Hackfall Wood: 25-09-2018

The 25th September - as you all probably know - is World Dream day. It's a day for 'Advancing Dreams And Making A Difference'. Very appropriate for the NCVs. We are always advancing our dreams of a better environment for wildlife and doing our best to make a difference within the Nidderdale AONB. 

This week we were back at Hackfall and our dream was of footpaths clear of overhanging vegetation and dog poo bags; culverts free of fallen leaves; areas free of balsam. We knew, before we arrived, that our dream was pie in the sky. To achieve it we would have to work hard to make up the difference between that and reality. So - that's what we tried to do.......

Beautiful weather awaited the NCVs at Hackfall.

The strong winds last week had brought down trees and branches.

Some were just far too big for us to deal with.

Others were manageable, so bow saws were deployed.

Just how many NCVs does it take to shift a tree?
(Admittedly it was rather a large one!)

David decided to tackle this specimen single handed 
(with the aid of his trusty mattock).

Then he was off doing another job.

Vegetation was slashed back....

 ...or lopped off at great height....

...and down at ground level.

Anita put her litter picker to good use on a random bit of balsam....

...before going off to do a gully clearance dance.

Osian dutifully carried around a mattock all day but only got the
 chance to use it on the way back to the car park. 
Never mind Osian - think of the good exercise that this has given you!

Half the group took the low road so had the 
benefit of coffee time at the beach....

...enjoying the view of the river.

Everyone met up for lunch at the pond....

....where the fountain was in full swing.

 A debate ensued about the difference between mayflies, damselflies and dragonflies.
All of which were dancing around the place.

Pity they couldn't check out this website at the time.

After lunch, the duo experienced in joinery (Jan and Phil) left the group for a pub visit. No - only kidding. They went off to assess the task of making a scythe container for the Barn. The mortals ploughed on clearing the remaining paths of encroaching growth. We look forward to seeing the container when it's complete.

Glasshouses verge: 18-09-2018

Apparently this week is National Cupcake week in the UK. You would have expected, then, that the NCVs had cupcakes at coffee time this Tuesday but you would be wrong. Instead they had the much more healthy option of Audrey's flapjack - thanks Audrey! It was a welcome bit of sustenance given our task.

And what was the task? Well - you can probably guess if you read last week's blog. We went home at the end of the day with only half the verge at Glasshouses having been cut, so this week we had to finish the job. Whilst 5 members of the group made a start, another 6 underwent scything training at the barn with trainer Joe Priestley. Once they felt ready they came to join in the fun.

At the barn the trainees were first shown how to put together their scythes.

Once assembled they were shown how to cut a swathe.

Nice straight backs lads!

Meanwhile, along the road, in very wet conditions, 

was a verge just waiting for the chop.

A quick sharpen of the 'ol blade....

...and they're off!

Once the trainees joined the others Joe asked them to watch the technique of old hand Tony. who was apparently leaving a nice even sward behind him and a good, straight windrow. (That's the cut vegetation to those uninitiated in the art of scything.)

The lunch spot was nicely sheltered from the 
gale force wind that blew up during the morning.

The afternoon weather conditions were much 
more favourable, thank goodness. 

Every so often nature threw up the

 odd obstacle to our scything

Some were quick movers...

 ......others less so.

Eventually there was only a little bit to 
do, on the bank by the road.

The final blades of grass were cut!! 

Now all that we had to do was to rake it all up.

These two shots taken from the centre of the cutting 
area show the extent of verge cut during the day.

In spite of maintaining a straight back whilst scything all day,
 it was clear that Anita was starting to relax her stance 
on the way back to the barn.

Finally Joe explained how to make hand tied hay bales 

from the grass we cut in future (no time to try it out today!).
These would make it easier to remove the grass from the verge entirely.

Footnote - 

The big green caterpillar that was found on the wall next to the verge last week turned out to be a Poplar Hawk Moth caterpillar. It took a while for the experts to agree, but here are the before and after photos....

What a transformation!!!

Also - Osian went on a site visit to check out an upcoming task - whilst he was there he saw these toadstools. Any suggestions as to what they might befrom the experts out there?

Update - experts have informed me that the fungus is a Shaggy Parasol.

Interesting as the one on the verge pictured earlier was a Shaggy Inkcap.

Obviously a day for shaggy fungi!

Glasshouses verge: 11-09-2018

Looking at the picture above there will be no prizes for guessing what the NCVs were doing this week.

Yes - that's right! Grimly reaping the grass and other vegetation from the wide road verge at Glasshouses. 

This is a verge that they have been managing for a few years now. Leaving its cutting until this time of year (and raking off all the grass to stop it composting down and increasing the fertility of the soil) has gradually led to an excellent increase in the verge's wild flower population.

Before any scything could be done the scythes had to be assembled.......

I think that this bit goes on this end.

And I need to get my blade set to the correct angle.

Those NCVs who have not yet been trained in the use of a scythe went ahead to cut down any encroaching scrub and trim back the hedge.......

 The hedge is a monster!

Sally was wondering just where to start.

Ros K was wondering where best to put all the resulting brash.

She fervently hoped that no-one would notice if she piled it over the fence.

Once the scythes were assembled it was off to the verge.....

At last - Here they come!

and on with the cutting......

Oh heck - that's seriously long vegetation!

Never mind - let's get started.

On and on - down the verge they went. 

Two swingers having a great time in the sun.

Alistair - can you just move that tree out of the way of the way?Thanks!

Mind you don't cut Liz in half at the same time.

Three nosy parkers keep a close eye on the scythers' technique.

By lunchtime the south end of the verge was cut. Good going for 6 scythers. (The northern end can wait until next week.)

Photographer Osian needed to shout 'Say Cheese!' more loudly. 

Only showgirl Ros K. noticed the camera and gave a smile.

Everyone else was too lost in thought or conversation.

On her return to work after lunch, showgirl Anita 

decided to do her Julie Andrews impersonation.

Lunch over, the whole team started raking the cut vegetation off to the inside edge of the verge....

Seriously large, grass sausages were created...

....and heaped against the wall.

Lots of creatures of all kinds will make use of this habitat.

Perhaps something like this? 

Anyone got any ideas what kind of caterpiller this is?

By 2pm the southern end was clear and the hedge completed. How good is that? 

The wild flowers will really benefit from this September hair cut. 

This reminds me - I must phone my hairdresser 

and book an appointment....