Tiplady Farm: 07-10-2025

This week was the International Week of Happiness at Work, which chimed very well with the NCVs' task of hedge laying. As it is a job the NCVs enjoy, there was a good chance that they would, indeed, be happy in their labours. They were back to Tiplady Farm to work on the second of their hedges. (The laying of the first was completed in January 2024.) 

Alongside the workers was an inspection team from the 'International Working Conditions Inspectorate' (IWCI) to check on happiness levels of the workers. They were using the Int. Week of Happiness at Work point allocation system H, a tried and tested assessment scale used when checking on hedge laying work in particular. Their final report is included below.

Stem size of hedge plants?

This can make or break a worker's morale. In this case the stems were, for the most part, reasonably thin.

Score: 8 points

 However, points were lost as everyone realised that they were behind a wire fence that needed removing before laying could begin. Some "Oh Nos!" were heard.

Score: - 3 points

Sub total 5/10

Prickliness of hedge species? 

The presence of blackthorn, hawthorn and rose can often result in low happiness ratings. The Tiplady hedge contained all three. However, the presence of numerous hazel trees boosted the score here. 

Score:  5/10

State of the working surface? 

Weather conditions can markedly affect the score here. The recent passing through of Storm Amy could have left the ground sodden and muddy. However - not so. It was as green by 2pm as it was at 9:30am.

Over trousers were taken home clean!

Score: 10/10

Support from managers?

The appearance of Liz's chainsaw is bound to add happiness points. Likewise her extra trip to collect additional tools showed a good level of support.

Score: 10/10 

Energy level boosters provision? 

The supply of coffeetime goodies from Amy was guaranteed to put smiles on NCV's faces...

...as was the delicious cake provided by the landowner!!

Somewhere comfortable to sit, out of the wind, always scores additional points.

Score:  10/10

Number of workers smiling as they work? (Add one point per smiler. Sample of work force to be checked: 33% or 6 workers out of the 18 present) 

The NCVs are a pretty forgiving bunch when it comes to working conditions so smiles are usually in good supply:

Plus 1 point.

Plus 2 points

Plus 2 points

Zero point due to a broken spade handle.

Score: 5/6

Correct tool provision? (Loppers, bowsaws, pruning saws, hammers, axes, spades. metal cutters,  wood, nails and rakes  should be available.)

In fact ALL of the necessary equipment was in good supply and the inclusion of fire lighting resources was very welcome saving mounds of brash having to be left in the field.

Score:  10/10

Progress made? (Account should be taken of number of workers and time worked.)

The length of the hedge to be laid was 150m. By close of play 150m of fencing had been removed and 50 metres of hedge had been laid. Everyone felt very pleased with themselves. 

Score: 10/10

Overall score: 65/76 = 85.5%  Grade A equivalent.

Overall Comment:

The inspectors found that this group of workers were working at an unusually high level of happiness, especially given that they were working in an unpaid capacity. There was a high degree of camaraderie within the group. Those interviewed seemed highly satisfied with their day of hedge laying and were willing to return next week to continue the job.

Old Spring Wood: 30-09-2025

Thunderbirds Are Go!

Luckily 30th September 2025 was the official 'International Thunderbirds Day' . This meant that the NCVs were able to get some help. They called in Scott, Virgil, Gordon, Alan, John and Brains to deal with the equivalent of the Thunderbirds' arch-nemesis 'The Hood', in the form of the holly invading the bluebell lake of Old Spring Wood.

Unfortunately, because Liz had to attend a NNL office event they did not have the benefit of her chain saw. Never mind. The NCVs are made of tough stuff. They can do great things with bow saws and loppers, as you can see from the pictures below.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, NCVS ARE GO!!!

Upon entering the wood the team in 

Thunderbird 1 homed in on this monster.

It was down and processed before lunchtime.

The processing was carried out by the crew

with help from Thunderbird 2's team.

Who is that at the front of the picture?

Ahh. Brenda! What a nice smile - 

and what a good dead hedge!

The team of Thunderbird three, normally more 

used to space travel, dealt with not just one, 

but two horrible hollies.

One down...

...one more to go.

Processing sometimes took a LOT of effort!

However - Osian was able to practise his 

caber tossing skills at the same time.

Coffee time allowed the Thunderbird crews

to relax and chat. 

Thunderbird four got busy with this 

holly and made a good job...

... despite normally

 being used to working under water.

Of course, now that it was down,

 the crew had to shift it.

Nearly there.

It was decided to rope in 

Thunderbird 5 for this one.

Yes - I know T5 is usually in orbit 

above the Earth, but they could see 

that additional manpower was needed.

T3 popped up to fetch them....

...and down it came.

Right everyone. Let's check how it all looks.

Excellent! Much clearer in both directions.

A good day's work.

With that, each of the Thunderbird crews 

headed off down the hill to their awaiting

aircraft. 

Update on an old hedge planting task:

Last week we received information on the progress of the hedge the NCVs planted, alongside a track leading down to Bivouac, as long ago as February 2014. Not only has it grown extremely well, but it provided an excellent resource for a hedge laying training session as part of the recent Swinton Park's 'Nourish Partnership Climate Action Forum'. Proof of this (if proof is needed) can be seen in the photos below:

Feb 2014.

The new hedge.

Sept. 2025.

The hedge before the trainees get fully underway.

The hedge after laying. Well done trainees!

Harewell Woods: 23-09-2025

 
"I say, I say, I say"

"What's green and spiky, takes over completely, and is the bane of the NCVs' lives?"

"Easy - holly of course. And it is definitely not something to joke about!!"

No indeed. Holly is a relentless invader of woodlands - thanks to birds spreading the seeds in their droppings whilst perched in other trees - and this week the NCVs were back in Harewell Woods to continue with the holly removal job they last started at the end of July. It was hoped that the brash could be burnt, rather than dead hedged, to try and speed up the process. There is so much holly to take out and time is limited.

The pictures below show the highlights of the day....

Andrew and Adrian got busy

sawing and lopping.

And Dave set to, dragging the brash away.

Anita and Tim processed said brash.

And this was then added to Tim's fire,

which started small...

...but soon blazed into a Christmas

 tree shaped inferno.

Liz used her new electric chain

saw and ended up using all three

battery packs during the day.

"Can someone come and clear 

up here please?"

"That's better! Though still a bit to do."

Ken wished he had done 

the chain saw course...

...and demonstrated how well he could 

do this by sawing Tim's head off.

Not all of the brash was burnt.

This giant habitat pile was also constructed.

Whereas these heaps were cleared and burnt...

...and logs were piled neatly.

Well done team! Lots more light can now get into the woodland floor. Who knows what flowers will now appear in the spring time?