We had spent several months collecting and sifting through information on the history of the Decoy and asked professional illustrator, David Potts, to design and illustrate the History Tree. He joined our summer work party and constructed the framework, on the back wall of the cottage, that would house the History Tree.

A short while later, the Tree and time line were carried to the Decoy to complete the construction of the History Tree. It was decided, too, that we should place a Time Capsule box, containing a range of information relating to the Decoy and the FoPP, in the area of the History tree, for future generations to find.

David also worked with us on the leaflet, information folder covers and information boards over the following months. In July of this year the leaflets were printed and made available to the public, the folder covers were printed, and the information boards were produced too. We went for a cassette style of information board, that could easily be moved around and stored. We were really pleased with this choice and the over all quality of all the design work that had been done for the project.

An other huge development over the last year has been the setting up of our website, www.thefriendsofpickeringspasture.org.uk , with the professional help of Trefor Jones. 

FoPP website card by G Broad

We have now reached the finishing touches stage of the project. We will be producing a photographic CD (a photographic record of the project and the Decoy) and we will be producing the information sheets, to add to the folder covers we've had printed.

We were unable to gain access to the Decoy for some months, because, for the first time, several pairs of Heron were breeding on the site and we didn't want to disturb them. There has also been work on the Decoy to install a webcam, which has caused some disruption in and around the cottage. The FoPP need to return to the Decoy, shortly, to sort out the cottage and seating area, ready for the Autumn Guided Walks.

Photographs by Lynda Broad