Hackfall Woods: 11-08-2026

An unexpected item 

in the bagging area!

Occasionally the NCvs have to go to help with an unexpected event and this week was one of those times. At the end of July the front section of a very large tree had fallen across a path in Hackfall Woods and, although the main blockage caused by the trunk had been cleared to the side by contractors, as you can see from the photo below, the large quantities of brash, left on either side of the path and in the stream, needed clearing and properly brash piling.

So, suitably armed with loppers, saws, axes and lump hammers, the NCVs sallied forth to deal with the mess......

Well THOSE big logs are 

going to have to stay put!

Just below the bridge 

was a mess!

Where to begin???

Here is as good a place as any.

Yes - and at least this 

looks a bit better.

Ruth and Tom practised for the 

next Commonwealth Games

Amy's love of sawing

in the great outdoors

was clear to see.

The contractors had left a big 

heap here so the NCVs just

 had to neaten it up and add to it.

Now - that's a tidier looking brash pile!

We were able to start this from scratch....

...and then keep going!

Heave everyone!

Why don't we use some 

of these logs as seating?

Good idea - very comfortable.

Amy entertained us

with a rousing  tune or two

on her wooden saxophone.

Meanwhile, down in the stream 

bed things were difficult.

But, gradually, you could see

 the wood for the trees.

Lots of discussion was needed

about how to tackle this.

But with patience and 

the use of a rope, 

they managed to get rid.

Attention shifted to this

part of the water course.

.Slowly but surely the gang 

worked their magic.

That is most definitely better!!!

Just a few bits to clear

from under the stone bridge...

...and a bit of a sweep here and

the job was done - apart from a log

that had to be left for

 the contractors.

Wallers' update

by Barry

Another week at Breaks Fold Farm and a further 5 yards of old wall were dismantled to a point where the next section of the original may be good enough to preserve. Simon & Barry (team A) took on this work while Andy, Dave, Duncan & Rod (team B) completed foundations and added courses to the 10-yard working stint. 

Windswept showers kept us cool with fleeces donned for most of the day, a striking contrast to the calm and warm conditions in July. The Knabbs Ridge turbines were in continuous steady rotation all day. At end of play, team A had set foundations and added a course to their 5 yard section and team B had laid three courses over foundations on their 10-yards. Another productive day with a 3.15pm  finish.

Early afternoon and the

 team was still on the job.

The next three pics show the progress over the last three work days.....

End of day 1

End of day 2

End of day 3 -

it's starting to look more like a wall!!

Holy Trinity Churchyard: 04-08-2026

Twelve NCVs went to

 mow a meadow. 

If it's one thing the NCVs are particularly good at it is making a churchyard look tidy - a job that they are asked to do from time to time. This week they were working in Holy Trinity churchyard in Dacre Banks, somewhere they have swung their scythes, grass slashers and strimmers on a number of occasions. This week they had National Scything Champion 2025 Joe Haywood overseeing the task - an excellent addition to the team.

The pictures below show the progress that was made in the mowing of this churchyard....

So - this is a before pic.

The grass wasn't quite as 

thick as last year but very long.

Any NCVs who were new to

scything had a master class 

from Joe...

...before joining the rest 

of the gang who were already 

hard at work.

Ros raked...

and Tom carried the cut

grass off.

It was dumped onto a tarp

and dragged off to the corner

of the churchyard....

...where it became a trampoline 

for NCVs to play on.

Energy levels were boosted 

by Ros's ginger themed 

birthday biscuits.

Joe stopped to peen 

his blade (as you do)....

...whilst everyone else continued

swishing and raking.

On three occasions the local 

wildlife stopped play.

Here a hedgehog was spotted

sheltering at the base of a gravestone.

A bees' nest and a grass snake were

also disturbed. Sorry fellas!!

By 1:30 the churchyard

was finished and looking

very well coiffed.

All that remained was to 

spread some hay meadow seed....

...and take a final pic to

show the amount of grass cut!

Additionally, a small group of NCVs who double up as Rights of Way improvers went out last Thursday in order to clear Watson's Lane near Norwood.. As you can see they had quite a job to do to unblock the track!

Before. Gulp!

During.

After.

They also had enough energy 

to make a start clearing 

this set of steps!

Wallers' update

 

WALLERS' NEWS

The Nidderdale wallers have been busy at Breaksfold Farm over the last two Wednesdays. They are going to have their very own blog entry this weekend to make sure that you are all kept up to date, so read on to see their progress.....

22nd July 2026 by Barry:

Benign conditions greeted six of us as we arrived early on North Moor Road, cloudy but warm with barely any wind. The Knabs Ridge turbines remained motionless all day. Everyone took up preferred positions along the working stints. Rod & Simon added five courses and topped out the first five metres, then assisted Dave & Andy on the next, while Barry & Wayne brought the end section up to meet it. Much hammer work was again needed to fashion level courses out of unpromising material, but steady progress was made with the prospect of completing this section next time. Curlews and Oyster catchers alerted us to several fly-overs by red kites, else all was calm. Very warm work when the sun did break through on occasions, so a 2.30 finish was agreed.

Fine tuning at the end of the day

Lots of small stones, not the easiest to work with

Looks pretty neat and tidy

To level up and top out next week

29 July 2026 by Graham:

It was a warm and often cloudy day for walling, excellent for the six of us continuing with the task at Breaksfold - fortunately nowhere near as oppressive as some previous weeks. This being Wayne's third week of walling, he first spent a morning with Graham, learning how to dismantle the next four yards of wall, whilst the rest of the group finished what was left over from last week. 

By lunchtime their eight yard section had been brought up to height and topped out, whilst  Wayne and Graham had done the reverse and  taken down their section to soil level.  In the afternoon, Wayne moved on to another new task, namely that of laying foundations of the dismantled section.  Graham and Rob dismantled another four yards of wall whilst  Andy and Duncan moved mountains, tidying up all the loose stone from previous weeks' sessions; quite some task. Overall another productive week's walling and some excellent training for Wayne.

Wayne looks at the morning's work ahead of him

By lunchtime the wall has disappeared

Again by lunchtime, last week's wall had been completed

Rob looks at his afternoon's dismantling task

 Dave and Wayne completed the foundations

End of day and time to pack up