This week we left Hackfall Woods to its own devices in favour of further rhododendron removal and work on the old ice house in Fishpond Wood at Bewerley. Ten NCVs joined Paul and the Heritage Skills team on a cold but sunny morning and set off with three wheelbarrow loads of tools. Everyone split into three groups and got busy with their allotted tasks.
Teams 1 and 2 worked down by the lake on either end of the remaining stretch of rhodies, lopping, sawing and brash piling throughout the day. We are starting to win the battle - there is an end in sight. Two more weeks should see the lake side clear. Hurray!
Terry and Alistair get started clearing the almost impenetrable thicket.
Paul gets called on to help out with his chain saw.
Terry pulls the sawn rhodies out of the way....
...and passes them to the rest of the gang who get busy with the loppers.....
....before cramming the curly stems into the brash piles.
By the end of the day the result of the NCV's labour is clear for all to see at both ends of the path.
An impressive wall of brash was constructed
alongside the path at the far side of the work area .....
....and a lakeside edge, clear of rhodies, appeared at the other.
Meanwhile team 3 worked up on the hillside clearing the vegetation that had overgrown the old ice house. This is in preparation for the restoration work to be carried out as part of the Upper Nidderdale Landscape Partnership project. They also staked out the line of the footpath that is to be created to allow visitors to the wood access to this historical building.
There is an ice house somewhere under here.
Oh yes. There it is - all nicely exposed....
.... thanks to the efforts of the Ice Queens.
Ros E.
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