Ellington Banks: 27-11-2018

ELLINGTON TUESDAY!

If last week was the week of Black Friday then this week was the week of Ellington Tuesday - the day in the NCV calendar which marks the start of the annual visits to the MOD property, Ellington Banks. 

Now, readers who are new to this blog may well wonder why the NCVs would want to visit an MOD training area. Well - I can assure you that they were not going there to find out how to shoot rifles or drive tanks. No, no, no! That wouldn't do at all. Their aim was much more peaceful. They were simply going to remove the encroaching alder and willow scrub that threatens to overwhelm this very special SINC site. Great crested newts live in the ponds here and the magnesium limestone grassland is home to many unusual wildflowers.

Here are the NCVs in action.....

There was a big turn out this week, in spite of the fog.
Everyone likes coming to Ellington Banks.

"Not much to prune out here.
Why did we need to come?"

"Just turn your head this way and you'll see why!"

"Right - see what you mean. Let's get busy folks!"

All the cutting down generated HUGE quantities of brash.

But that's OK because someone built a bonfire.
(Although it was more of a smoke generating machine to start with.)
"Just who is responsible for all this air pollution?"

"Why - Graham of course."
Anyone tending the fire went home smelling like kippers.

They weren't the only ones dealing with work related issues.
Anyone with a pair of loppers was liable to get pronged in the eye with saplings.

Those walking to the bonfire with armfuls of brash were coping with a very undulating landscape and hidden trip hazards like this one.

MOD Ecologist, John Black, followed the loppers 
around with herbicide for the stumps. 
He had to don marigolds and a face mask to keep himself protected.
And of course - everyone had to keep their eyes peeled for abandoned munitions.

Coffee and lunch times were taken in small groups - 
or in Andy's case - alone.
He had been sent to coventry  for some misdeed or other.

 After coffee the fire was less of an inferno ....

...but Graham soon had it up and going again.

Good job, because it wasn't long before Liz got the chain saw out 
and took down a couple of unwanted large trees.

Then Osian obligingly carried them to be burnt.

Meanwhile the plague of locusts that was the NCV team
 carried on pruning and pruning.

 By 2pm the field was a very different place to what it had been at 9:30am.

 A few logs were left as a habitat pile for the newts to hibernate in.
David M heard a passing newt comment on how useful
 it would be during the winter months.

Unfortunately a pile of thin brash had to be left until another visit. 
We couldn't carry on burning after 2pm as we 
needed to ensure the fire was out before the gate was locked.

Humberstone Bank: 20-11-2018

READY, STEADY, PLANT!

The NCVs were on a mission this week - to plant 400 more trees at Humberstone Bank. They managed 380 last week so volunteer co-ordinator Liz had high hopes that they would achieve their goal. What was needed was a 'heads down, no getting side-tracked' approach. She employed CCTV cameras throughout the day to check that there was no slacking but has asked me to help her spot any shirkers in the captured images below. (She was too busy drying out her clothing to do it herself.)

Hmmm. Not much going on in this boggy patch of rushes.
Someone needs to get started planting alders here.
RIGHT AWAY!

Ah. That's more like it. Well done Ros K. 
You've made a good start there.

Yes - there does seem to be plenty of action up at the top of the slope. 
Oaks to be planted here. 

Phil and David appear to be working hard over there, 
banging in the tree stakes.

Tom;s wielding a spade so hopefully 
there'll be a tree in the ground fairly soon.

Definitely a tree being planted here.
However - working in a pair may constitute a form of shirking
 as only half the possible number of trees will get planted that way.
Note to Liz - these two should only get half their cake rations.

Now then - is Alistair actually doing anything with those tubes 
or is he spending some time in contemplation? 

Oh dear - there he is again. Tubes in hand but no action.
Note to Liz - this NCV 's daily tree planting rate needs checking 
to ensure there has been no shirking going on. 

This is blatant shirking. Ruth may be holding a
 lump hammer but she's not doing ANYTHING with it.
Note to Liz - I feel that this particular NCV needs
 to be given an immediate performance review (or a severe wigging.)

Well done that man - he's got everything he needs 
to keep him busy over the other side of the stream until lunchtime. 
Full cake ration for David.

