Previous
No slip-ups at Rufford Abbey
Added: (Thu Mar 30 2006)
Rufford Abbey is a Twelfth Century abbey founded by Cistercian monks and later transformed for the Talbot and Savile families into a grand country house. Today it is owned by Nottinghamshire County Council, with English Heritage acting as custodians. The safety of the annual 700,000 visitors is paramount and this is particularly of concern in winter when moss and algae growth can pose a tripping hazard to visitors and staff alike.
Like all public facilities, COSHH regulations apply in respect to chemicals used on the estate, but Nottinghamshire County Council have a positive approach when it comes to the environmental impact of chemicals used; only a small number of chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers are permitted. The Abbey has a lake and the Gallow Hall dyke on its grounds, with a variety of wildlife on land and water; any run-off from chemicals could have an impact on the ecosystem. The grounds also have a lot of children and canine visitors, so the fewer chemicals used the better.
Nick Hague, Countryside Ranger at Rufford Abbey was keen to find a biodegradable cleaning solution that would help remove the moss and algae and not damage the ancient stonework of the abbey. There are two perennial problem areas on the estate; one is a passageway and steps used by staff that gets very little sunlight and thus gets heavy build up. The other is the uncovered, paved �roof� of the abbey that needs to be shut to visitors periodically while the flags are pressure washed. Even that leaves the flags slightly slippy. Nick read that traditional Soda Crystals are effective at removing moss and algae and are particularly useful for stonework; they also met the Council�s criteria as they contain no bleach, phosphates or enzymes and are biodegradable. Not only are they safe to use on stonework, but because they are alkaline, they will not fade any coloured stonework. Although the Soda Crystals available on the high street are exactly the same, for bulk quantities, he went direct to the UK manufacturer, ELCO.
Nick offers the following guidance, �Soda Crystals do not have severe health and safety implications so our grounds staff only need to wear their standard clothing. We found that the best way of applying the soda crystals to large areas was to liberally sprinkle the crystals over the affected area. It was a clear day when we applied them, so we added some water to help dissolve the crystals and start the process; we were advised that we would not need to do this had rain been expected. The longer the crystals can be left, the better. We also found it helpful on patches with dense growth, to agitate with a stiff yard brush, immediately after application. Because of the high footfall, we needed to clear the area after 24 hours. We re-wet the area and brushed again; the treated area was very easy to clear and we simply rinsed away the effluent, which had now turned green! Because Soda Crystals are biodegradable, we simply let the effluent run to drain. Not only was the result more effective than merely pressure washing, it was far easier and when the slabs had dried, the ground had no slippy residue.