Hackfall Woods: 08-10-2019

With October in full swing the NCVs headed back to Hackfall Woods - an ideal spot to see some autumnal colour. There was further work to do on step renovation, as well as culvert clearing. With the NCVs having had TWO (!) weeks off due to those bike races and the heavy rain of last week, the small group who were able to turn out was raring to go.

However, the day was not without its challenges......

Firstly the timber that the saw mill provided was 
twice the thickness it was meant to be - most of it no use for today's job.

Of course the short lengths that could be utilised 
were under all these long pieces. 
So - out of the van they had to come....

...only to have to be re-loaded once the short stuff was reached.

Then we were on our way, tools in the wheelbarrow, 
only to be met by the steps down from the bridge.
Uh Oh - tool unload needed.

Having manhandled the tools down the steps....

...the wheelbarrow was loaded up again and 
an extra bundle of wooden pegs was added.

This increase in load probably accounted for the wheelbarrow falling over further along the path and emptying its contents down the slope.

Mountain goat Osian quickly made his way down to rescue the 
precious peg bundle that was teetering precariously on the edge of a precipice.

Slowly but surely the pegs were moved to safety 
and the group continued to the work site.
This was a looooong way away and not reached until coffee time.

Revived by some coffee and a piece of Audrey's flapjack Anita and Ros E. 
then had to back track a loooong way to start culvert clearing, 
leaving the boys' team to ponder on where to start with the steps.

Take care with that mell Osian.
After the start we've had we don't want to lose Jan's head as well.

 To cut a long story short they did a bit of this...


 ...and a bit of that...

...and the job got done very nicely thank you.

 Further along the way the path was starting to disappear down the hillside.


So some boards were inserted along the edge...

 ...and some handy bits of stone nearby were utilised....

...to make a section of crazy paving.
Good work chappies!

And what did the other two get up to?
Well they spent much of the day bent double deploying spades and a mattock.

They left a wealth of nice clear culverts and gullies in their wake 
as they ranged throughout the woods.
(One visitor, who saw them lunching with their spades nearby 
asked if they were looking for truffles. If only!!)

As a bit of light relief two flights of steps were also cleared of fallen leaves.
Of course they will be covered again by tomorrow but at least the workers 
could stand just a bit straighter to do that job!

By 2:30pm the teams were heading back to 

the cars cleaning their boots...

...and their tools in the plentiful supply of water running through the wood.