Scar House Reservoir: 09-10-2018

Can't stop - trees to check!

This week the NCVs were up at Scar House Reservoir to carry out a tree check in 5 plots , planted by the UNLP project as part of the scheme to plant 7,000 trees. They needed to make sure that:

1. tree tubes were secure for the coming winter
2. any young trees that looked dead after this summer's drought were marked for checking again in the spring, in case they needed replacing.

The weekly task alert email said that "This venue will involve some climbs in places for those feeling energetic." As you can see from the map below this was not an understatement. 

A bird's eye view of this week's task area.

The five patches of woodland (shown in green) were all far distances apart too - and yet the email went on to say that  "If we finish these there are another 4 further down the dale to check." 

Hmmm. OK. Let's see how we get on with the first five plots shall we?

The troops gather at Angram dam..

The top of the first plantation.
Easy! All the tubes well exposed.
Problem was.....

... the ground was a bit on the steep side....

 

...with a long way to go down to the bottom!

The shelter gave some respite from the wind at coffee time.

Once at the bottom of the hill it was across 
and up the other side to the second plot....

 

...up being the operative word.

At least the tubes were easy to see again.

The pre-lunch patch (marked 3 on the map) consisted of ups and downs.

The NCVs pressed on.

At lunchtime it was clear that the undergrowth was starting to become an issue.

Andy brought some wonderful cake which he had baked himself.

He declined to say which birthday he is about to celebrate..

Thanks Andy!!

The final challenge was to find plot 5 and then 

wade through the waist high bracken to reach it.

Thank goodness for the energy provided by the cake!

The tubes were NOT so easy to see now.

Everyone was starting to really feel the strain.

Osian commented: "A beautiful day,in spite of the wind, but to say the terrain was steep in places was an understatement of epic proportions."

It was clear that the final plot, up Dead Man's Hill, (marked 4 on the map) was going to have to wait for another day. And as for those other four areas further down the valley - NO CHANCE!!!!