Nidderdale Conservation Volunteers' Blog: A week of many tasks: 04 & 05-08-2014

This week there were a number of different tasks for the NCVs to do over two days.......

Monday - Emergency Himalayan Balsam pulling at Dallowgill

Eight NCVs joined Paul at 1:30pm to help rid the wetland area created a few years ago of this troublesome species.
High points of the afternoon included: working in beautiful sunshine, surrounded by spectacular views (we could see as far as York minster); having an afternoon of interesting and amusing conversation; knowing that you were doing a job for the environment (though I'm not sure that the bees agreed!)

The pond dug about seven years ago by

the NCVs (with the help of a digger!)

The NCVs get started eradicating the weed.

At 3pm everything stops for tea.

Low points of the task:

realising that what initially looked like a manageable area that could soon be cleared was not that at all. Much of the balsam was hidden by the high clumps of reed.
experiencing regular eye piercing as you bent over to pick the smaller plants (reeds are very, very sharp).
wading through thickets of thistle and nettle in order to reach the balsam. (Paul suffered greatly here in his shorts!)

Jan and John haul the balsam away.

Joanne can't believe the progress made.

Ros E jumps on the piles just to make sure they don't regenerate.

"Begone pesky weed."

But the NCVs are made of stern stuff and coped with all of this very good naturedly, working through until 5pm.

And there it was - gone!

Ros E.

Tuesday - a day of two teams.

Team A worked at the barn.....

Today’s task sounded very exciting and a welcome change from bashing bracken and pulling balsam.

Ten volunteers met at our HQ and some were dispatched to clear the land around the barn which was overgrown; the rest waited eagerly for instructions to build an earth oven. The instructions supplied by Paul consisted of a small picture in the “Visit Nidderdale” brochure. There then followed a very lengthy planning meeting as to how to proceed. It was a very difficult task to agree which of the many suggestions should be adopted. A start was finally made laying the base and, with Jan insisting on tolerances of no more than 2 microns, it was a great challenge!

Step No. 1 - lay a straight line of sand.

Colin checks it for straightness.

And they're off - the beams start getting moved into position.

Should the baulks of timber be flat or vertical? Should they overlap or be cut to size? By now it was coffee time.

Jan keeps his beady eye on the proceedings

as the box slowly starts to materialise.

Having got the base laid to Jan’s satisfaction our leader decided it was too big! Lengthy discussions followed and Paul conceded it was fine.

Hello - is there anyone down there?

Anita starts to check the angles are right - she is not impressed.

Now that's more like it. This one is just right.

Work continued apace and our colleagues, originally tasked with clearing, started delivering tons of stones to fill in the large container we had created.

The stone gatherers start gathering.

Over the wall they go - straight into the waiting barrow.....

..... and then into the oven base.

This common newt was saved from being crushed by a large stone.

At the end of the first day everyone was very pleased with the progress - it looked better than the picture. Jan chamfered the edges and declared he was happy.

And there you have it - an almost complete bread oven base.

Next week we will complete the base in readiness for week 3 when an “expert” oven maker will show us how to finish the oven. Can’t wait for that first pizza.

Terry

Meanwhile....team B went to Pyefield and East Woods Farms

Three NCVs started the day pulling Himalayan Balsam that had appeared around the new pond we had created last year at Pyefield farm. What more is there to say? We came; we saw; we pulled balsam. Photographic evidence can be seen below.....

The job ahead.

(Note the level of the pond water - it is an indication of how dry the summer has been. However, there were lots of insects enjoying the damp conditions)

Gill gets busy with the balsam.

Some of the plants were ENORMOUS.

Morning coffee and goodies allowed a welcome break in the shade.

3 hours later - job's done.

After this task was complete we moved up to East Woods Farm in order to meet Paul and help him clear a tree that had come down over a wall. This was to help the walling group in their important task of protecting two cup and ring marked stones that have been discovered within the foundations of the wall. Apparently cattle have found a way through and the marks are in danger of being worn away. Again - the evidence can be seen below....