A double helping!!
Due to the editor's family holiday last week, readers can now catch up on what has been going on over the last two task days. June has now arrived and a variety of things needed to be done.
Last week the NCVs met at Harewell Woods in order to continue the job of removing invasive holly - something they have done from time to time over the last couple of years.
Osian reported that:
A select few NCV souls ventured out into the hot, still woodland at Glasshouses.
Some toiled, boiled and sawed.
Some toiled, boiled and brash piled.
And one toiled, boiled and bark ringed.
Honorary NCV, Harry, was our star quad bike driver taking tools and our bags to the site. He also got in on the ring barking act (see below).
Liz kindly provided homemade oaty flapjack impressively individually wrapped in a well known brand's livery. They were gratefully received nevertheless.
After a strange discussion about chicken fillets during lunchtime,
Liz called a halt to work due to the hot conditions.
The photos below show the process of ring barking in order to eventually kill the tree:
This week they had a complete change and met at the barn.
Here the first puzzle to be solved
was how to assemble the mower.
Then three stayed put and sharpened tools.
The rest walked along to the Glasshouses verge in order to carry out a number of jobs - as you can see in the pictures that follow:
First off they cleared back encroaching
vegetation from the bridleway that
runs down the verge side.
Eventually the assembled mower
arrived and Andy and Liz cut the two
grassy areas either side of the picnic benches.
Everyone then turned their attention
to raking the cut grass.
This was transferred into four
builders' bags...
...or into the sacrificial corner.
(Don't worry - no NCVs are
to be sacrificed here!)
Hopefully this early cut will allow these
two areas to bloom with wild flowers
like the rest of the verge!!!
Some of this dying willow was pruned
off, but Liz's chainsaw is needed
another time.
Back at the barn the dumpy bags were unloaded
from the trailer ready for Liz to take to the tip.
Wallers' Update
Wednesday 20th May by Barry - The Washburn Heritage Centre
The original request to repair cheek ends damaged by delivery vehicles, plus a short extension at the other side of the car park, blossomed into a commitment to repair the whole length of the north-west perimeter wall of the car park.
The original wall
A day of breezy showers forecast, however, the sheltered location gave us mainly dry and mild conditions with jackets discarded for the exertions of digging out the bank for a better alignment, plus the removal of dumped grit behind the wall. Some useful stone was recovered, but the dismantled wall was mostly shallow, dictating a modest height in the reconstruction.
Good progress was made with a strong team of 7, including new recruit Andy who brings recent DSWA experience & revived skills from teenage school holidays working alongside his professional waller grandfather. Welcome Andy!
Close of play - a good start made!
Repaired cheek end
Liz delivered two trailer loads of additional stone for the extension aided by Rod & Duncan. Exotic pork pies at lunch from Andy H. nourished us for the afternoon’s labours.
Wednesday 3rd June - by Graham
A six strong team enjoyed another warm, but not too hot day in very pleasant surroundings. We last did a major job at the Washburn Heritage Centre car park in August 2017. Today we completed another two week stint and finished off rebuilding the western wall of the car park, some twenty five yards or so, plus a three yard extension next to the footpath.
Three metre extension
Twenty five yard rebuild
