Fishpond Wood - once more with feeling! 06-12-2016

Today was the last working day of 2016. How quickly this year has flown by! No fewer than 49 task days done and dusted in all and an impressive 3682 man hours logged. So - what was the task today for the 18 NCVs who turned out this cold and foggy morning? 

Here's a clue - we were working in Fishpond Wood and we weren't barrowing gravel. Any ideas?

Yes - you've got it. We were continuing with our battle against the invading rhododendron troops and clearing them from around the mature deciduous trees. Well - most of us were. Phil decided to skive off again and keep warm in the barn. Sorry; to sharpen tools in the barn. A very important job.😊

Luckily firemen Will, Terry and Alistair managed to get a roaring fire going - although the damp conditions meant that its start up was very slow. This allowed us to burn the copious quantities of curly, wurly brash that is very difficult to make into habitat piles. 

The photos below show us all at work and play. Next week - the Christmas walk and lunch. Hurray!!

Everyone listened carefully to the plan for the day 
(and, far more important - the details of the Xmas walk!)

Today we were spoilt - not only a box of Audrey's flapjack 
but also a 'Tower of Treats' sent by Mike Emsley,
 the owner of Dacre Banks Nature Park.
Thanks to you both!

So many rhododendrons. Where to start?

Well... let's get the fire going at least.

Pretty soon the brash started to build up ready for processing.

Greenery was cut off the thicker branches.....

 ... and any wood over 1/2" thick was piled up for the wood's owner, 
Peter, to chop up into smaller pieces for 
making into charcoal or using as firewood.

The pile grew steadily as the day progressed.

Billy No Mates sits next to the 'Tower of Treats' in 
the hope that it would soon be opened.

And very soon it was, revealing sweets, biscuits and a Panetone.

Quick as a flash, James brought out his trusty knife
 and carefully cut the Panatone into the correct number of slices.

Only 11am and Osian needed to have a lie down.

Chief Running Water desperately wafted the 

flames to send the following message to his tribe:

"Please remember to bring me back some goodies after you've had your coffee."

Will tried beating the fire with a hefty branch to 

try to make it spring back to life when it started to flag.

Alistair tried a more gentle approach and 
used his arms to coax the flames forth.

NCVs trudged backwards and forwards to bring 

the brash from the cutters to the processors and firemen.

Two of the firemen raided a child's den to get a 

piece of dry wood to help get the fire to burn.

Shame on you both.

What a good place to sit for lunch!

After lunch it was all hands to the pump to get 
the brash backlog processed.

Tom enjoyed watching the NCVs at work but Sally felt that the 
lopping and sawing that was going on was definitely sub-standard..

Before we could leave the wood we had to wait for the fire to die down a bit.
It was nice to have an excuse to just stand and watch the hard won flames.

Ros E.