Smaden Head Farm: 03-11-2026

Put on your blue suede 

mountain goat shoes. 

Almost two years ago the NCVs spent no fewer than three Tuesdays planting hedges at Smaden Head near Eavestone Lake. Regular readers may remember them trialing a new fitness plan on one of the days and a mindfulness course on another - neither of which went down very well with either the NCVs or the trainers.

On this visit the gang were due to replace some trees that had failed (not in the hedges but in a plantation) - due to two extremely dry conditions over the last two summers. Liz's email came with a health and safety warning. The task would be 'tricky'; we would be working on 'steep terrain'; anyone 'wobbly on their feet' would be advised to give the task a miss; those brave enough to come along should 'bring their mountain goat shoes'.

Despite these dire warnings no fewer than 12 NCVs were brave enough to turn up. All were wearing the latest in Mountain Goat footwear and looking more or less un-wobbly. So - how did they get on? Did they all come out alive? Did the mountain rescue team need calling out? Read on to find out...... 

As the NCVs gathered 

the trees were prepared.

All 250 of them.

Now - that doesn't sound many....

...but, given the terrain 

it was not a job that would 

be done by lunchtime.

Team Bog started off in 

a dreadful, rushy gully, crossing

streams along the way.

Team Bracken started working

their way down the near vertical

slope, checking each tube as they went.

On and on..

...and on they went. Checking;

planting; checking; planting.

Osian gave new volunteer Hugh

a lesson on tree planting...

...and, at one point, Liz wondered if 

she could find an excuse to return to 

the barn to fetch something important.

Everyone was relieved to break 

for lunch under the oak tree.

After lunch the final bunch of 30 trees 

were taken back down the hill and

 then up the other side of the valley

to be inserted before time was called.

So - no need for emergency services, but there were probably a number of NCVs ready for their beds by 7pm!!!!

Millenium Green: 27-10-2026

Dark days ahead

As the clocks all had to be turned back an hour on Sunday, during the second named storm of the season within 2 days, the NCVs needed a bit of a lift to help see them through the dark days ahead. The promise of Halloween celebrations at the end of the week didn't quite cut the mustard for most of them, so they were wondering if Liz could offer anything to alleviate the thoughts about the forthcoming winter darkness.

Luckily she could. Her email promised a day of brightness for everyone to enjoy. One of fresh air, exercise, useful work and,  of course, camaraderie and fun. The task? A visit to Millenium Green in order to give the willow tunnels their annual weaving and haircut. A nice easy site to get to, with good views of the River Nidd. Even the weather played ball  - at first......

Upon arrival it was clear what 

needed doing. A good 10 foot of 

regrowth off the main tunnel

for a start.

And the little 'bower' was

 looking decidedly sad. 

As for the Caterpillar - 

well that was collapsing 

and in need of removal.

Even the 'garden' needed

 a good old tidy.

A large team started work 

on the main tunnel. They 

found it hard to know where to begin!

A second team focused on the 

caterpillar which was never 

going to change into a butterfly.

It wasn't just a case of cutting

it down to ground level.

Weed suppressant needed lifting...

...and willow roots needed digging out.

Then of course all the brash

needed collecting and piling.

Time for coffee!

It was at this point that the weather

started to let itself down. 

Looking upwards to cut high

willow with rain falling 

relentlessly was not ideal!

However - it was Liz's birthday 

and her cakes ensured that 

morale remained high.

Thanks Liz - and Happy Birthday!!!

Now - back to work.

At the main willow tunnel

progress was steady but far from easy.

The high stems were extremely difficult 

to reach. A ladder and high level loppers

were needed.

The bower was turned into a hurdle

which looked much better, especially

when the sun shone for a few minutes.

The area was strimmed to get rid of brambles.

The team that were working in

 the garden did an excellent job 

of making it look loved.

By close of play even the main 

tunnel was looking much better.

 Well done NCVS!

When Liz got back to the barn

she had to light the wood stove 

to try and dry everything out. 

Poor Liz. What a birthday activity!!!!

The small team of ROW workers, who went out last Thursday, under Adam and Joe's supervision, also need a shout out. They were working along the footpath 'Tinkler's Lane', near Burnt Yates, clearing large quantities of encroaching vegetation. 

Here they are - happy in their work.....

Unsatisfied fiddling around with

small twigs, Alistair looked behind

and saw there were bigger fish to fry.

"Hope I was meant to cut this down Joe....."

The answer was yes, but it then

led to another job for Friedy.

Eventually the path was clear

and the team could go home.

St Cuthbert's Churchyard: 20-10-2026

 

Fettles to the fore.

According to Liz, St Cuthbert's Churchyard needed some 'fettling'. as you can see from the 'before' pictures below.

The grass needed a haircut

Some of the gravestones required clearing

of ivy or overhanging branches. 

The laurel hedge we cut down a 

couple of years ago has had the 

audacity to start sprouting again 

and needed putting in its place.

So - once everyone had arrived, we picked up our newly purchased fettles and surged into action. 

Some worked up high,

others worked down low.

Liz got to work with 

the strimmer.

This area needed the attention

of lots of NCVs.

Other jobs were found to be in need of doing as the day went on.

Any epicormic growth at 

the base of trees needed removing.

One or two gravestones 

needed a scrub

to remove the moss.

And, of course, brash piles

 had to be made with all 

the unwanted veg.

With a flick of a switch the 

 new, versatile,  multifunctional fettle

 tools could be turned into hay rakes 

and pitch forks to help with this.

These needed to be crushed down

by those willing to climb the heaps.

There was a good deal of fun 

and frivolity in the graveyard!!

Coffee and lunchtimes were

held inside the church.

Helena provided tasty biscuits for 

coffee break and Graham's wife, 

Jane, had baked delicious 

scones for lunch. 

(Thanks both!!!)

The turkeys from next 

door kept us entertained

with their loud gobbling!

By the end of the task everywhere looked in fine fettle - as you can see below.

All that remained was for the NCVs to put away their multifunctional fettles and beetle off home.