Coppicing in Bryan's Wood once more: 07-01-2014

Today the task was coppicing in Bryan’s Wood, a continuation of work that was started by some of us before Christmas. A band of 13 volunteers met eagerly in the car park, ready and raring to get going again after the long Christmas lay off. Well, we had to find some way of toning those 'abs' from flabs, and losing a few pounds, in sweat and toil, that Christmas invariably brings with it; coppicing seemed to be the ideal solution.

Happy to be reunited once more we set off through the mud and streams (careful crossing required) - wellies needed today! So were waterproofs, as the heavy showers forecast showed their hand the minute we stepped out of the cars. January was rearing its ugly head already (see Tony K's excellent poem at the end of this blog). Mindful of our fitness, or lack of it, Anita decided we only needed to carry one tool each into the wood, as we could only use one tool at a time. This economy proved to be a brilliant strategy. Unladen we soon trudged through the water and mud to arrive in good shape at the coppicing area. “Hi ho hi ho, it’s off to work we go…..” (Well it is still the pantomime season - “Oh yes it is!”)

Right Angela - that's one down. Just another 9999 to go.

Paul was still on holiday, also Tony K could not be with us today and he is our 'Bryan’s Wood Expert'. Leaderless we were just a tad worried initially that we might be attacking the wrong hazels. We eventually had our minds put at rest by a short phone call and the lopping, sawing and creating of habitat piles got under-way. 

Whilst Hannah checks the quality of Chris's brash pile 

Julia trains hazel sticks to jump over her arm.

And what beautiful habitat piles they were, lovingly created for the insects and small mammals that live in the area - quite palatial dwellings.

For sale - a new Wimpy development - three highly desirable invertebrate dwellings. Deceptively spacious, all mod cons, easy commute into Harrogate. 

Offers over £100,000 invited

The NCVs encircle the coppice and the hazel trees stand no chance whatsoever.

By 1:30 pm - after a lunch break where a few folk were still breaking into previously uneaten Christmas cakes - the lopping and sawing was complete. 

Right - that's the unwanted trees cut down. Now we just need to do a bit of clearing up.

The work now concentrated on clearing the cut wood to finish off the habitat palaces. By 2:30 pm the work was done. We gathered up the tools and looked with great satisfaction at what we had achieved. Another brilliant day of hard work, fun and team work was over.

What a difference a day makes - the job is done.

Ros (K)

Editor's note - Tony K has written the following poem to mark the end of the NCVs' year in December.....

2013:  A year in the life of the NCVs

In Nidderdale the volunteers have had a busy year

We started off in January full of zest and cheer

We coppiced Kirkby Malzeard and we foot-pathed by the Nidd

And in the winter’s mud and slush we slithered and we slid.

The weather wasn’t always kind, the spring brought lots of rain

But then the weather brightened and the sun came out again.

It didn’t really matter though, we NCVs are tough,

We  carried on regardless even when we’d had enough.

This year we’ve had some training in the art of laying hedges

And another course identifying flowers, grass and sedges.

Photography, and dragonflies, and GPS induction

Have increased our skills and knowledge through some excellent instruction.

The areas we’ve worked in have been local and remote.

We’ve willow-spiled the Laver among other things of note.

We’ve cleaned the barn and washed the spades and sorted all the tools,

We’ve helped the wallers walling and we’ve worked in different schools.

At boundaries we’re expert so at Clifton we’ve laid hedges.

At Sparrowhawk and Kettlesing we’ve tidied up field edges

Building slightly wonky fencing, this, despite advice from Jan

Who’s our principal perfectionist, a very hepful man.

For anything to do with trees or hedges we’ve got Dave

And Hannah who are experts, and they’ve taught us how to save

The trees at forty-five degrees that just won’t stand up straight

With all that wind near Old Spring Wood they’re really in a state.

Then Hannah cooked our lunches in the Village Hall at Clifton,

Which helped us in the afternoons to really get a shift on.

It’s strange, we’ve noticed in the past that when we’re offered lunch

That the turn out of the volunteers will draw a bigger bunch.

We’re always quite delighted when the season comes around

And it’s time for bashing bracken, pulling balsam, to the sound

Of cheerful working volunteers all singing songs of praise

As the blisters on their fingers burst, the happiest of days!

In December digging ponds became the highlight of the year.

The waders weren’t by Hugo Boss but were essential gear.

So all of us got filthy it was hell to get us clean

No, that’s not right, who didn’t need a hose down? That was Dean. 

We’ve coppiced hazel, thistle-pulled with gloves the thorns went through.

We’ve often worked at Hackfall where there’s always jobs to do.

To Paul we’ve been obedient, but to Ros we bow and scrape

When she tells us we must write the blog, from which there’s no escape.

We’ve eaten cake and flapjacks, and some sandwiches and chips.

We’ve told some dubious stories and exchanged some jokes and quips.

We’ve had a lot of laughs although the puns we’ve heard were fearful

And now it’s time to stop because I’m sure you’ve had an earful.

PS

2014

Wind and sleet and hail and rain;

Bloody January again!