BEAT THE CLOCK!!!
This week the NCVs were starting a race against time. In many parts of Nidderdale the dreaded balsam is fast approaching the time when it sets seed and the pods start to ripen and burst. Luckily for them a large group of army cadets were out to help at the top of the dale - so that was the uppermost affected reaches of the River Nidd catered for. Phew - thanks lads and lasses!
This gave the NCVs the chance to re-visit last week's task area at Greygarth, Dallowgill to try to eradicate the balsam that remained standing. This would assist with the upper reaches of the River Laver. (It's important to try and work from the top of the river down.) Luckily any pods that had already formed were not yet quite ready to burst.
Just on the cusp...
Here are a few pics from the day. You will probably feel a sense of déjà vu when you look at them. There are only a certain number of things that happen on a balsam day (unless something very out of the ordinary comes along....)
All round the pond there were stands
of the pink stuff just asking for trouble.
Now then, thinks Andy, what's the best way to deal with this?
Why - slashing of course.
Mind you - we'll have to be quick. There are thunderstorms due at lunchtime and being caught holding a slasher on an open hillside would not be wise!
Around the edge of the pond a weird conservation panto
was enacted to ensure safety.
Either that or someone of a vintage age was delving into a gentleman's trousers.
Sally set off, determinedly, through the elbow high rushes in order
to reach a couple of bits of balsam that were growing on the far side of the pond.
She likes to do things thoroughly.
As the morning wore on the slashing action started to slow down.
Time for coffee!
And cake - thanks to Alwin!
Ahhhh. That's more like it.
Everyone was feeling rather warm and clammy.
This NCV was wearing a boiler suit over his clothes and it was clearly doing a good job, as evidenced by this very damp tea shirt that was revealed when he peeled it off.
All of a sudden everyone joined in the peeling process.
Over-trousers just had to go.
And then it was back to the grindstone.
Andrew wondered about taking this specimen home for his Christmas tree.
As Tony got deeper into the vegetation he had to turn back,
reporting that he was 'up to his oxters in water'.
This sounded livestock related but it turns out it means up to your armpits.
Tom The Divine demonstrated his ability to walk on water
as he used rush rafts to reach the balsam.
No worries about him getting his oxters damp!
(If you look closely you can see the open water at the bottom of the picture.)
Like Sally, Osian went the extra mile to do a thorough job.
He ventured into the next field to nab the outliers.
This teeny tiny frog was spotted by an eagle eyed NCV who had to get
so close to photograph it that he could almost hear its heartbeat.
And then - all of a sudden - the job was complete.
By 12 noon.
The only pink left was on these thistles.
Mind you - there remained an under-story of very short balsam plants.
Let's hope they don't come to fruition before the end of the season.
We couldn't stay to even attempt to remove the mini-plants
as thunder was starting to rumble during our lunch break.
Luckily we all managed to get on our way home before
the heavens opened and enormous hailstones rained down.
These were seen at Kirkby Malzeard - not far from Dallowgill.
Two other NCVs were working hard this week - peening the scythe blades and assembling them ready for use in a couple of weeks time.
(PS Peening means to hammer out the irregularities that gradually appear in the blades.)
And what did they use to peen those scythes?
Why, a bespoke peening block, expertly made by tool meister Jan.
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