Timble and Low Laithe: 03-02-2026

Can we do the splits?

If you are thinking of joining the NCVs then don't worry. Being able to replicate the bodily position of the very flexible banana above  is not a pre-requisite skill.

'Doing the splits' is defined in the Collins conservation dictionary as "the movement of volunteers from one site to another during the course of a day". This is, of course, very different to 'Splitting the group' - a managerial option "involving sending two groups off to work in two different places at the same time."

After a week off due to bad weather last Tuesday, the NCVs were back in action this week and Liz was weighing up the possibility of going down the 'Doing the splits' route. There were 400  trees that  were in urgent need of planting at Low Laithe Mill Race and a further 225 at High Moor Barn, Timble. They had been sitting around the barn in plastic sacks for too long. This would mean that the vols would have to work very hard, and also travel between two sites, in order to keep transportation of resources more manageable. The question was - was it physically possible during the course of a normal working day? It would depend on how many of the gang came out to play.

The answer is 'of course!' And the photos below are proof of what can be achieved when everyone pulls their weight. The day began with 13 vols at Mill Race in Low Laithe....

Dave was in the area to 

be planted as wood pasture.

He wished he wasn't.

The ground was very rocky.

Osian reassured the four legged 

supervisor that, despite Dave's 

misgivings, the job would be completed.

Meanwhile, over in the hedge

 planting area, Anita was 

discovering the same story.

Tom and Mick, too, were struggling to 

dig holes deeper than 0.0001cm.

There was nothing else for it.

An energy boost was required

and kindly provided by landowner Dave.

The fine dining facilities helped to 

re-establish good humour.

Come 0n you lot - 

back to work. We have another job 

waiting elsewhere and still lots to do here!

Eventually there was just this one 

stretch of hedge left to finish - everyone

 focused their attention and wished that 

they had thought to pack some sticks

 of dynamite to loosen the underlying hardcore.

By now it was 12:30. Time for lunch and then the 8 who could continue working, high tailed it to High Moor Barn where a narrow stretch of woodland needed planting. Few photos here - no time for photography!!! What the pictures do not convey is the desperately cold wind that gave everyone frostbite!

Looking uphill - before ...

... and after.

Looking downhill - before...

...and after.

So - yes. the NCVs can do the splits!!!!

Make sure you read on to the end in order to see Barry Slaymaker's amusing report on the wallers' first aid refresher training!!

Additionally:

Last Thursday (29th January) some ROW work was done, alongside NY footpaths officer Adam. A little band of workers met him above the beautiful Eavestone Lake and made their way down to the lakeside footpath in order to clear overhanging vegetation. Here are a few pics to give a flavour of the morning's work....

Yesterday's fog was still going strong!

Well - don't just stand there looking at it.

Do something!!

That's better. 

Well done!

These steps need cleaning off,

as well as the rhododendron pruning back.

Every so often along the way

branches were pruned back.

Wallers' update 28th January 2026

The freezing fog seemed to trail us up the Dale to Pateley where we were meeting as a team for coffee, the Old Granary Tea Shop receiving our custom as the Wildish website details  of opening hours failed to accord with those on the door. Quickened breath from the steep climb to St Cuthbert’s Church condensed in small clouds as we gathered in the foyer, an ominous portent of an uncomfortable First Aid Workshop. 

The presence of a Victorian oak funeral hand cart in the porch further dampened our mood, and we imagined how many of the heavier past residents would have travelled their final journey to less than respectful mutterings from the bearers who had to negotiate the exceptional gradient to the church. The sun had by this time broken through and shone brightly through the windows so we huddled in the unheated church in the hope of some solar gain. 

Tracey did a valiant job of keeping us engaged through various emergency scenarios, and Kelly’s provisioning of hot drinks & biscuits stemmed the hypothermia as we sat in our coats, hats & gloves. Tracey’s props included a blanket that Rod & Andy shared as an added layer. A useful refresher course delivered informally and competently, inspiring confidence should we have to apply the knowledge.

Nithered by two hours of inactivity we were relieved to emerge into bright sunshine for the short journey to The Sportsman’s Arms where a log fire, fine ales, excellent food and warm conviviality restored us.

