Timble, West End and Humberstone Bank: 06-05-2025

 

Marginal Improvements

If the title of this blog entry makes you think that the NCVs' work rate has been assessed this week, and they were shown to be performing a little better than the last time it was checked, you would be wrong.

The improvements the title refers to are those that were carried out at Timble and West End, where changes were being made to the surrounds of five newly created ponds. 

I shall let Osian take over this part of the blog:

"Up on the bleak, sodden (not really) moorland an elite group of 4 NCVs battled their way across the undulating grassland to reach the ponds which were created as part of the Wetland project and were lined with naturally occurring blue clay. Their aim was to plant 200 plug plants, which will increase shelter and shade for the pond creatures, and included: skull cap; ragged robin, meadow sweet, floating grass, march pennywort, common sedge, bladder sedge and brooklime. 

Plants were laid out under the tutelage of Ponds Officer Christy for planting at the margins (made difficult on occasion by the rock hard clay that had formed in the subtropical Yorkshire spring) or just in the water around the edge.

In the first amphibian pond nature had already done its thing in the 5 months since it was constructed and the pond contained many tadpoles.

After planting the second pond, a tea-break was called ...

...and overlooked by some ovine spectators.

Then the gang planted up the third pond.

The final two had to be left for another time as they had all but disappeared in the hot, dry weather."

Whilst this work was going on, there was also a lot of improvement taking place in two woodlands at Humberstone Bank. They were littered with many defunct tree guards which needed collecting up for recycling. 

As well as upright tubes (empty or surrounding large tree trunks) the sight of overgrown horizontal ones was not unusual.

But everyone soon got into the tube removal swing and things began to improve. Unfortunately, in the first woodland, many of the guards were made of plastic netting and, therefore, unable to be sent to Tubex for recycling. 

But all the normal type of tubes were packed into dumpy bags, ready for transporting.

Adrian was too busy sorting out tree tube ties to notice that a flying saucer had landed nearby.

Down in the valley, the second woodland was much more recently planted, so the tubes just needed checking for straightness or emptiness.

On both sides of the valley were numerous heaps of tubes that had been cleared in the past.

Unfortunately the last of the 5 available dumpy bags were soon filled and a number of the heaps just had to be collected and stacked up near a track for removal by the farmer and his quadbike. 

By 2pm all tubes, apart from this heap, had been processed and taken to a collection point. A job for a small group another day? 

After a rest in the shade the workers toiled up the hillside in the hot sun, back to their cars, accompanied by the sound of a couple of cuckoos and curlews.

So - there you have it. Lots of environmental improvements this week - both marginal and otherwise.

Millenium Green: 29-04-2025

The NCVs all cheered this week as their leader, Liz, made a welcome re-appearance after her recent time on sick leave.  "Hurray!!" they all shouted. "No more bossy Ros in charge." After they had calmed down, Liz outlined their task for the day - namely the need to manage the overgrown willow structures near to the Millennium Green scout hut.

There were three willow structures to improve.

This was the biggest and should NOT

have been looking like this!

A good deal of high level pruning 

was required with long handled loppers...

...or short handled ones with 

the use of the ladder.

Those who were tall were at

an advantage.

Gradually the long willow shoots 

sprouting up on top were either

bent over and tied into place...

...or carted off to use in the other

two structures.

Eventually the top was flat...

...and the inside was cleared out.

Now - what about those other two structures?

The rather tatty looking caterpillar tunnel

was given a good deal of TLC.

The ground was too hard and dry to poke

in the harvested willow stems, 

so ends were sharpened...

...and water fetched from the 

nearby pond to wet the ground.

Eventually, this structure, too, was brought...

 

...once more under NCV control

Next, attention turned to the arbor...

...and that was soon sorted ...

...and ready for use by the workers.

Liz had brought a tasty cake

 to celebrate her return,

(Thanks Liz!)

The sun ensured that everyone was

particularly happy.