 At two points in the day the only action going on 
was that which involved chewing and tea drinking. 

I suppose that this type of behaviour could be overlooked as 
the NCVs may get their union involved if there were no cake breaks at all.

The cameras kept filming until all of this group of 
horizontal tree tubes were upright and contained trees. 

Everyone left the site at 1:30pm. An unusually early end to the day but 
at this point Liz called time on the job as the rain was getting
 steadily worse and everyone's hands had gone numb.
David carried out the remaining trees on his back.

And the final result? 350 trees out of the 400 planted. Well done NCVs - not quite the full quota but that was down to rain stopping play (although.....perhaps if there hadn't been so much shirking by those who shall remain nameless. the job may have been completed. We shall say no more about it. I just hope you know who you are and are ready to change your ways next week.

Humberstone Bank:13-11-2018

Today's puzzle - what were the NCVs involved in this week?

Correct! It was something to do with trees.

In fact they were visiting a new venue, creating new woodland at Humberstone Bank. This 'Beyond Nature' farm is part of a partnership to improve peat stores, nature, wildlife and water quality. You can read all about the farm and what they hope to achieve via the two links below:

Just click HERE and HERE!

The day began with a short film to give the background of the farm (on Yorkshire Water land) and there were even hot drinks and toilet facilities available!! How civilised can you get?

Farmer, Jonathan Grayshon, went through

 the plan of attack with the troops.

Then the work began.......

The terrain was somewhat challenging
(not an unknown issue to the NCVs on tree planting tasks!)

380 trees were sorted into groups appropriate to growing conditions.

Some folks got busy inserting tree stakes the right distance apart.

.Then others followed to plant trees beside them, 
encasing each one, lovingly, in a protective tube..

Whilst the ground at the bottom of the hill was nice and soft for digging, 
planters ran the risk of blinding themselves with the spiky leaves of the rushes.

The first willow planted stream-side - just where it likes to grow.

Ros K. was struggling to keep her hat under control (a common NCV problem) 
but at least it offered some eye protection from the rushes.

By coffee time planting was well under way.

Two NCVs stayed on this side of the wall for coffee...

...whilst the hoi polloi clambered over the stile to seek refuge from the wind (and first dibs on the flapjack kindly provided by Jo from the office - thanks Jo!)
This week's competition - who do the legs belong to?.

Tree Planting Techniques:

 The straight leg technique - fine if you have good ham strings
 but not good if you have eaten too much flapjack.

 The single knee bend technique - good for a quick rise to the vertical 
and just the thing for anyone needing to practise for receiving a knighthood.

The double knee bend technique. A good method to keep you flexible - unless you have arthritic joints.

At lunchtime everyone decided to stay on the same side of the wall. 
The stile was simply too wobbly to risk a second crossing.
Dave maintained a standing position having forgotten to bring his seating mat.

On a couple of occasions a tree tube or a stake bundle 
went further down the slope than intended.
Never mind - David M can always be relied on to come to the rescue.

Liz decided to do a bit of star gazing with the latest Hubble Telescope 
she happened to find lying around in the rushes.

Eventually the last remaining tree was picked up and Anita had the privilage of being the one to plant it - and here it is - happening in slooow moootion.

 
 

Everyone clapped and started to collect up tools - only to find no fewer than four other trees lying on the grass in various places. Who actually planted tree number 380 is unclear.

Job complete, Jonathan used his quad-bike to help 

shift all the tools and materials.

Everyone else set off to the cars as the shadows started to lengthen....

...leaving a job well done....

...and passing some beautiful scenery on the way.

Also this week....

27 nest boxes were erected by two of the NCVs in the three different patches of woodland on the Neaves Nature Reserve in Summerbridge. If you remember - the NCVs worked hard there one day recently, removing all the old pheasant pens. The job of erecting the boxes was ably assisted by the Neaves themselves, who are pleased with the new birdy residences.

Chris assumes a supervisory role whilst Helen employs the hammer 
and Ros E. tries to see the GPS under her continually lowering hat.

The birds will have no problem knowing who their landlords are!
Make It Wild

*****