St Cuthbert's Church, Pateley Bridge: 15 -10-2024

 

Years On.... 

 

It was almost exactly three years ago, to the day, that the NCVs finished working their magic on the churchyard of St Cuthbert's, Pateley Bridge.

Readers may well remember that they cleared great quantities of vegetation from the gravestones, transforming what looked initially like this:

into something that looked like this:

When the venue was first mentioned everyone was wondering what the task would be this time. A repeat performance perhaps?

On arrival they discovered that this was exactly what was on the cards. 

 

 

Ladies and Gents. Loppers at the ready!

 

Liz took to the stage to 

direct operations.

The large group was split into teams.

 

One team was dispatched to 

clear the paths which were 

getting overgrown. 

Spades were deployed...

...and the paths revealed.

A much bigger team was sent off to 

the bottom corner to tackle the 

brambles and ivy that had taken over.

 

Tony was up to his waste in the stuff.

Friedy looked determined to 

get the upper hand.

Pretty soon, vast heaps 

of vegetation appeared.

What on earth were 

we going to do with it?!

"Don't worry folks. With a bit of judicious 

pruning we can hide it away in here."

 

By close of play the lower corner

 was, once again, as clear as could be.

Will and Alistair got busy higher up,

clearing around the gravestones.

Tim 'The Strim' spent the day 

whizzing around the place.

Now THIS monster definitely 

needed its crown lifting.

Ah. That is MUCH better.

Whilst all this was going on in plain sight,

hidden away at the top end of the churchyard,

a transformation was taking place

in this scrubby corner. 

Osian was leading another team

in the creation of a dead hedged

area for children to use.

By close of play the hedge was complete.

Not only that, a lovely, living, hazel arch

had been woven over the entrance.

Next door, Liz and others did their best 

to get rid of this unsightly heap of laurel that 

had been cut last week.

Things started well until the 

wood chipper went on strike.

Never mind. You can't 

win 'em all.

A job for another day.

At 2:15pm time was called and the 

trailer was packed up, along with the 

defunct chipper and other sundry tools.

Time to go home!

Many thanks to Jane Spooner 

for the two plates of scones

that disappeared in a twinkling

at coffee time.

And Happy Birthday to Andy C....

...who brought along a tin of

his world famous rich man's shortbread

for a lunchtime energy hit.

Thanks Andy!!

Low Wood Farm: 08-10-2024

 

This week the NCVs gritted their teeth, picked up their loppers and saws and, once more sallied forth to cut down vast swathes of holly from the woodland at Low Wood Farm. If you remember - last week they made huge inroads on the job, despite the wet weather and gloomy conditions. They were hoping for better weather this week.

What a false hope! It was raining on arrival and remained wet until lunchtime. This meant that, once again, any photographs taken during this time had to be lightened up by at least 200% (in a couple of cases, 300%!).

 

Before increasing the brightness.

"Cooee! Is there anybody there?"

 

After increasing the brightness.

"Yes! I am!" 

 

"Oooh. What are those Liz?"

 

"Rucksack tents, fashioned out of old 

gazebo window panels, to keep your 

backpacks dry!"

 

 Right - well - given what needs

 doing, we'd best crack on.

Julia was easy to spot in the gloom.

 

Liz's chain saw was put to good use.

 

Tom, however, had to make do with a bow saw. 

 

Energy levels were boosted at coffee time 

by some lovely cakes supplied by Julia. 

Thanks for those Julia!! 

 

Everyone was envious of Friedy's

 camping stool, even though

 it did have a tendency to sink into 

the soft ground.

 

Right Andy - make the most of the

post break cake energy and get sawing. 

No need to saw this rather lovely, decaying 

birch trunk down. It is host to a 

fine set of birch polypore fungus.

 

 At lunchtime Sally produced a tin 

containing delicious apple cake. 

Everyone is going to have to 

go on a diet tomorrow!

 

As lunch progressed the sky started to clear.

Hurray! The photos could be used without 

any amending! 

 

The brash heaps got bigger

and more numerous... 

 

...and log piles sprang up all around. 

NB Be aware - holly is a very dense 

and heavy wood. Shifting these large

logs was no mean feat. 

 

Eventually it was time to pack up.

Once again - good progress had been made. 

Just don't look the other way!!

 

Everyone squeezed into a couple of 

vehicles to get transported up the farm track.

Amy and Friedy travelled in complete

 darkness in the back of Liz's van.

What fun!!

Low Wood Farm: 01-10-2024

 

With the start of October came a change of task. Instead of scythes and rakes, the NCVs required saws and loppers. The reason? 

Holly removal!

Yes - it was the start of the prickly season. A time when it is safe to move back into woodlands to halo coppice around mature trees, taking out the invading holly and letting in the light to the woodland floor. This week it was the turn of Low Wood Farm, near Brimham Rocks. Last time the NCVs had worked here they were taking out the holly that was preventing the walling group reaching the woodland wall in order to repair it. Now the wallers had finished their job the focus was on the woodland beyond the wall. A single glance told us that this was not going to be a single visit task! Let's see what went on....

 

 

There were vast swathes of holly

in every direction.

Will got busy with his saw.

That's it - nearly finished!!

The dark, wet conditions didn't help

with the photos.

They all had to be lightened up 

by 100% twice!!

Julia's coat shone through the gloom.

 

A woodland management plan 

allowed Liz to take out stems

bigger than a baked bean can

with the chainsaw.

 

Paul managed to fell large 

stems with his bowsaw. 

 

Pretty soon there were large

brash heaps awaiting chipping,

and sturdy log piles,

appearing all over the place. 

 

This tree had somehow managed

 to grow itself a handle... 

...which made it much easier 

to transport to a log pile!!

Breaktimes were decidedly soggy affairs... 

 

...but made very much better by 

delicious banana loaf and 

lemon drizzle cake.

Thanks Sally - much appreciated!! 

 

Nobody tried adding any of the fungal 

fruiting bodies that were growing 

around the place.

 

 Gradually, large areas of woodland

 floor started to appear. 

 

Everyone was exhausted by 1:30

but felt pleased with progress made.

Next week - more of the same!!