On a day full of autumn promise, (sun and beautiful colours), we arrived at the car park as the early morning mist was beginning to clear, although it was still lingering in the valley below.13 volunteers picked up their chosen tools for the day and those with wellies went to do battle with the cascades. The others took loppers, saws and spades and set off to continue the "debramblisation" of footpath edges and the removal of overhanging vegetation. Spades were taken to ensure that blocked culverts could be cleared to improve the drainage of the paths.
Today we also welcomed 3 more of our new students from Nidderdale High School, Josh, Jack and Luke, who will come out with us this year as part of their Heritage Skills course.
"With a snip snip here and a snip snip there.
Here a lop, there a lop, everywhere a lop lop.
NCVs are in the wood, E I E I O"
Hmmm. Something tells me that some NCVs
were sidetracked from their task!
Having all gone our separate ways for the morning we met up for lunch at Alum Spring. Audrey, bless her, had sent us some of her delicious flap jack to share out. We also received our loveliest compliment of the year from Tom, our newest NCV recruit, to say the group is "everything he'd hoped for". What a nice guy he is! He then produced a bottle of his home-made cider for everyone to try - what a really lovely guy he is! The cider went down a treat too, despite being made from apples from Herefordshire.
Kent's seat is put to good use for dining 'Al Fresco'
All the late arrivals have to sit in less salubrious conditions.
Jo checks her emails while she eats.
Tasks were resumed after lunch, some of us (by coincidence) ending up near the Fountain pond, which was by now in full sun - well at our age we need our Vitamin D! It was at this point that a few of us entered into an "interesting rapport" with some strangers in the folly high above us, beginning with a series of what sounded like yodels. It was all most bizarre. After this encounter we trekked up the hill and back to the car park.
Laura the culvert clearer, happy in her work.
Anita, too, wants to join in the fun.
Can you spot the speckled wood butterfly?
Ros K.
Meanwhile - down in the valley bottom another team worked hard to remove silt, rocks and woody debris from the cascade. This is no easy feat. Jack and Luke get the prize for managing to shift two enormous pieces of log. One section of the steam is so steep sided there are few places to put the material that is removed from the stream bed. By close of play the whole stretch from the top mill pond to just below Alum Spring was cleared. It is just a shame that it won't be long before it all needs doing again. (The Forth Bridge springs to mind!)
Osian and Maggie shovel the silt from the cascade.
Now - can you find somewhere to put this big stick?
The last men (and woman) standing - but only just.
Tom's washing machine will be working overtime tonight!
Ros E.
Great work, everyone!
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