Did you know that this week was 'National Feet Week' in the UK? The one week in the year when we are meant to look after our feet properly and visit a podiatrist?
No?
Nor did I and I'm not sure now many of the NCVs did either. As none of them gave a prior podiatrist appointment as the reason for not turning out and nine did show up for duty at Hackfall Woods, perhaps they were waiting until after a day of walking around the woods, on a hot day, in wellies or stout boots, before booking in for a bit of pedal pampering.
The reason we were back at Hackfall was, of course, our monthly landscape maintenance visit. We were promised a day of path improvements, the carrying of timber and some tasks that 'may require wellies', so - lots to keep us busy.
The roving photographers caught various NCVs at work.....
Ah - so here's the timber that was to be carried.
It kept on emerging from the back of the van.
The kissing gates along the way proved to be a challenge...
...but not one to hold up proceedings for too long.
Down, down, down, into the woods went the wood.
Yet another obstacle overcome.
One team focused on creating a hurdle and a dead hedge
to stop visitors using this steep shortcut down to the sandbeds.
The slope is getting badly eroded.
Posts were inserted at the top of the slope.
Lots of thin stems were harvested from nearby...
...and weaving began.
By lunchtime the two barriers were complete.
Hopefully they will make people realise that this route is not to be used.
We shall see!
Meanwhile - at the other end of the sandbeds,
where visitors ARE meant to descend,
the steps were in dire need of attention.
David and Tom in in-action.
The steps were much improved by the end of the morning,
although some extra wood is still needed to make two more boxes towards the top.
Well done chaps.
After lunch team hurdle worked on a similar job near the Hutts bench
to deter 'off piste' pedestrians, whilst team steps went off to reveal
a lost footpath near Fountains pond. (No photos for this - sorry!)
What a great place to spend such a glorious day!!
The roving photographers caught various NCVs at work.....
to stop visitors using this steep shortcut down to the sandbeds.
The slope is getting badly eroded.
Posts were inserted at the top of the slope.
Down below two rows of posts were inserted and the space between filled with brash.
Hopefully they will make people realise that this route is not to be used.
We shall see!
Meanwhile - at the other end of the sandbeds,
where visitors ARE meant to descend,
the steps were in dire need of attention.
Soon, boys were lying in dirt, using more of the wood to sort out the problem.
A bit of freehand angle cutting was going on....
...and a certain amount of standing around, watching men at work.
Alistair in action.
although some extra wood is still needed to make two more boxes towards the top.
Well done chaps.
to deter 'off piste' pedestrians, whilst team steps went off to reveal
a lost footpath near Fountains pond. (No photos for this - sorry!)
En route back to the car park, Dave proudly showed us the culverts he had cleared so beautifully before coffee time.
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