Fishpond Wood and the barn: 30-05-2017

This week 11 NCVs had a miscellany of tasks to choose from, namely:

• Clearing a fallen tree in Fishpond Wood and making a brash pile out of the timber.
• Tidying the barn which had got a bit 'overtaken' by various equipment from different AONB activities (including the almost life size model cow, Nidderbell - see blog entry for 16th May 2017).
• Sharpening tools (both the NCV tools and our own garden tools) under the supervision of tool sharpeners extraordinaire, Jan and Phil.

Here are some photos showing who chose to do what. 

Phil and Alistair weigh up the pros and cons of the available tools, 
hoping to get the best ones before the other NCVs get their boots on.

This is the top of the fallen tree - laying on the steep 
bank at one end of the lake and blocking the view uphill.

We all decided to work on this task together 

and get it cleared before lunchtime.
Saws were very much the tool of choice at the root end..

Brash and logs were fed down the slope to the wood processing 
team who dealt with the constant supply admirably.

Those at the bottom of the hill had an early coffee break further away 
to ensure their safety whilst the larger trunks were cut through above.

Eventually the view of the root end team was completely unimpeded.
The final section had to be left - a chainsaw was needed.

We noticed another tree had fallen over the stream - so that had to go too.

Melissa used the trunk to get in some caber tossing 
practice for this year's highland games.

As we walked back to the barn we snipped off some of the 
new rhododendron shoots that were sprouting up next to the path.

Then it was time for some lunch.
Now who's legs are these?

Yep - you got it.

Fine dining outside the barn.

With a tin of flap-jack included - thanks Audrey!!

Inside - the barn was less fine.
Lots of stuff encroaching on the available space.

The mad axe woman of Nidderdale 
got busy with the grinder.

These edge trimmers were given a good sharpen.

Loppers were mended and filed and bow saw blades replaced.

Meanwhile others started to bring about some order and 
Mr. Mop got busy with his brush.

Even the mess outside got shovelled up to 
ensure that the drain didn't get blocked.

We discovered the BFG's waterproof trousers hidden 
away at the back of the wader rack.

Eventually we seemed to reclaim a lot of floor space, although everyone agrees that we could do with a barn extension!!

Ros E.