Old Spring Wood and Eastwoods Farm: 18-04-2017

This week we could choose our venue and task. The choice? Well, we could either:

• return to Old Spring Wood to remove more tree guards from the newer plantation at Old Spring Wood and repair an interpretation board, or 
• visit Eastwoods Farm, Dacre to erect a protective fence around an ancient piece of ‘rock art’. NB Do not confuse 'rock art' with 'op art'! Visit the Nidderdale AONB website to read a little more about this evidence of early settlement in Britain.

In spite of it being Easter week there were 14 NCVs out to play, 11 opting for Old Spring Wood and 3 for the rock art task. The photos below show how we all got on.....

Old Spring Wood:

Work began with the walk up the 

hillside to the plantation in glorious sunshine.

Once there the trees still to be checked were 

scrutinised to see if tubes or stakes 

needed removing tightening.

This one definitely needed setting free.

This tube was lying on the ground 

apparently defunct. However, a healthy 

young tree sprang up once released!

Tree tubes had to be transported 

down to the boundary wall.

The pile of old tubes served as a settee at coffee time;

 although Anita preferred to roost in a nearby hawthorn bush.

After lunch we moved on to the task of clipping 

back the encroaching brambles.

 Bluebell leaves appeared as the prickly cover was removed.

 Some dead trees that were lying around were cut up ....

... and turned into a brash pile.

Carpenter John with his trusty assistant Kath 

repaired the interpretation board at the barn,

transporting it to Old Spring Wood in their car ready for wood staining.

Eastwoods Farm:

Jan paid homage to Will, the god of bent spikes.

A quick and efficient fencing team soon completed the job. 

No more will the farmer's cows be able to trample 
all over the ancient sculpture.

This is the stone that all the work was for.
Not quite Barbara Hepworth.

This more impressive cup and ring stone was in the base 
of the wall nearby. Being vertical the cows can't harm it.

Ros E.