Two events in recent months – Storm Ciara and the Covid-19 pandemic – have had very significant effects upon the Society and its regular activities.
Storm Ciara in February led to extensive track-way erosion and serious flooding in the lower ground level of the Barracks building. Fortunately, pending a planned rebuild in the Barracks that was already getting started, a temporary relocation of the office and archive into the upper floor of the Assay House could be expedited at pace and there were no losses of equipment or papers as a consequence of the flooding.
Now in March, the Covid-19 pandemic has put a complete halt to regular works and remedial actions following the flooding event in February. We cancelled the regular on-site work programme and the planned Open Days for some months ahead. We may yet lose the whole summer season entirely if government actions to stem the epidemic in the UK are not quickly successful.
Volunteers have mothballed the site as best they could given the social distancing constraints in recent weeks before the nationwide lock down starting 24th March. We are concerned about the safety and security of the closed up buildings and their contents over the coming weeks and months. We have made arrangements with members in Nenthead village to provide a level of regular monitoring in the meantime.
The Society’s Annual General Meeting is postponed indefinitely for now.
Despite the potential losses of Open Day income over the spring and summer, the Society’s financial reserve is such that we can easily survive into 2021.
We hope that all members are able to keep safe and well and that we’ll be able to ‘get back to normal’ in due course. Please follow the official guidance and do your bit to minimise the duration and impact of the pandemic.
With very best wishes,
Trustees of Nenthead Mines Conservation Society
