With great pleasure, I am handing this blog over to Whistlewood volunteers. If you would like to contribute, you can write your own piece as Chris has or send me notes using the contact page or via Whistlewood
By Chris Gregson – 6th August to 10th August.
A huge thanks to all the volunteers that turned out last Saturday and almost completed the bottle laying, shame about running out of sand though. However, the builders turned up on Monday morning with two tonnes of sand and we were able to complete the job in a couple of hours.
The next task was to cover the bottles with layer of geotextile and locate the circular shuttering in the centre. The shuttering, which is directly below the ring beam, is there to create a 2-metre diameter by 30mm deep recess in the finished floor where Andy Mason’s bespoke tiles will fit.
On Tuesday the limecrete arrived which meant a lot of hard work moving the limecrete from the lorry into the Roundhouse, then spreading and levelling. We are using limecrete rather than concrete as limecrete ‘breaths’ and is more flexible, much more in keeping with the rest of the build.
Once the limecrete is dry the circular shuttering will be removed and the tiles can be laid flush with the finished floor. We intend that the limecrete surface will be treated to stop it ‘dusting’ as people walk on it, but more on this treatment in subsequent diaries.
As we won’t be able to walk on the floor for most of next week the guys will be concentrating on the main roof finishing putting on the laths ready for the Cedar shingles which are due in about 2 weeks.
Tiles: Andy Mason will be making a set of 256 bespoke ceramic tiles to be installed in the centre circle, tiles which you can buy and have personised with your initials (see: https://www.shop.whistlewoodcommon.org/product/personalised-tile-for-whistlewoods-roundhouse-floor/ for details). Each of the tiles has one of 16 native leaf species depicted in outline and coloured glaze.
Chris Gregson
Michelle Spaul 