Azerley: 09-07-2019

No workers' playtime today!

Today the NCVs had a disappointment. It was meant to be their summer day out - a day of moths and orchids and luxury picnics, with very little work to do. But - thanks to the promise of the wet stuff - the day had to be cancelled. Moths don't take kindly to wet weather so were unlikely to get caught in the moth traps overnight. 

Hmmmmm. If you ask me moths need to toughen up and buy some umbrellas or waterproof wing covers.

To add insult to injury the alternative was a balsam pulling task at Azerley estate. Now Azerley estate is all very nice, but balsam pulling simply does not match up to a summer moth and orchid walk. To add even more insult - the rain that was forecast never really materialised. Never mind - the walk will go ahead as soon as a rain free date can be found.

So - here are the day's pictures......

The day began with what seemed like a 100 mile walk to the task site.
We knew we were nearly there when we reached this high stile.

Those of us who were somewhat challenged in the leg department
 then had to cope with this equally high fence (no problem for Liz 'legs' Milner!)

 

At last we reached our destination and were able to start on the job.
It was going to be a tiring day for everyone's backs.

Vickie looked wistfully to her right, wishing her patch of balsam 
was as green as that patch over there.

Andy ripped up balsam like a man possessed.

This could have something to do with the fact that he had been 

pulling balsam along the River Nidd all day yesterday too.

Give that man a medal!

 Both coffee time and the lunch break gave the 
workers a chance to straighten out their backs a little.

Anita (bottom right) was deliriously happy to have a break from balsam.

It was clear, after lunch, that no amount of resting was going to sort out Ken's back.
He was going to have to spend the rest of his life bent double.
(Either that or he was purposely looking downwards to avoid the sight of what lay ahead.)

New recruit, Roger, managed to maintain a cheery demeanour in the face of the enemy.
At least that's how it appeared. He may well have been wishing 
he hadn't bothered signing up!

The surrounding vegetation added to the challenge. 
It raised the question - is it better to work on a never ending, dense patch of balsam 
or fight through other stuff to reach a few stems?

 By home time there were vast areas cleared...

...and great piles of balsam lay crushed.

BUT - LOTS OF IT REMAINED!!!!!

The NCVs walked out of the area, bowed down with the 
knowledge that they had been beaten.

Still - they were able to put on a brave smile before 
facing that 100 mile walk back to the car park.