Scott Gate Ash Path and other things: 01-04-2014

Here we are again, but where is everyone? Only 7 NCVs plus Paul and Catherine were on site at Scott Gate Ash. Angela was at the barn cleaning and marking our new and used tools with NCV’s signature green paint, an important job so that we can keep track of all our equipment. Tony and “The Boss” had slumped off to Bryan’s Wood with some story about a tree!  More about that later.

Meanwhile, back at Scott Gate it was the now familiar trudge up the steep and slippery slope to the very top where a truck load of gravel awaited us.  

Without much ado we took up our buckets and spades and began the task of spreading the gravel on the muddy path.  What a difference, no longer were we sliding down the hill; we now had the making of a good surface to walk on.  Catherine had brought along a length of pipe which we had hoped to shoot the gravel down, but alas it was not to be; more gradient was required.  So back to plan “A”.  

Ruth awaits the first delivery with baited breath, but 

the excellent gravel chute idea fails miserably.

The chain gang swiftly passed buckets of gravel down to Ruth to spread. Fleeces were shed in the warm sunshine and, amazingly, within 45 minutes we had emptied the truck of a ton of gravel.

Down comes the gravel in buckets - a heavy task.

Ruth gets busy with the rake.

While Catherine set off for a refill we were forced to take a break and build up our strength with flapjack and drinks.

The second truck load took rather longer to empty as the journey with the buckets was lengthening and they seemed to be getting heavier.  My arms are definitely longer!  After half a truck load lunch was declared.  And what a pleasant lunch it was; basking in the sunshine, listening to the birds and bees, conversation around wine and beer and eating lovely cake. (Thank you Catherine).

The team bask in the sunshine ...

... whilst nearby a bee-fly 'Bombylius major' got ready to grab a lift in a bucket.

What a treat!

After lunch we all agreed that we should empty the truck and then call it a day.  Another ton would be a ton too many!

 Back to work, fuelled by the cake.
Catherine and Julia went up the hill to fetch a pail of gravel.

Terry fills buckets quicker than the bucket carrying NCVs can empty them.

The path slowly but surely gets covered by gravel.

The gravelling team did a grand job.

Meanwhile - in Bryans Wood.......

Two more NCVs were kept busy dealing with the aftermath of a fallen beech tree, two large trunks of which had taken up residence in the field next to the wood. We needed to remove as many of the tree branches as we possibly could and put them on the right side of the wall. We developed a system by which Tony worked to put a continuing stream of brash into the wood and I worked to move it into a brash pile. I felt like King Canute trying to turn back the tide. It was relentless. Luckily for us there was a cake delivery from the Scott Gate crew at 3pm when Paul arrived to assess the situation. There was still a long way to go by the time we quit working at 4pm. A man with a chain saw is needed!

How the mighty are fallen. A sad sight indeed.

The remaining pieces of tree are likely to fall soon.

A sea of wood to be cleared in every direction.

Tony got busy in the field cutting ...

 ... and throwing the pieces over the wall.

Ros tried to keep up, cutting and stacking.

Would a dormer window in this insect home be against planning regulations?

Things were starting to look a lot better by the end of the day.

Whilst all of this was going on Angela was beavering away down in the NCVs' barn, putting the equipment onto the new shelves that Jan and Casper made last week. How tidy it all looks now.

Everything in its place.

Ros E.