Six volunteers arrived at the Barn for two tasks – nest box
making for members of the public or bracken bashing at Guisecliff. Sadly, no one volunteered to join Osian and the bracken so he
set off on a lonely walk up the hill, still cheerful and smiling.
The five who stayed swept the floor, cleared space for the
work and prepared the tools and timber, Soon after 10am the first two people
arrived, mother and son, both wanting a box for their garden in Harrogate where
they already get blue tits. Then we were joined by Mary Jones from the AONB office with
her sister and two children, all four eager box makers. The two children put on
an impressive display of confidence and ability and handled power tools with
precision and strength of arm. Standing on the table was essential to gain
enough downward pressure to operate powered drills and screwdrivers, but they
weren’t deterred.
Colin holds tight whilst he gets a lesson in how to use a power drill.
On the table for this one....
...although the floor can be just as good.
When the boxes were almost complete rubber strips had to be hammered on to act as hinges for the roof, then wiring attached to the box to hold the roof closed. The result? A watertight and strongly constructed box which should entice any right-minded bird to take up residence next spring.
The grown ups got busy too.
Thanks to Angela, Anita, Colin and Graham for their help, but particularly to the six apprentice box makers who were able to walk away with a nest box and a certificate of achievement.
Now - that one deserves a certificate.
In fact - they all do!
Meanwhile - up on the hillside....
My task was to tackle (for the second time) the rampant bracken growing around and over the Cup and Ring marked rocks in Guisecliff Wood. Hot on the heels of a bank holiday weekend only one NCV turned out for this particular fight in the glorious weather.
Paths were cleared through the bracken and the stones were freed from their bracken prison. You can't really spin out a solo bracken bashing effort so this week is a short blog!!
Osian
Some photos from this lonely venture....
The path up to the rocks was long and hard...
...but the view from the top worth the climb.
What a pity there was no-one to admire it with!
Into the bracken goes Osian...
..where he does a remarkable job for one so alone....
....apart from this friendly toadstool that kept him company!
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