Hackfall Woods:26-02-2019

Spring is coming!

Yes - the start of March is fast approaching. February is drawing to an end. The NCVs toddled off to Hackfall for their final winter task day this week. 'Woodland and landscape management' had been promised but, the NCVs asked themselves, did this include removing anything prickly, yet again? Let's have a look shall we?

 

The day was a gorgeous one.

The sluice from the top pond was less gorgeous and in dire need of clearing.
There may well have been some old bramble prickles in this lot.

But, prickles or not, the team made a grand job of it!

No prickles in sight for canal digger Anita who helped to clear the stream below.

Paul may well have been dealing with prickles above the pond where 
he tried out a novel way of removing an unwanted branch.

This little tree seemed to require a good deal of strength to shift.

No prickles on the bridge - just the winter mud.

There were no doubt some prickly patches along the way here.

In spite of the sunshine there appeared to be a lack of 'joie de vivre' at lunchtime.
Perhaps some nice wildlife sightings were needed?
Just on cue.....

 This lovely brimstone butterfly fluttered by.

And a gaggle of ladybirds was seen basking close at hand.

A glossy shield bug came to pay a call and a bee buzzed by.
All guaranteed to put a smile on everyone's faces,
 4 buzzards soared overhead on the thermals.
(That's on the thermals, not wearing thermals - no need for them today!)

Plenty of prickle free rubbish was collected.
Why can't people take their buckets home with them?
Why do people bring buckets to Hackfall anyway?

Or their plant pots and scrubbing brushes?

Not sure what these are the old bones of.
Perhaps a Hackfallysaurus from the early Jurassic period?

Using a new boot buddy, Sally made sure that any hint 
of a prickle was removed from her boots before she went home.

And finally -  news from the boxing world......

Last week NCV Jan made three owl boxes for the Summerstones Estate. This week he made three kestrel boxes AND three bat boxes too.  From now on he shall be known as 'Super Box Man'!

And here they are.

Great work Jan.