The NCVs' Christmas walk: 16-12-2025

We made it!

Yes indeed. The NCVs have made it to the end of another year of volunteering in the great outdoors. A fantastic 2274 hours have been clocked up during 2025 and an impressive 4165 trees have been planted. So - this week it was time for a nice gentle walk and a tasty Christmas lunch. Ken and Dave kindly organised a 5 mile route, starting and ending at The Wellington pub in Darley. It was an excellent place to finish as Ken had also ordered the xmas lunch at the same venue. (Thanks for all the organisation Ken and Dave!)

Highlights of the event can be seen below:

Everyone ready?

Off we go!

Through Darley village where Andy was put 

in the stocks as he had been the last to arrive.

Down the hill to the River Nidd.

Everyone squeezed across 

the footbridge over Darley Beck...

...before passing by the limpid waters

 of the pond at Pyefield Farm 

This was created by the NCVs way back in 2013.

Clearly not maintained by the landowner!!

(Blog entry for this rather muddy 

episode can be seen HERE. Well worth checking out!)

The route contained a number of challenging stiles.

Then it was along the river to

the Summerbridge 'Youf shelter'...

...where there was a stop for coffee time.

Only 'youfs' were able to sit inside.

Older folk had to stay outside...

...but all ages were allowed a shortbread biscuit,

thanks to Liz.

Then it was back towards Darley through Low Wood, 

along the line of the old railway track.

Amazingly there was a train still running 

but it didn't stop to give the NCVs a lift.

Will thought that this giant hamster 

wheel may help him get up the hill.

Eventually the gang left the track and went 

through the fields ....

....back to the Wellington Inn.

Inside the inn were some very happy diners...

... thanks to the Wellington Inn staff! 

Thanks also to the NNL for funding the meal.

Remember the two NCVs who decided to hang up their loppers this year? 

 

Phil

  

 

Tony

Well, at the end of the meal they were both presented with 'Emergency Retired NCV Kits' containing all they would need to see them through the coming, restful months.

Emergency kit contents (see below)

Item 1 (Tony)

Item 1 (Phil)

Item 2 - slipper socks.

Item 3 = A liquorice pipe

Item 4 - Self explanatory!!

Anita and Julia tried out the pipes....

...however - it was Ken who was the one 

who had the gravitas to demonstrate

correct pipe usage.

See you back here early in the new year!

Summerbridge: 09-12-2025

Last task of the year.

Spades at the ready!

Yes - that's right. This week saw the NCVs working on the very last task of 2025. All they needed to do was finish planting the hedge above Summerbridge. If you remember - they started last week and managed to plant half of the 1700 saplings awaiting insertion. The question is - could they manage to plant the remaining trees by close of play (despite storm Bram)? Read on to find out....

Start the clock!

Friedy hurriedly throws

 bags of canes to David.

Tim runs off into the distance

throwing tubes over the fence. 

Adrian grabs bundles of saplings

and starts tossing them over

to join the tubes.

Everyone enters the double fenced arena

and deploys their spades and lump hammers.

Poor Friedy has drawn the short straw.

She needs a mattock to clear rocks 

in order to plant.

"Why me?" she was heard to say.....

Everyone was dealing with extremely

wet planting conditions.

Brenda worked valiantly,

 up to her ankles in mud.

Amy and Helena worked speedily 

and efficiently.

Some manpower had to be wasted 

clearing intruding vegetation .

At coffee time everyone got themselves

comfortable for a short break....

...only to have to high tail it into the farmer's trailer 

when the heaviest ot the morning showers 

suddenly decided to muscle in on the act.

Tree planting resumed after the wind joined 

in and blew away the heaviest clouds. 

However - saplings weren't always playing ball. 

The root systems of some were rather large

 - or very weird. This one was 

sitting down on the job!

The job got done soon after 1:30pm.

Then all that was needed was some 

heavy duty tool cleaning.

Yee Hah!

Ride 'em cowboy!

Markenfield Hall: 03-12-2025

 
Wallers' update

It was nice to be back at Markenfield Hall for what should be the end of a fourteen year project.  Andy, Duncan, Simon and Graham undertook the one kilometre  walk to site, the only real drawback of the location, on a calm and bright day, perfect for walling; last week's slippery mud at Timble now forgotten. 

The wall as we left it in April this year.

Wall end in April; note the ivy to the right.

An atmospheric wall lay 

awaiting our further attention.

Rob and Giles, from the estate, had 

done a brilliant job clearing the site

 of fallen trees, barbed wire and undergrowth. 

The only remains of the ivy.

A lovely covering of moss; for the time being!

This tree had had to go. 

The historic wall  takes priority, so...

 ...a previously impenetrable 

area had been cleared.

Rob and Giles had also transported in a pile of toppers to enable Simon and Duncan to finish the section of wall we left in April. 

Show stopping toppers added to April's wall.

This is an unconventional section of wall in that it has widened to nearly four feet at its base, in keeping with what was there previously, but creating a massive wall; both to take down and rebuild. 

Finally, Andy and Simon start 

dismantling the next section.

As a mark to  previous wall rebuilds, we have  managed to leave the lower courses of a five yard section intact, at least on one side. 

The section of wall being left intact

Good progress was made; foundations dug 

out, and three courses added.

Simon adding fill to a very wide section of wall

The cheek end, our final destination

State of play at the end of the day?

Still a bit to do!!!!

After a productive day's work, we undertook the muddy walk back to the cars, sapping any remaining energy!