Posted by: Crossing Cottage | Date: 01/03/10
NEW CAR PARK MAKES LIFE EASIER FOR EVERYONE
Parking at Crossing Cottage Kennels used to be a bit of a nightmare. There wasn’t that much room which meant a lot of to-ing and fro-ing for visitors and an awkward reverse up the long drive to the main road. (A particular trial for John during the show season when he faced the regular challenge of reversing the huge exhibition trailer up the narrow drive).
Well, it’s all changed now. We have acquired some extra land and turned part of it into a fabulous car park. Parking space for at least 10 cars...plus the kennel’s various vans, exhibition trailer and other vehicles. And there’s still room for everyone to turn round (meaning you, and John, can now drive forwards rather than backwards out of the kennels to the main road).
The new car park also improves the aesthetics of the kennels. Instead of the rough aggregate we used to have, we now have an elegantly gravelled car park.
Its all been possible thanks to Andy Law, MD of a company called ADP Surface Solutions. ADP supplies a clip-together, cellular paving system called ADPave 40. Made from recycled plastic it can be laid on virtually any surface and then infilled with gravel. Once laid the system can handle virtually any type of vehicle - and it stops the gravel ‘migrating’.
Andy has a particular fondness for greyhounds and supplied the paving system at a rock bottom price – and then supplied all the gravel we needed free-of-charge from another company in his group.
John, together with a small band of volunteers (Ray, James, and Darryl), laid the paving system over the existing rough surface and the new land - and then shifted about 16 tonnes of gravel to create the new car park.
It’s fantastic and makes life easier and better for everyone – staff and visitors alike. And, most important of all, the dogs don’t mind walking across it.
Our thanks to Andy Law, ADP and Whitemoss Quarry (for the gravel). Anyone wanting more information about the paving system should go to http://www.adpsurfacesolutions.co.uk
NEW ENCLOSURE
Not all the land we acquired has gone on the car park. We have also created a new enclosure which, in the future, will be used for special events and exercising the dogs. We also plan to have ‘open’ days when owners can bring their greyhounds down and let them run in a completely safe and secure area.
All we need to do is plough/rotivate the area, level it and then seed it.
Any volunteers with the right kit???
Posted by: Crossing Cottage | Date: 18/02/10
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The Branch had a lovely walk in Blidworth Woods on Valentines Day from the Kirkfields Equestrian Centre. The hospitality from Mandy and Mark Rowlands and their helpers was absolutley wonderful and the cafe in the ‘Yard’ was welcoming and quite busy both before and after the walk on what was a dry but quite damp day. The walks (one long and one short) were organised by Rikky Allan, Marie Joliffe and Mandy Rowlands. Mandy offered the venue, helped with planning the walks with Rikky and Marie, and encouraged riders from the Centre to join in with a sponsored ride to raise funds for RGT East Midlands and Nottinghamshire Branch in the afternoon after her helpers were present and walked with the greyhounds in the morning. Rikky and Marie held a Valentine Drinks competition where visitors were encouranged to name the non alcoholic and alcholic drinks (designed by Rikky and quite potent). Marie baked Valentine Heart shaped dog biscuits and each greyhound received a biscuit and a Valentine card just to say how special they were. Comments from one of the greyhound owners on the walk were, ‘I thought the venue was ideal because it provided a lovely walk, lots of parking and even a cuppa afterwards, The Valentine card and heart-shaped biscuit was a lovely touch. Definitely something to repeat’ (Cynthia Stenson owner of Blue and Frankie).
The next walk will be at Moira Canal on the 11th April (two walks, one short one long) more details later on the website and newsletter. Everyone is welcome to join us on our walks whether you own a greyhound or not. These walks offer a real opportunity to meet the hounds and their owners and experience the wonderful world of the greyhound, meet John and Judith (manager of the Branch and the kennel owners) and receive lots of information about the breed, the dogs, the kennels and the Branch. If you have wanted a greyhound and you have been turned down for any reason please speak to us to see if we can help!
Pictured below waiting to go for the Valentine Day Walk. Horses and riders at the start of the sponsored ride. Walkers and greyhounds begin the walks.
