Dacre Banks Nature Park: 23-07-2016

OfVOL

Office for standards in volunteering (conservation division)

Making a positive difference to the environment

  

Task appraisal report
Date	26-07- 2016		OfVOL appraising officer	Ms Bea D’Eye
Volunteer group		Nidderdale AONB Conservations Volunteers (NCVs)
Task		Removal of an area of Himalayan balsam and weed trampling in the newly established Dacre Banks Nature Park.
Weather conditions		Warm and pleasant.
Judgements (Please refer to the criteria listed in the OfVOL appraisal manual, chapter 5 section 3, subsections 1i -10 iii when making these judgements)
Volunteer task leader James S. is an excellent task leader with many admirable qualities. It is clear that he is well thought of, as evidenced by a turn-out of 11 NCVs at a time of year when many are on holiday. NB An alternative reason for the good turn-out could simply be the hope for more of the excellent cake provided on past visits by the wife of the nature park’s owner, Michael Emsley. This will need checking via the data collected from individual NCV interviews.
Grade:	Outstanding (pending interview data check)
Health and safety  A sound risk assessment was circulated to all NCVs during the week prior to the task. All NCVs were clad in appropriate clothing in the main* and I am pleased to report that all NCVs reached the end of the task in one piece. *Two NCVs were required to work alongside a stream but did not have the requisite wellington boots. However this offered them an opportunity to practise their yoga stances ‘al fresco’ as they straddled the stream. Photographs taken by James failed to be registered on the camera. (See targets for development section below.)
Grade:	Good
Group morale James had not mentioned the fact that Himalayan balsam may have to be pulled until the task briefing. However, morale appeared to be high in spite of both this and the other aspect of the task.  Areas of ground previously  covered only by short grass during a tree planting project at the start of the year, i.e. Then were found to be completely overgrown by all kinds of vegetation with thistles and nettles very much in evidence. Now In spite of this the NCVs maintained a cheerful disposition throughout, as evidenced below: Morale was considerably boosted by the sight of two types of cake at coffee time, which was delicious.
Grade:	Outstanding
Task achievement Apart from the Himalayan balsam the main intention was for unwanted vegetation to be trampled or cut down around each of the saplings that had been planted in plastic spirals to ensure that they were not shaded out or pushed over. This will also enable Michael to spot the trees in order to treat their surrounds with a herbicide. The balsam occasionally required the NCVs to engage in teamwork, something they manage well. Two managed to work together in a tug of war with one difficult stem which was particularly well rooted: The NCVs used excellent skills of logic and observation to locate the almost invisible trees. Comments such as: “There’s  one here and here, so there must be one there” “If you find one in a trench then just follow the furrow along and you’re bound to find one” Like miners digging for coal, whenever they struck a seam they followed it along until it ran out. At no point were any of the field's fauna hurt - as evidenced by this photograph of one of many masses of Peacock butterfly caterpillars found feasting on the nettles. As photographs show the NCVs were successful in their endeavour. By 2pm the job was complete.
Grade	Outstanding
Overall Judgement :  Outstanding (Pending moderation by the national OfVOL moderation body, OfMOD) NB If this grade is upheld the NAONB NCV team must not become complacent. They should be advised to maintain these high standards and be prepared for another, unannounced, OfVOL inspection at any time. Targets for development are as follows: The NCV leader should ALWAYS mention when Himalayan balsam pulling is part of the task to allow NCVs to find an excuse not to attend. The leader should enrol on a photographic training programme immediately to ensure that future important evidence collection is not compromised.  Bea D’Eye