Tuesday 26 March 2024

Glasshouses: 26-03-2024

 Let's get rid of the gaps!

Yet another hedge related job was on the cards this week.  The NCVS were back at Glasshouses to plant saplings in the gaps that remained after the verge hedge was laid a while back. In addition "bit of hedge management at Glasshouses school" had been mentioned. No one was sure what that second job entailed, but they were sure all would become clear eventually.

Here are the pick of the pics from the day....

 
The trailer was loaded up with everything 
but the kitchen sink, including about 
250 trees.

Now then, where's a gap?

Here's one!

And here's another!

Honorary NVC Harry (now 10)
found a perfect gap - just here.

A few extras were planted within
 the dead hedge sections.

Gap after gap was filled until the trees
 ran out and it was time for coffee 
and goodies. (Thanks Anita!)

It was during this downtime that
 Liz outlined the mysterious plans for 
'hedge management at Glasshouses school).

Off everyone trooped, up the hill to the school,
where they came face to face with the 
8 year old hedge which was to be laid.

Oh - and a number of Leylandii
trees that needed removing.

Oh yes - and these two veg beds
that needed knocking into 
some sort of shape.

Everyone set to - 
some on the laying job...

...others on the veg beds...

...and the rest on the leylandii
removal.
"Coo-eee - anyone in?"
 
Although the leylandii were soon 
pruned back, removing the
 main trunks was not easy. 
One root got the better
of Dave's spade handle.
 
It was decided to simply cut them 
to ground level and plant 
the large gap with saplings.

Three trailer loads of brash
were taken to the barn 
for chipping or transfer to the tip.

By close of play the hedge was laid
and the leylandii were 
but a past memory.

The veg beds were ready for planting...
 
...and the NCVs were ready for bed!

Tuesday 19 March 2024

Lime Tree Farm, Grewelthorpe: 19:03-2024

 
TIME FOR THE 
VERY LAST PUSH!

As readers of this blog will know, the last two weeks have seen the NCVs doing their level best to lay a 100m hedge before the end of March. There was just 15-20m left after last week's efforts so, with a bit of a push, it could be finished in one more day.

 Oh - and there was the little matter of 6 brash piles to get rid of, with more yet to come during the day......

Let's see if they managed it shall we?

 
Well this one is for the chop.

Yeh. So's this.

Teamwork throughout led to success,
despite the many difficulties encountered.

Things seen in the hedge
 included this old bird's nest...

...and this fresh jelly ear fungus.

There was also the encouraging
sight of new spring growth just
starting on stems laid last week.

Just lay this one down there would you Dave?
Certainly Dave.
 
Look busy lads - here's the gaffer.
 
It was pleasant to sit in the sun
and enjoy delicious cake (thanks Paul)
and biscuits (thanks Irene).
 
 
Now - what about the 6 brash piles?
Shall we harvest some
 firewood to take home first? 

Now see here, you bonfire you.
Don't you dare go out.
There's lots to burn!
 
Andy's strict tone clearly paid off.
The fire eventually got going 
and was fed a never ending 
supply of brash. 

Everyone was told to wear old 
clothing to burn the brash.
Here Ken models the NCV kit from
 some years ago. Green with an orange logo.

Eventually the fire got rid of 4 brash piles 
before having to be dampened down.
The rest will be dealt with by 
observatory volunteers.

Our job here is done!
 
All that remains is for 
some new saplings to 
be inserted in the gaps.
Well done team!

Whilst all this sterling work went on, two other NCVs  were noticably absent. No - they weren't skiving off. They were undertaking some INNS survey training along the River Nidd at Birstwith. (That's 'Invasive Non-Native Species' surveying for those of you who aren't quite sure.) This was run by the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust. They were shown how to use a mapping app:

This turned out to be extremely easy to use and much better than having to record everything on a hard copy map. It can be downloaded via:

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/inns-mapper/id6445965106

or

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.natural_apptitude.innsmapper

Now Ros E. and Ruth will be able to record all sightings of Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed whenever they go out for a walk along the Nidd and its tributaries. This will allow action to be taken by the trust to get rid of the unwanted plants. A new rust fungus against balsam is already being trialled in some stretches along the Nidd and is showing itself to be quite effective.

Tuesday 12 March 2024

Lime Tree Farm: 12-03-2024

 

 HANG ON BIRDIES!!!!

The NCVs were working to a deadline this week - the hedge at Lime Tree farm, started last week, needed finishing off before birds begin to build nests in the remaining, upright trees. Over 50m still needed to be laid and, if you remember, it wasn't the easiest set of stems to deal with.

So - let's see how the gang got on shall we? Can the birds now nest in peace?

 
The weather first thing was cold and wet, 
so the team warmed up with some star 
jumps whilst awaiting the arrival
 of the tools.
 
Then it was over to see what was what.
Still plenty left to do and the team 
was only half strength compared 
to last week. 

Everyone started pruning, 
sawing and chopping.

The red peril attacked trees
with his axe...

and carted off the brash 
like a pro.

Ruth, too, wielded her axe
with gusto.

Mick dragged brash out
from its tangled positions...

...as did TRP.
 
Anita did her best to keep the 
work area clear with
 the rake and wheelbarrow.

David valiently took it upon himself to
clear the biggest bramble 
bush you ever did see.
This is just one tiny part of it.

Liz's chain saw was put to good use
throughout the day.

The mantra for the day was
"Well, we'll give it a go and if it 
comes off it can't be helped"
This one clearly came off!

The real treat of the day was having coffee 
and lunch inside the now cleared iron age hut. 
There were comfy benches covered in
 soft sheep fleeces to sit on in the warm
(and biscuits to eat, thanks to landowner Irene!!)
 
Less of a treat was the quagmire that 
had to be traversed between the hedge 
and the brash piles. Ros E's wellies 
got stuck up to her ankles and she had 
to haul both feet out with her hands.

By 2:30 much had been achieved.

There are now 2 new brash piles.
(No brash could be burnt
 due to the wet conditions.)

Unfortunately there is still 
about 20m of hedge to lay.
Just one more week before the 
birdies can take up residence!!