Wednesday 24 April 2013

Bramhope and the Millennium Green riverside path, Pateley Bridge rides again! 23-04-2013

Editor's note - Today involved a choice of three tasks:

  •  Hannah and Dave B. joined forces with two of the tree wardens and went up into Bark Cabin Wood. Here they spent their time repairing the damage that last week's high winds had done to the newly planted trees and their tubes so carefully put in place by 50 army cadets just a couple of weeks earlier. 
  • Meanwhile Anita, Ros K. and Chris G. met at Bramhope to continue working on a dry stone wall. Here is Anita's part of the story......
Work on rebuilding the 50 metre length of wall running alongside the drive at Bramhope Scout Camp began in April 2012.  With such a daunting task we enlisted the help of Master Craftsman Chris G. to come along and share his skills with a few volunteers from the site team to give us some much needed confidence to get started. 

The first section started off relatively straight forward.  The old wall came down, foundation stones went in and building began – great we were off!  Oh dear, the next stretch was dismantled only to find a concrete foundation.  Not just any old concrete, but really thick tough concrete that would not break.  Not only that, but whoever built the wall originally embedded huge stones vertically, rather like a set of giant teeth - we have had to concede and build on a concrete base, which extends the whole length of the wall.
The giant teeth are uncovered - they had to go!
Since we borrowed Philip and Catriona from The Nidderdale Wallers this winter the wall has come on at a good pace. 

So here we are on the very last stint.  Ros K, Chris G and I added the top course today, the most difficult so far, as we had used all the decent stone further up the wall.  We just had to make do and mend.  Copes on next week - I just hope we have enough! No flap jack - just chocolate digestives to keep us going and a rest in lovely comfy arm chairs at lunch time.
The wall is nearly finished!
Two more weeks should see the wall complete and the site tidy.  Phew!

Anita



  • Finally - the rest of the gang continued the work from last week. Jan now takes up the tale........

Well, we did it – the path was completed up to the bridge, 112 yards as paced by Tony.

The weather was perfect and the work hard, particularly moving the ballast by wheel barrow. As the path grew so did the journeys with the fully laden wheel barrows. We did not count the trips but I think a cubic metre will have been shifted.
John trundles the ballast - obviously
taken early in the day looking at the smile!
There were nine NCVs out on this task (plus Paul our co-ordinator of course). It was nice to welcome a new recruit (another Terry), accompanied by his black labrador, Flint.
The workers get busy with their
mattocks and spades

Graham gives an impromptu lesson on how to use a mell.
Chris (NYCC volunteer) bows down to acknowledge his master.

Jan carefully lays out the pegs for the planking,
whilst Will just keeps on digging for victory.
Do not think the NCVs did this work all by themselves. They were assisted by:
  • a group from Open Country (a charity based in Harrogate) who provided seven very keen volunteers plus their 3 supervisors.
    3 Open Country volunteers conquer
    the hardcore mountain.
  • two NYCC volunteers with their ranger, Catherine.
Terry M. managed to wangle a turn on the wacker plate. He joyfully wackadoodled away and we stood by with envy and admiration. Wearing ear protectors makes you look so much more important! He continued vibrating even after he turned the contraption off.
Those still left standing at the end of the day. Special note to anyone not in evidence on the photo - your pay shall be docked accordingly. The early get-aways were noted. Severe reprimands are in the post!!
PS Audrey provided the lunchtime flapjacks – excellent indeed.

Jan

Wednesday 17 April 2013

Millennium Green riverside path, Pateley Bridge: 16-04-2013

Today’s task was a return visit to continue work along the path from Pateley Bridge to Millennium Bridge, originally begun in the middle of  January this year. Again it was a joint venture led by Catherine Smith- the NYCC area ranger, (with 2 stalwart NY countryside volunteers, Chris and Roger, in tow), plus Paul, our own “Main Man” and 11 of his “merry men”- and women!!

We had much to celebrate today: beautiful warm sunshine despite the blustery wind; Chris Seaman’s birthday, plus birthday cake (!); chocolate brownies (!) provided by Ranger Catherine as our treat for lunch time; and many of us finally took possession of our new and very smart uniforms, which Paul had collected from the Barn. These made us look like very official Nidderdale volunteers. Wow, all this and a day’s work in a very pretty riverside setting. What more could we want!
Ros K models the new uniform as
she struts along the catwalk.
We divided up into 2 groups - the larger group preparing the sides and surface of the path for the hardcore; the smaller group were to load hardcore into wheelbarrows and trundle each of these down to the prepared area. 
The A team gets busy with the shovels
and the barrows.
At first it was difficult to co-ordinate timings. Digging the trenches to insert the wooden planking which would contain the hardcore on the surface of the path was arduous, and took longer than merely filling barrows, although this required some muscle too. 
Skilled and dedicated operatives
hard at work on the path.

The barrow-loads of hardcore start to back
up along the path. The A team is winning!

 
Skilled and dedicated coffee drinkers hard at rest on the path. 
First facing one way and then the other, they followed the sun.

