Longside Farm, Ramsgill: 17-01-2017

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Pateley Bridge Post    

17.01.2017

NCVs found laying down on the job!!!

Andrew Hack

Who  would have believed it?

The NCVs lying down in a hedge all day instead of working hard as usual?

No – don’t worry. We haven’t entered a parallel universe. It was the hedge that was laying down, not the NCVs. This week our band of 25 intrepid volunteers were tasked with making a start on laying an old hedge, alongside the road between Ramsgill and Lofthouse, that needed to be made stock proof.

 James, Phil and Jan gave everyone a safety 

briefing and explained how to go about the job.

The group split up into 7 teams and set to with thick gloves, well sharpened bill hooks, saws and loppers. (Thorn protection was very much an issue when the NCVs were deciding on their wardrobe for the day.) First a lot of unwanted material had to be cleared to the side before the ‘pleaching’ could begin.

 The piles of trimmings and old plastic tree 

guards grew and grew throughout the day.

Once some of this was out of the way the fun could start.

Student Tom tried his hand at pleaching, starting with the saw.

Old hand Ros K. was also hard at it with her bill hook.

Now and again James had to give a helping hand 

with the chain saw if a stem was particularly thick.

Were these NCVs pleaching or 

saying their prayers?

Coffee and lunch times were spent on the muddy ground.

It all looks a bit drastic but don't worry.

The hedge will survive!

By close of play at 2:30pm it was clear where the group had been working. A good start has been made but much more is left to do - both in terms of finalising today's lay as well as starting on the rest of the hedge.

The tools only just fitted in James's van!

Question is - was there room for James?

The hedge at the start of the day...

...and again at home time. 

Well done so far NCVs!

A. Hack (aka Ros E.)

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Special acknowledgement:

The NCVs would like to thank the Grassroots Endowment Fund, managed by Two Ridings Community Foundation, who have part funded their Volunteer Training Programme.