen floors, Cut grass around swing tree and around cottage including nettles and thistles. Landscaping work at back of cottage, work to electrics in barn, more curtains washed
Easter 2011 New windows fitted in dining room, garage and shed doors painted, Tree swing area mowed and bark chippings added under one swing for safety. Curtains washed, Nettles strimmed, Outside window sills painted, Kitchen drawers cleaned out, Barn Cleared out (again). Area to side of fire circle landscaped.
Mar 2011 Sitting room painted, Storage heater filter cleaned, Prep waork for barn tie bars completed, Back Dane Forest pruned, Blankets and curtains washed, Filling in of old sink in dinding room completed, Fire circle cleared out, Gap above toilet door filled in (at last)
Feb 2011 Dining room painted, Kitchen thoroughly cleaned, Shelving put up in sitting room, Gate repaired, All blankets washed, Front door and dining room door painted, Toilet repaired, Sue's Shop sorted out, wood cut for fire, Loose socket in small bedroom repaired
Jan 2011 Garage door repair completed, Plastering in the laundry progressing, Leaky kitchen sink fixed at last, Dry stone walling progressing, Dining room door stripped and painted, Shower head replaced, Kitchen equipment checked and will be augmented next time, Woodshed cleared out. Last of new matresses installed.
New Year 2011 More plastering done, another matress replaced, shower pump replaced, broken toilet cistern temp fixed until we buy a new one. Front door closer replaced so that someone sleeping in the small bedroom doesn't keep getting woken up by a banging door. Burst pipes repaired and lots of things were washed too, Happy New Year
Nov 2010 Weekend was cut short due to snow. Managed to change all of the pillowases, check round and replace 5 more matresses before we left though.
Oct 2010

UV lamp and filters checked and changed in the water supply system, Large bedroom and upstairs corridor painted, Front door varnished, Ceiling of laundry plastered, Front door stained and varnished, Dining table stabilised, New bannisters fitted, Door from hall to dining room stripped and undercoated, 5 more matresses replaced

Sep 2010 New window fitted in upstairs coridor, walls plastered. Lots of cleaning and washing done, 2nd dining table sanded / varnihed, doors repaired
Aug 2010 Grass mowed and all nettles strimmed. Swing tree pruned. New freezer installed in kitchen, New window installed in small bedroom, Freezer room ceiling plasterboarded and floow levelled, One dining table sanded down and revarnished. New light fitted outside where the old one had been broken. Thanks for the new light fitting whoever left it for us.
July 2010 Repairs to sand shed door. Freezer room walls painted, ceiling measured up for plasterboarding, Guttering on outbuildings cleared out.
June 2010 All blankets washed. Shower and toilets thorughly cleaned out including a minging shower mat ! Freezer room door repaired. Circulation pump fault repaired. Barn cleared of excess furniture. Small fridge inner door repaired. Laundry room walls finished off. All nettles strimmed away. Some really bad cheating done at the card table !
Mayday 2010 Painted window sills outside, varnished front door, Filled in gaps at sides of new windows, Made the barn Swallow proof (hopefully), Painted frames of upstairs barn windows. Signage in various places replaced. Repaired fence damage. Thanks to Dave B for holding the fort.
Easter 2010 All bedding washed, Freezer room walls rendered (thanks TJ), Entire cottage cleaned and floors pressure washed. Food storage area upgraded (Thanks Mick and Sue)
March 2010 New thermostat fitted for storage heater and timer system corrected, Anti-freezing system corrected, Drystone walling near swing tree (Thanks Steve, Ponners and Jamie), Kitchen grease trap cleared, Door stop made for end bedroom, Dining room sink removed, Curtain renewal completed including cutrain pole in hallway, Washroom downpipe replaced, Barn lock replaced, Lost and found box cleared, End barn cleared
January 2010 New storage heater installation completed, Filter housing replaced, shower pump repaired and water supply restored.
New Year 2010 New storage heater taken yo Back Dane and built up but needs more work before we can use it. New curtains donated and fitted. All portable electrical equipment PAT tested. New pillow cases donated. A lot of effort taken to escape the snow and get away !
November 2009 Whole of inside of the cottage repainted, special thanks to Tony, Sue, Jenny and Bernie for all their hard work. Trees around electricity cables trimmed. Water filter changed. Smoke detector in stairwell replaced. Light bulbs changed. Curtains washed and measured for replacements. Light shades washed. All pringles consumed (Sue) Light bulb kindly and generously donated by Jenny. Cupboard tops cleaned. Alcohol consumed.
September 2009 Old failed storage heater removed and taken away. repainting in the sitting room and toilets. All of the rubbish left by a previous group under the beds was cleared up !
August 2009 Furniture removed from sitting room and carpet repositioned as it has been migrating away from the hearth ! Gutterings cleared out. Electric cooker was replaced.
July 2009 More bedding washed, smoke detector wich had been pulled off by previous group refitted ! Grazing license renewed with local farmer, New roof put on the old outside toilet. Tuesday club visited for the weekend.
June 2009 This weekend was dedicated to Dave Robinson and ll of the hard work he has put in over very many years. No work was done but a lot of time was spent on planning the way forward for Back Dane in the future
Spring BH 2009 Rendering in the freezer room. Sand shed rubbish disposed of. Car parking area cleared of weeds. Shower room guttering completed. Bedding washed and dried. Wood cut for stove.
Mayday BH 2009

Sand Shed front renovated and painted, Grass around play area cut, Last of the tree guards removed,Kitchen guttering work completed and start made on Shower Room guttering
Easter 2009

Wood cut-up for stove, Some interior painting, Outside doors and furniture painted, Tree field tidied up – numerous tubes scattered around the field and swamp collected up & some removed from around the trees, Guttering above kitchen examined and preparations made to finish the job next time.
February 2009 Two new double glazed windows fitted in the bedrooms. Improvements to electrical systems in the outbuildings. Barns cleared of junk. Outside light fitted. Cushion and seat covers and blankets washed. Tons of firewood produced.
January 2009 Promlems with the shower pump sorted. Rewiring of the outbuildings. Washing cushion and seat covers. Pointing stonework in the outbuildings. Sorting out the woodshed. General cleaning.
New Year 2009 Defrosted water pipes and added extra insulation, Dug trench to outbuildings for new water and electricity supply, maintenance work in the Back Dane forest plus modifications to water supply infrastructure. Fitted new window in outbuilding
November 2008 Path to swing tree extended. Plans made for future washing facilities
October 2008 Masses of wood were cut for the winter fires. New signs posted in fences to mark out the public footpaths. New notices put up inside to encourage those groups who have abused the facilities at Back Dane to respect the cottage more. (There will be an article posted on this matter soon)
September 2008 Floors in the kitchen and dining room were cleaned with a pressure washer to restore their proper finish. Thourough clean of the whole cottage done (sort of Spring cleaning but a bit dealyed !)
August 2008 Shower head replaced as was vandalised by a visiting party ! Improvements around the swing area. Barn cleard of rubbish (again) General cleaning around the cottage. Redundant tree stakes removed from the Back Dane forest. Shower room painted. .
July 2008 All portable electrical equipment PAT tested. Stonework on outbuidings repointed in places. Grass around cottage and the swing tree was cut, nettles cut down. Work on the electrical systems in the barn.
May 2008 Fire circle revamped and new steps added for better access. Path to swing tree progressed further. Bed frames and metalwork around the pot bellied stove painted.