Thanks to Kelly for the tea and coffee, and to Tracey for holding our attention.

(Photo credit to Pam Baker who was at 

Silver Hill at the time of our departure from Wath.)

Wallers' Blog: 21-01-2026

 

Markenfield Update

(Editor's note - the NCVs' task for Tuesday 27th January was cancelled this week, due to the extremely bad weather, so the walling group have got the blog to themselves. Below is the report on the progress made last week, sent to me by Rod.) 

Injuries and illness reduced walling numbers to just 4 this week, Andy, Dave, Simon and Rod felt that this was, debatably, the right number as the wall approaches its termination with a tight working space and little room to lay out the stone taken down.

 

Andy and Simon topped off another section whilst Dave and Rod dismantled most of the remaining wall as far as its right angle turn.

This involved some pretty hefty stones that we can have fun putting back up. New base stones were then set and sides raised to allow us to clear some of the extensive infill back into the wall and keep some clear access.

Soggy sandwiches in the lea of the wall.

Overall good progress was made up to a little before lunch when the heralded rain started. Over a decidedly wet lunch, and with no cessation of the rain predicted, it was felt sensible to finish early and head home for a shower.

Felliscliffe: 20-01-2026

MORE TREES!

This week was yet another day of tree planting for the NCVs. This time they were creating a plantation, rather than a hedge, at Felliscliffe House. There were only 375 to plant, so another early finish was on the cards. (It's to be hoped that the vols don't get too used to this!!) The pictures below tell you how they got on. You can also see what the Rights Of Way (ROW) team got up to in Hackfall Woods  last Thursday, at the end of this week's blog entry, as well as an update from the walling group from their task day on 14th Jan. So much good work going on!! It's hard to keep track of it all!

A big thank you to Andrew for 

helping to transport the trailer 

as poor Liz was off sick.

9:30am - We started with an empty field.

The tree posts were 

inserted at 2m intervals.

That's it Julia - perfect verticality!

The posts were then hung with the tree tubes.

Nicely done Ken!

Well - get on. There are 374 more to do!

Now - time for the trees.

What have we got here?

In no time at all 

the field was far from empty.

Thanks to the goodies provided

by landowner Beth...

...coffeetime was much enjoyed.

Come on you lot - time to get 

back to work.

Tree planting in triplicate.

By 11:45am the job was done.

Well done team!!

Now on to the ROW task from Thursday 15th January....

The Grewelthorpe pond entrance 

was not looking very inviting.

The fence was rotten

 and the holly was in a mess.

Something had to be done!

The fence was easy to remove...

...unlike the unwanted gate post,

which seemed to go all the way

down to Australia.

But, even that succumbed.

The hole was quickly filled in 

before any kangaroos jumped through.

Work could then start cutting

 down and laying the holly trees.

All the cut brash was stored 

on the opposite side of the path

to create a habitat pile.

A good start was made, which

let light onto the path and 

gave a better view f the pond.

The rest will be tackled 

by the bigger NCV group soon.

And, finally, from the 14th January, Graham has sent this....

The latest from the Markenfield pale wall!

Another lovely blue sky  day, cold to start off with but, by coffee time, almost mild for the time of year. Seven of us out, all very keen to wall. 

Barry and Graham went to the original start of the wall, where for the third time, the cheek end had collapsed following mistreatment by farm vehicles.

The collapsed cheek end.

What a mess!

Let's try and restore it to good health.

 

Barry and Graham spent until coffee clearing the cheek end site and then commencing a rebuild .  By the end of the day a two metre section had been nearly completed. 

Now that's starting to look better.

From both sides.

Meanwhile, the rest of the gang continued at the far end , some 420 metres from the start. There they  spent a very productive day rebuilding the vast wall and are now within touching distance of its completion.

Lunchtime view of the far end of the wall.

Simon showing off his walling skills.

 The wall is really wide here.

. 

The weakened cheek end had also resulted in a developing gap  some six metres along the wall, providing another opportunity for a bit of a rebuild next week.