All that remained was for Tony to 

remove a plank from the pond...

...and everyone could clock off early.

Finally - a 'pome' written by Tony, our very own bard, written in response to hearing the reason for Liz's recent absence.

Liz’s appendix. 

 We know that on Tuesday we’re getting Liz back

It isn’t as if she’s been given the sack, 

 It’s just her appendix that’s caused all the pain 

 But now that bit’s gone she’ll be with us again.

 There’s a worrying thought that has kept us awake, We know operations can be a mistake, 

 The surgeons are human and sometimes mis-treat; 

 We can’t have Liz back if she’s now incomplete. 

 We don’t want to find that they’ve fobbed us all off 

 With less of the Liz, than the Liz we waved off. 

 We’ll count all her fingers, then count all her toes, 

 Her eyes, then her ears, has she still got a nose? 

 The bit that they’ve taken we trust is correct.

 If they’ve taken the wrong bit we’re bound to object. 

 But if she’s all there (in a manner of speaking) 

 No need for some more anatomical tweaking, 

 We’ll thank the good Lord on our bended knees 

 That she’s not lost her other appendices.

Tony

Hackfall Woods: 15-04-2025

 

Mastermind Final 2025

Clive Myrie fixed the last contender (Fred Bloggs) with his beady eye - the question he was about to pose would decide the outcome of the Mastermind final 2025. Fred only needed to answer this and the trophy would be his. He could feel a bead of sweat running down his brow. 

CM: So Fred. What do the following four pictures have to do with the Nidderdale Conservation Volunteers?:

A

B

C

D

Fred nervously glanced up at the screen and a smile of relief suddenly broke out on his face.

 

FB: That's easy Clive. They are all pictures of tubes and that's what has been occupying the Nidderdale Conservation Volunteers for the last two weeks. 

CM: Correct! Well done Fred! You have beaten your rival by one point. You are the Mastermind for 2025. Do you mind me asking how you knew?

FB: Simple Clive - I read the NCVs' blog and the removal of plastic tree tubes in order for them to be recycled has figured prominently of late. However, this week they were relieved to be doing something completely different in a SSSI woodland called Hackfall Woods - as you can see in the photos currently being displayed on the screen behind us. 

Cue powerpoint presentation.....

The first job that needed doing was

the clearing of this fallen tree.

It didn't take long...

...to clear the path...

and pile the brash down below.

Right - onwards to job two -

the refurbishment of two weedy looking

barriers above Sandbeds.

The material for this was provided 

by the cutting down of the saplings

obscuring the view to the weeping rock.

Excellent - there's the weeping rock.

And here's the material for the barriers.

Dave couldn't believe how lucky he was

 to be picked for the brash dragging team.

By coffee time jobs two and three 

were completed...

...and two robust 

barriers were in place.

Anyone who had a head net 

made sure they were wearing them 

after the break.

The midges were out in force!

Then it was on to job four - clearing the

 stream that runs to the weeping rock.

Both below the path...

...and above it.

The welly wearers were given this task

and did it very well.

The non-welly wearers moved on to

Allum Springs where jobs five and six

lay waiting.

The spring feeding the rock face

was all over the place.

However, with the judicious

 deployment of spades, a blockage 

was removed and the rocks replaced.

Eventually the water flowed where it should.

Down below, the main stream 

was cleared of debris...

...and another barrier refurbished.

By lunchtime almost all the 

jobs had been done. 

Just two more remained. 

Paul and Osian cleared the encroaching

holly at the Grewelthorpe entrance

as they walked home.

That is better.

Everyone else just stopped on their way

to the car park to deal with this tree that

 needed removing from the path side.

Thanks Ken!

And Helena and Amy - 

brilliant team work!

All gone!

As the powerpoint presentation came to an end the Mastermind audience broke into loud applause, punctuated by cheers, as Fred Bloggs was awarded the well deserved trophy. Perhaps the NCVs should be awarded a trophy too?