Hedge work in the woods
As February drew to a close the NCVs finally got around to a long postponed trip to Hackfall. Regular readers will know that a small group of them had already been out there a good few weeks before, making a start on a Rights of Way (ROW) task that the vols were now going to continue - namely that of laying/coppicing a hedge at the Grewelthorpe millpond entrance to the woods.
So - it would be down to work from the get go. No need to walk way down into the woods. No need to waste time preparing things. Everyone could just crack on and lay the hedge.
Or so they thought.
However, on arrival Liz announced that everyone would first walk all the way down to below Fishers Hall to deal with fallen branches. Hmm. That wasn't in the original job spec.!
OK. Fair enough. That does
need shifting as a priority.
That's it lads. Sort it out.
OK Ken - you can stop now.
The path's clear.
Fallen tree number two...
...was dealt with by the girls.
A good opportunity for Ros to
practise her squats.
"Never mind taking photos -
come and help shift the beast!"
There you go - a nice clear path.
Off to Fishers Hall where 2 stems of
overhanging hazel needed dealing with,
both here...
...and here.
After coffeetime by the river it was
then back to Grewelthorpe
pond entrance and that hedge -
unclogging culverts en route.
Mick had the much coveted spade.
Tom had to make do with the
'heel toe and away you go' method,
making sure he remembered to
bow to his partner throughout.
Some culverts needed to turn corners.
Then - FINALLY - we were back at the start.
Time to tackle the hedge.
Mick toddled backwards and
forwards with the resulting brash,
delivering it to Ros who was
on brash piling duty.
Ken and Paul debated
what to do for the best.
That looks fine - on to the next stem.
Everyone was relieved when
lunch was called.
At one point a good old
tug of war was required.
By close of play the job was
unfinished but looking good...
..whichever way you looked at it!
And, finally (from walling volunteer Graham)......
... a Markenfield update from 18th February.
It was a bitterly cold day at Markenfield, with an icy wind blowing both sides of the wall. Andy and Graham continued the rebuild of the southern end of the wall, dismantling another three yards before starting to build again. Towards the end of the day, the rest of the group came to lend a helping hand. A morning's work next week will see its completion.
Start of the day at the southern end of the wall.
"Now - what should I do first?
Another bit of wall dismantled.
"Well - you can't make an omelette
without breaking eggs!"
Seven yards of wall nearly complete.
Nice bend around the tree.
At the northern end of the wall, Rob, Dave, and Simon completed the wall end, topping out just after lunch before going to help Graham and Andy.
Lunchtime at the northern end, 420 metres away
Amazingly solid cheekend and
round the corner to Wall's End
The last bit of wall topped out
This end of the wall is a solid and fine piece of walling, not necessarily conventional but good all the same.
Looking back on over 14 years of work.
A job well done!