Finally things started to come together, and it was time for Chris, (how did HE get that job again?!), to drive the Wacking Plate machine over the newly raked hardcore surface to spread it and flatten it down (see below).
The wacky wacker wacks his way
along the newly laid hardcore.
Catherine soon had to go to get some more planking so we could make our way ever onwards towards Millennium Bridge. This was apparently a scary option in the wind as the planks blew about dangerously in the pick up truck, despite being tethered securely.
More panels arriving - no more
standing around waiting is allowed!
By 3.15pm we had made a considerable impact on improving the path. We packed up the tools feeling pleased and proud of our efforts, knowing that we are returning next week to complete the remaining section of the path.
Work so far....

Ros (K)

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Willow Spiling at Azerley: 9-04-2013


Today nine conservation volunteers – including “new boy” Terry - met Paul at Azerley, near Kirkby Malzeard, to do a day of “willow spiling.” No, we didn’t know what it was either, but we knew it was something to do with the River Laver. There was a fair walk to get to the work site from the parking area before the true action could begin, but luckily the equipment had already been deposited in situ and did not need carrying.
Willow in place and ready to spile.
We had a tutor for the day - Daniel Turner, project officer from the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust. He was very helpful in explaining everything and had provided the willow in large quantities.The basic aim was to strengthen the river banks to prevent further erosion. Willow is used for this task because if you push a live willow branch into the ground (thick end down!) amazingly it starts to grow again.

Firstly we needed fence posts erecting along the edge of the river and this was done by a nifty post knocker attached to a digger.
Post knocker in action.
Secondly, waders were needed by most people who had to stand in the water near the bank and weave the willow branches in and out of the posts to make a solid fence, remembering to push some pieces into the bank before weaving. At the same time, those who did not fancy paddling had to keep providing new piles of willow for the weavers. “Some more long pieces needed here, please” was a frequent request.
Chris G. demonstrates how not to
wear chest waders. Or is it a giant who
has had his middle section removed?!


The wader clad NCVs lower themselves
 into the river and make their way
along the bank to start spiling.
Angela feeds the willow hungry spilers
with a constant stream of willow wands.

Within a short time a very professional
looking fence started to take shape.
NCVs brave the swirling depths.
Thirdly someone stood on the fence to squash it down a bit and when it had reached the necessary height, a length of wire was woven through to secure the top from damage.

Chris S. stands on top of the
willow fence to force the willow
 wands into a solid hurdle.
Finally the digger took the edge off the top of the bank behind the fence and squashed the loose soil down so there were no gaps left. This could have resulted in a big mess without the skill of our digger driver.

Final touches being added - some spare willow
wands were inserted vertically in the soil.
Part way through the morning the gamekeeper/forester for the Azerley estate, Kevin Birch, came to join us and, with everyone chipping in, we completed everything just after lunch for an early finish.


The finished product! (See update below)
Were we disappointed that nobody fell in? Maybe.

Thanks Dan and Kevin for an enjoyable task, for your cheerful appreciation and for new skills learned. It will be good if in a few months time, we can see the willow regenerating and holding the bank firm. For anyone interested in more willow spiling, Dan’s email address is dan.ydrt@yahoo.co.uk

Angela

Editor's note - 1/07/13 - I have just been sent the photograph below showing the river bank just 3 months later. It is amazing how the willow wands have taken root and grown....

Thursday 4 April 2013

Walling preparation work at Markenfield Hall: 02-04-2013


Today’s task was at Markenfield Hall, a beautiful 14th Century moated manor house (a very far cry from your average semi) and a superb place to go to work. 


Our job for the day was to clear an area close to the pale wall which dates from the 1300s and has been declared an Ancient Monument. We had to ensure that we did not disturb the foundations or any other part of the wall which was still standing. This would then give the experts a chance to have a good look at it and to take photos before the partial dismantling and rebuilding to be done by Chris’s hard-working team of Wednesday wallers. The section they have already rebuilt is very impressive (see below).


(A pale is an area enclosed within a boundary which keeps out unwanted people or stock – hence the phrase “beyond the pale” referring to unwelcome people or those with unacceptable manners. This doesn’t, of course, apply to NCVs; we all have beautiful manners).

Eight of us turned up to join estate worker Bob, complete with his dumper truck. Of course Paul was there to supervise us. 


We spent the morning clearing scrub, ancient tree trunks and old barbed wire near the wall. The jeep proved invaluable for pulling out roots and wire and gave Paul some practice in clutch control. Then we had lunch, with Audrey’s flapjacks, in the under-croft of the manor, without any question the most remarkable lunchtime site in which we’ve been lucky enough to eat.


The afternoon was a bit more demanding on the back muscles, digging out the stones that had gone subterranean and sorting them, and those on the surface, into regimented lines ready for the building process. A good day’s work.


Next week willow spiling, and already the mind whimpers at the thought of the appalling puns that are certain to be introduced by the tortuous brains of members of the group.

Footnote: try to go to the Hall when it opens its doors to the public – not to be missed!

Tony