Return to Hackfall - for work and a lunch!! 12-01-2016

Today was a special day - just a morning's work in Hackfall woods, carrying out maintenance on the footpath down to the Rustic Temple by Fountains pond. (Click HERE to find out more about this particular folly.) 

The reason for the part-time nature of the job was that the NCVs were invited to join Tom Ramsden and Alison Brayshaw, of The Hackfall Trust, at the Black Sheep Bistro in Masham for lunch. This was a 'thank you' for all the work we have done in the woods in recent years. How nice was that? Mind you - I did wonder quite what state we would all arrive in after a morning's work sliding around on the muddy paths.

In the event 25 NCVs managed, not only to achieve a good deal in terms of path maintenance, but also turn up looking reasonably clean and tidy for our treat. Photos of the day can be seen below.

Thanks Tom and Alison - we really appreciated your generous offer. Thanks also to the Black Sheep Bistro - the food was delicious and we strongly recommend it to all our readers.

Ros E.

The NCVs arrived - eager to start work (and for their treat!)

Alistair practised for his up-coming audition 
for the Snow White and the 7 dwarves pantomime.

Hey ho, hey ho. It's off to work we go.

Everyone spread out along the path and started 
to cut back the encroaching mud and vegetation.

Down and down we went.

NCVs leapfrogged over each other as they moved 
on to the next section of path, leaving 
behind a nice, wide footpath

Work was progressing so well that Jan felt he could 

take an early coffee break.

Laura moved away a small tree that was obstructing the path.

 The Rustic temple and pond were the points to aim for.

Everyone started to pile up at the bottom of the hill 

as the end of the path was reached.

Osian's shiny new Christmas wellies were soon muddied up...

...but a quick dip in the stream at the bottom restored them 
to their former glory. 

(Now all he needed to do was walk back to the CP without touching the ground!)

Ros K. also sported new wellies. Black?

No, definitely not. A shocking pink - to make the boys wink.

(At least she will be easy to find in all the mud! Apparently there were reports from overhead satellites to the MOD of a UWO (unidentified walking object) in the Hackfall area.)

The NCVs enjoyed their lunch*. 

After that feast there was no way anyone was walking back 
down into the woods to wield a spade!

(* cottage pie, macaroni cheese or vegetarian curry followed 
by apple crumble and custard. Yum!)