Bracken bashing at Guisecliff and Bryan's Wood: 29th and 30th June 2015

This week was a week of bracken bashing in two different venues on two days.....

Monday morning at Guisecliff

This mornings' task was to ensure that the rocks that feature as the main attractions for the Nidderdale AONB's Rock Art walk, planned for the 12th July, are able to be seen by the visiting public. The bracken that grows in abundance in that area of Guisecliff Wood needed to be beaten back to reveal the interesting cup and ring patterns that were carved into the rocks so long ago. Luckily the weather was warm and dry for the 5 NCVs who joined Paul to thrash the encroaching vegetation back.

Rocks? What rocks?

 
Oh - those rocks! The NCvs are impressed 

as the historical graffiti is revealed. 

Tuesday at Bryan's Wood

On what promised to be one of the hottest days of the year so far 10 NCVs met at Bryan's Wood for yet more bracken bashing. It was good to welcome Tony K. back to the ranks. We were also joined by Chloe - a 6th former on placement with the AONB. She had decided that today she would find out all about bracken bashing. Well - this was certainly a good day to do that. As expected, the area that we have been bashing on an annual basis for a number of years now was, yet again, thick with bracken. When will it get the message? 

The bracken waved merrily at us in 

the sunlit glade, as strong as ever.

We all set to with sticks and slashers, smiting the strong, tall shoots (and the growing population of midges that decided to feast on our blood). We all got very warm indeed and enjoyed our coffee and lunch breaks.

Bashers busy bashing the bracken - 
slowly the shed starts to re-appear.

At last - a bit of a rest.

Slowly we seemed to make an impact -  
we found the shed and managed to avoid the foxgloves.

By 2pm we didn't have another bash in us and left any remaining bracken for another time. Who knows - we may return next year to find that it has completely disappeared. Chance would be a fine thing!

Footnote

On Monday afternoon the Heritage Skills students invited Paul and Ros E. to attend the opening ceremony of the school garden they have created from a piece of wasteland in the school grounds, where an old outdoor classroom building used to stand. They have worked hard and created a really lovely area for younger students to enjoy in the future. It is good to see that some of the skills they picked up whilst out on a Tuesday with the NCVs have been put to good use.

 

Ros E.

Wildflower ID training and tree tube checking at Longside Farm: 23-06-2015

Today was another day when there was more than one activity taking place....

The task at Longside Farm:

7 NCVs joined Paul up beyond Ramsgill to once more scale the heights of the new tree plantation at Longside Farm. Instead of planting trees we had to:

• peer down each tube to see if there was a live tree inside. If not then the tube and post had to be removed. If there was then we checked that the tube was vertical and solid. The posts of those that had keeled over in the strong winds had to be banged in further or even removed and re-positioned.
• bash the bracken that had started to grow up in some areas of the site and would overwhelm the young saplings, if left to its own devices.

As usual on this site we had to pretend to be mountain goats - difficult on a surface that consists mainly of dry dust or stones and is strewn with old conifer debris.

The task begins at the very top of the hill.

The view is excellent - unlike the conditions underfoot!

Jan looks in vain for a clear path to descend.

Osian, Karl and Tom find a bit of 

flat ground at the end of the day.

Lunch was the highlight of the day with not just one, but two choices of cake, baked by the two heritage skills students, Karl and Tom. They are fine bakers indeed and the rest of the NCVs that were busy elsewhere missed a culinary treat. It was the students' last day out with the group - we will miss them and wish them all the best for the future.

The NCVs at rest

Karl and Tom enjoy their last lunch as NCVs, 

Tom in his nest of branches.....

.... and Karl in the softer seating option.

We were pleased to see that the majority of the trees we had planted were flourishing.

Ros E.

Wildflower ID training: 

Thirteen eager botanists joined Marian Wilby and Graham Megson on a delightful day of discovery.   The first hour was spent in the classroom reminding us of the different parts of a plant and their function.  With this information under our belts and a vast array of flower books (and even a very useful phone app) under our arms, we headed for Scarhouse Lane to test our knowledge.  

Paul Harris joined us here to continue his project for Nidderdale Landscape Partnership, taking photos of us peering into the undergrowth.   I don’t think any of us envisaged finding so many different flowers in such a small area and it took a great deal of discussion, and our combined wisdom, to identify a staggering sixty plus flowers (and that didn’t include the grasses!)    

We kept to the common names; so many named after animals (mouse-ear, hog weed, foxglove, goose grass, sow thistle, cat’s ear, cow parsley, dog’s mercury and pignut).   There were sweet smelling leaves of sweet cicely and meadowsweet and the pungent aroma of figwort, ransoms and garlic mustard.  There were the beautiful flowers of pink purslane and melancholy thistle and not forgetting Veronica beccabunga who was squeezed into conversation at any appropriate time.  

The day flew by and we had to be dragged away at 4 o’clock.  Thank you Marian.

Anita

Bracken Bashing in Old Spring Wood: 16-06-2015

The start of the bracken bashing season was marked by twelve keen NCVs, one heritage skills student and his tutor preparing for a session of arm swinging action on a warm sunny day. After a quick briefing the team bravely set off into deepest Old Spring Wood near Summerbridge. 

Having lost two volunteers to the early temptation of some bracken just off the footpath the rest of the NCVs snaked on in search of the bracken Holy Grail. Armed with hazel batons and slashers the volunteers asked where the bracken was, a testimony to previous years successful bashing. But, as sure as day follows night, copious amounts of young bracken shoots appeared for the team to get stuck into.

The bracken area was finally reached - a major task lay ahead.

