Summerstones Estate: 06-08-2019

The NCVs were back at the Summerstones estate on the Scarhouse road this week to do....

Drum Roll....

....yet more balsam pulling. 

Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the army cadets last week, some of the dratted weed still remained. However - this was a visit with a difference - they had a helping hand.

They were joined by a group corporate volunteers, from Hammerson PLC, who had travelled all the way from London in order to do some volunteering. Thanks guys!!

Now - as you know - pulling balsam does not always lend itself to very interesting photography, but let's see what we can muster......

This was the situation on Sunday when the cadets got to work.
They were a well disciplined crew who knew how to hold a line.
The balsam stretched ahead of them but they moved forward as one.

By the time they stopped work on Sunday the slope was looking much better.
However - there was still a lot of balsam beyond the reaches of that straight line.

Fast forward to Tuesday when the NCVs and their assistants continued with the job.
Hmm. Not quite so disciplined. More of a diagonal approach this time.
Still - heaps of crushed balsam lay in their wake.

Hold the line you lot.
HOLD THE LINE!

This NCV has no sense of discipline what-so-ever.
He went completely off piste and ended up shoulder high in bracken.
You, soldier, are on potato peeling duty tonight.

And here's the team for a final photo.
At least some of them are still smiling.