Fencing at Sparrow Hawk Farm: 21-05-2013

Three groups of trees, which had been donated by Friends of Nidderdale and planted by Open Country for Kit and Megan at Sparrow Hawk Farm, were in need of  stock proof fencing and this was our task of the day, or two, or three!

The day began for the nine volunteers with a gentle climb up the hill to Sparrow Hawk Farm to loosen our muscles and prepare us for the day’s work out.   Paul took his little car loaded down with all the tools we would need, but unfortunately the posts, wire netting and barbed wire were not able to be delivered so off Paul went to load up his poor car with yet more materials.  In the meantime the site was measured out and work began on digging the holes for the straining posts.  

Once the posts arrived they were carefully positioned equal distances apart, but without a long piece of string it was difficult to agree on the line.  The boys seemed to see a different line to the girls – we knew we were right (the girls that is) and we (the girls) set to with the post knocker knocking them into place to the required height.  All good exercise for the abs although someone did say theirs were absent!   Too many innuendos around knockers and best not put in print!

Right girls - let's just get on with it. This is
definitely the right line for the posts.
(Julia volunteers to do the hardest job - holding the measuring stick .)

 

Turn and turn about ensures no-one gets too tired.

And straight the line was -
- right down the field. How simple it all looks. 

With the posts in place a well-earned lunch was taken in the sun overlooking the valley beneath – a magnificent view to Coldstones Cut.  The cuckoo could be heard calling for a mate and a large juicy slug ambled onto our picnic site.  A discussion began as to how this tasty morsel could best be enjoyed – with a pinch of salt, a little tomato ketchup on the side or, since it is a snail without a shell, maybe with a drizzle of garlic butter!  Such intellectual conversations abound when you are out with the NCVs!

Back to work and with much scratching of heads we had to work out how to use the wire straining piece of equipment (henceforth referred to as the 'thingy').  It looked as though it had come from a medieval torture chamber,  with bars, chains, ratchets and screws, but with the help of 'The BCTV Practical Guide to Fencing' the job was a piece of cake. Checking we had the netting the right way up, small lamb proof holes at the bottom and large holes at the top, we attached it to the straining post at one end and the 'thingy' at the other.  A few pulls on the lever and hey presto the netting tensed up like magic.  

Anita and Will attach the wire to the posts.

Tony shows off his ability to multi-task:
pulling the lever on the  'thingy'
whilst  practising his  yoga  (warrior position 14)

Quickly it was stapled into place and then all that was left to do was attach the barbed wire above it.  The wire straining tool proved less useful here as the barbs tended to snag on the posts, but Tony came to the rescue and the end result looks very impressive.

Just how impressive is that!

50+ metres down and only another 200 to go.  With a number of our volunteers taking holidays or attending the Lime Mortaring Course next week we may be some time.   Megan mentioned cake for next week - now, there's an incentive to come and help.

Anita