Hackfall Wood: 02-07-2019

First of all - apologies for my failure to publish a blog entry last week. The editor was holidaying on a remote Scottish island and wi-fi facilties were simply not available where they were needed. Suffice it to say that the NCVs were working along the pathway of the River Nidd, up at the Summerstones estate, pulling up balsam in rather wet conditions.

This week it was back to Hackfall for the monthly landscape maintenance visit. We were told that wood would need to be transported to various locations, so it was clear that the steps and path edging work started last time were going to have to be continued. Balsam was also mentioned but everyone felt reasonably confident that it wouldn't take up much time. 

So - let's have a peek at what went on shall we?

 A turn out of 15 allowed a number of small teams 

to be sent out on a variety of quests.

Inevitably there were a few little patches of balsam here and there,

However - these were quickly hunted down...

...and laid to rest.

Some stone steps half way down Limehouse Hill needed sorting out.

So a small team got busy with mattocks and spades....

...and, working as a team....

...soon had them looking very smart.

Meanwhile, down at the Sandbeds, work continued on repairing 
the steps under the beady eyes of supervisors Julia and Sally.
Note that Julia kept a metal bar to hand to poke the men below if they stopped work.

Occasionally things became just too much for Osian.

He simply sat down and refused to continue with the job.

However - a direct jab from Julia's spike soon sorted him out.

Eventually the steps were complete - and much easier to walk on.

Lunch (and coffee break for some) was taken
 in an idyllic position down by the river.
Here, dippers, grey wagtails and a kingfisher were spotted.

 Down near Fishers Hall an unsightly 

drainage pipe needed camouflaging.

Pipe? What pipe?

 The final job of the day involved a lot of muscle power and some creative thinking.
The plan was to take 2 large pieces of felled ash...

...swing (or, to use the correct terminology from the afternoon, twiddle) them round....

 ...so that they could be rolled from here...

...along here....

...to here!

So now there is more seating near Fountains Pond

 for visitors to sit and admire the fountain.

Or use as a see-saw.