Scrub clearance at Ellington Banks: 27-10-2015

In spite of the foggy, dank conditions this morning (see photographic proof below) no fewer than 18 NCVs turned up for duty on wildlife rich, Ministry of Defence land at Ellington Banks near Ripon, with MOD ecologist John Black.  

Not a poor photograph -

 just poor visibility!

The job for the day was to clear the encroaching scrub from around the ponds where Dragonflies and Great Crested Newts inhabit. Faithful readers of this blog will remember that this is a task that we have had to undertake before, around another of the ponds, during February of this year.

James introduced the task and made 

it clear that slacking was not an option.

 The nature of the task - where are the ponds?

There may be one somewhere here.

The team split up into different unions: loppers, sawers, draggers, fire lighters and fire feeders (although there was some cross union co-operation on a number of occasions). Many trees were felled and many thorns penetrated many fingers.

A fire was soon lit, by members of the NAFL,

in spite of the damp conditions...

... and Graham (NAFF) practised his caber tossing.

Tom (of the NUD) kept smiling throughout.

Ros K. and Anita (NAL&FF) were happy in their work too.

Osian (NUS) went into overdrive 

- especially when foreman James came over with the whip.

The going in some areas was what is known by the racing fraternity as 'Soft' (in the NCV fraternity we just call it 'Deep bog') and wellies were most definitely needed (and often got stuck). Those working near to the edge of the ponds had to keep tight hold of one another to ensure none were lost at sea.

Colin teetered on the brink.

Dave and Tom modelled this year's  Calvin Klein casuals collection 

whilst the rest of us lined the edge of the catwalk.

Nick and Laura (NUS) worked together on this tree stump.

(Click on the link below to see the video in action if it won't work directly.)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fznqs2hpiz89kn5/Ellington%20Banks%2027-10-2015-1.mp4?dl=0

By the end of the day the task was complete - the newts can now sleep in their watery beds secure in the knowledge that any winter sunshine will be able to keep their ponds a little warmer than they otherwise would have been under the scrubby covering.

Graham decided to take home a bull rush 

to fashion into a flower arrangement.

The ponds are now visible to the naked eye.

Ros E.