Lofthouse and Low Riggs: 07-08-2018

As some readers of this blog will know, the Upper Nidderdale Landscape Partnership Project, (UNLP) which has been running for four years, is due to come to an end in September. It has led to many excellent outcomes - and a number of jobs for the NCVS.

One of the project's more recent outcomes has involved contracting a company to start at the top end of the River Nidd catchment and either spray or pull up the Himalayan balsam that is growing there. It is always best to work downstream, as the river carries the balsam seeds down the valley. Of course, as we all know, one sweep of an area does NOT get all the balsam! There are always some seeds left that haven't started to germinate. As the contractors disappeared the seedlings started to emerge, waving goodbye to the workers. So - what was to be done? Bring in the NCVs of course!! 

Off we went to Lofthouse to make our way along parts of the Scarhouse road and the often dry river bed to get rid of the additional plants, desperately hoping that there wouldn't be too many left ........

First up we walked up the roadway on the look out for HB plants.

Our spirits soared - there were a few but it wasn't too bad at all. 
'Is this what the rest of the day was going to be like?' we wondered.

In a word - No.
Back to the bridge at Lofthouse and down to the river itself .....

......gave us a tranquil setting but a much more extensive job.
Some of the plants were growing on the limestone watercourse.

Others up on the river banks.

It was an 'eyes down, look in' moment - yet again.

Coffee and flapjack at 11am allowed us a good view.

Not a bad work's canteen!

Then it was over the fence for the rest of the morning. 

The HB was thick on the ground and high in the air.
Did the contractors look this way???

Sally began to work her magic and the rest of us followed suit.

Crunch, crunch crunch. 
That's that lot sorted. NEXT PLEASE!

Cath found one way of keeping her foot well ventilated 
as the sole of her boot came away from the upper.
She wondered if she could get her money back. 
After all - she's only had them for 15 years.

This NCV went for the total skin exposure ventilation method at lunch time.

Everyone wished that they had brought a peg for their nose.

The next patch was up a steep hillside.
The HB was growing amongst the bracken.

Jan crawled up on his hands and knees, rooting out the intruder

and leaving a wake of destruction behind him.

Here he is taking a short break in this multitasking event - 
HB pulling AND bracken bashing at the same time!

HB was passed down the hillside for rigorous crushing at the bottom.

There were many specimens that were getting just too big for their boots!

After lunch a bit more of the same led to a very smug group photo.

And this is what they were looking at - a balsam-less view!

Then - back to the cars and a move up the road to the next patch.

There was no stopping the march of the yellow peril.

Unfortunately, in spite of the contractors' having sprayed the area, 
there was rather a lot of alive and kicking HB here - 
so not all of it could be pulled by 3pm.
Maybe back next week for more ? We'll see.

There was a bit of light relief for an elite team of 2 NCVs who spent the morning, with Rob Light, at the very top of the dale. They were installing two UNLP hay meadow signs at Low Riggs Farm. (Hay meadow restoration was another aspect of the UNLP project.)......

Firstly giant tweezers were used to dig out the post holes.

Does this look vertical to you?

Now that's a clever design!
An interpretation board that folds away to keep
 it protected against the bad weather.

After the two posts were installed Andy managed 
to find a rather comfy perch to sit on.....

....to admire this rather lovely view.
Yes - a day in the NCVs' office always has its up sides.