The morning’s bashing was productive with three areas targeted by the NCVs. Fortunately most of the bluebells that had been flowering just two weeks earlier were well in retreat and will survive to flourish another year.

After a relaxing lunch in the shade of the woodland trees the team was re-energised to tackle seemingly larger areas of bracken. Hidden in the bracken were significant amounts of ferns testing the identification skills of the bashers.

The team stop bashing and start eating

Both Jan and Andi give their feet an airing during the lunch break

 
By around 2.30pm the bracken bashers had tackled a large area and headed home in the knowledge that round two of bracken bashing at Old Spring Wood beckons in July.

Osian

Training day for grassland ecology and lime mortar: 09-06-2015

Two things to report on today......

At the Council Chambers 10 NCVs attended training, alongside 3 AONB office staff, for 'Grassland Ecology  and Identification', with Judith Allinson from the Malham Tarn field centre. Part of the day was spent in the classroom and part in the churchyard opposite, where we really started to understand how to identify the grasses. We all learned a great deal and enjoyed the practical work. This session was particularly useful to those of us involved in AONB surveying projects such as the ongoing hay meadow and roadside verge surveys. Thanks to Judith for making the session interesting and informative. 

Inside everyone is hard at work with magnifying glasses.

Ruth despairs - is this rough or 

smooth meadow grass?!

The grasses get stuck on the right page 

under the right name - we hope!

Out in the churchyard everyone finds as many different

grasses as they can and gets busy finding out what they are.

Has yours got whiskery auricles? Mine has.

Judith helps the two Daves to tell the difference 

between their specimens.

The highlight of the day, it has to be said, was Dave L's demonstration of the structure of a grass flower, using the model that Judith had cleverly constructed with cardboard, pipe cleaners, polystyrene and fluffy fabric. He started confidently, naming the outer elements, but came unstuck on the innards which, when he removed them, bore a striking resemblance to a dead chicken.

For those who attended the session the book reference was:
Atherden, M. & Sykes, N. 'Wild Flowers on the Edge' - PLACE 
ISBN 978-1-906604-40-0
It can be ordered online for £9.99 from YPD books.

Ros E.

Whilst this was happening a different kind of training was going on in Fishpond Wood. Here 3 NCVs joined the 3 Heritage Skills students and Alan, the historic buildings surveyor, to learn about lime mortar. Jan reports.....

A great course indeed! It started with an introduction to the lime cycle (see below).

Alan explained the importance of lime mortars in traditional buildings – for example 80% of moisture in stone or Victorian brick is released through the mortar mix. The effective release of moisture is important in keeping the building dry. He also explained lime washes and showed how easy it is to prepare a lime mortar mix (see video link http://youtu.be/eAAQqvqUdE0.) However, the mix, known as a Natural Hydraulic Lime, also comes in a tub. As long as the mix is submerged in water the shelf life is indefinite.

  

The NCVs make some of the lime mortar by hand 

and use some pre-made mortar from mature lime putty.

After lunch we split into two groups. Andy and her charges tackled the stone walling around the gated entrance to the Fishpond nearest to the barn. Osian, Judith and myself were assigned to point the stone walling near the gated entrance off Peat Lane (near the farm).

The work on the ice house had been completed earlier by the stone mason.

Jan uses a zealous approach to cleaning 

the wall and steps in readiness.

The wall before..... 

..... and after the work is done. Jan is very proud of his efforts.

The students managed this section at the other 

end of the wood. Very professional work!

Here the mortar was going off too quickly 

so Judith had to bash it into place with a stiff brush.

Jan

Fishpond Wood visit - the final frontier: 02-06-2015

Twelve NCVs and Paul met at the barn to brave the forecast inclement weather for the final leg of the Fishpond Wood ice-house path work. First duty of the day was for Paul to confirm numbers for the lunchtime barbeque to the Fishpond Wood owner, Dr Peter Brambleby.

With the prospect of a rented trackbarrow and human powered wheelbarrows the group split into several factions:

1. The gravel shovellers.
2. The wheelbarrow pushers staged throughout the wood
3. The gravel layers spreading gravel from the lake to the icehouse
4. Part time loppers

The NCV patented relay system of wheelbarrow pushers soon hit their stride shuttling gravel along the path passing the poor trackbarrow drivers who had the unenviable task of cajoling the world’s slowest trackbarrow.

We were also joined by someone filming our work on behalf of Upper Nidderdale Landscape Partnership. Look out for your favourite NCV stars on a computer screen soon!

The trackbarrow makes its way through the woods... 

....and Dave awaits in eager anticipation, with his rake at the ready.

Angela gives some overhanging rhodies a short back and sides 

while Colin wheels merrily by with his wheelbarrow..

Colin sets up a toll booth on his new steps, raising funds 

from some passing walkers.

As the morning work progressed NCV team members noted the quad bike and trailer shuttles with barbequing equipment. As lunch was called a prompt mass lay down of tools saw NCVs homing in on the barbeque location.

We have to thank Peter Brambleby for an excellent lunchtime feast of sausages, kebabs, burgers, fruit, marshmallows and fine fruit cordials all under the shelter of trees and the gazebo at the edge of the wood overlooking Nidderdale. This allowed for a great view of the dale and its passing showers without the soaking. We also thank Jo for generously bringing fresh strawberries, perfectly cooked meringues and whipped cream to top off the lunch.

BBQ time in the woods - fine dining indeed.

The NCVs down tools ready for the BBQ.

 The ladies admire the wonderful views....

...while Peter slaves over hot griddles.
Thanks Peter!

After lunch path laying productivity continued apace and another 8 tonnes of gravel had been laid by the end of the day.

Osian