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