Hackfall Woods: 06-01-2015

19 NCVs, 3 Heritage Skills students and their tutors met Paul at Hackfall car park on a grey damp morning to keenly usher in a New Year of conservation work. With plenty of tasks to perform the group split into three, more or less.

The new look NCV hat from the 'Next' spring collection.

One group took the short minibus ride to a neighbouring farm from where gravel was slowly but steadily transported down the path to the Alum spring area by the expert trackbarrow drivers Graham and Sue from the Hackfall volunteers. The gravel sherpas, Phil and Osian, then transported it to the required muddy footpaths lower in the wood.

Trackbarrow  in action at 3 mph!

Tom and Ed work off the excess Christmas calories 

and load up the trackbarrow.

The sherpas do their gravel shifting job go good effect.

Having heard a rumour of work at Forty Foot falls Graham and Alistair returned from deepest Hackfall to join their group and set about cutting down elders, other plants and removing brambles from a cold windy bank at the top of the woods near the farm.

A third group tackled an area of damaged dry stone wall at the car park entrance before lopping pathside trees and heading deeper into Hackfall to lop and clear vegetation.

 I think that this bit goes there?

Indeed it did - the wall repair looks superb from all directions. 

A dedicated task force of ladies and Paul did a sterling job of bramble clearance at Fisher's Hall deep in the wood.

 Ladies - loppers at the ready please. The brambles await yet another cull.

The path to Fisher's Hall is now clear...

... and even the brash is nice and tidy.

Much appreciated comments and compliments from at least two groups of walkers and accompanying dogs were received on the volunteer's endeavours.

The weather improved to give a fine sunny windy day with a lunchtime rainbow, formation flying from the RAF and some discussion on Phil's proprietary-named, possibly out of date (?), chocolate.

The work continued into mid-afternoon whereupon tired but happy volunteers started the long walk up the hill to the car park.

Osian