Another year, another covid blog: 31-12-2021

Just in case readers are in need of a little bit of NCV news with which to start the new year, this blog entry has been put together from the various photographic contributions of the group. Whilst no official Tuesday AONB volunteering happened during December, environmental work has still been carried out by individuals. 

Let's take a look at what they have been doing.....

• Footpath surveys have continued

New recruit, Karly, surveyed the Scarhouse circular path 

and undertook a bit of impromptu sign cleaning.

Ros E surveyed the Kingfisher Trail from Darley to Dacre Banks.

There were three sections of the trail noted which were badly 

affected by flooding of the Nidd in February.

Ros K. checked out the Fountains Abbey to Markenfield path.

She found a number of missing waymarkers, broken stiles and... 

... a good deal of MUD! This is a common feature of 

all the footpaths in the area at the moment.

Julia and Dave surveyed the Aislabie Trail. This is a long one so had to be done in three sections.

• At Azerley Grange

There was a plea for help sent around from Kevin Birch at Azerley Grange during the second half of December. He was needing some extra manpower to help him plant out 1600 trees - after all, there are only so many trees one man can plant on his own (unless he is happy to give up his Christmas holiday.) Needless to say, a small number of NCVs turned out on two days and managed to help him get the trees into the ground, staked and tubed, before the big day.

Ros K and husband Nick did an amazing job on the first day.

They worked from 9am until dusk and 100s of trees were dealt with.

Nick looks like a promising NCV candidate.

How abut it Nick??

An impressive start in poor weather.

On the final day 5 other NCVs turned out, in the pours of rain, 

and managed to plant the 400 remaining trees by lunchtime.

 

Before and after.

Andrew kept hitting stones.

So did everyone else - slit planting was not always possible.

These two planters remained cheery,

 in spite of the rain dripping off their noses.

• In Hackfall Woods

As usual, Paul and David M have been keeping an eye on problems in nearby Hackfall on their daily walks. Doubling up as Woodland Trust volunteers, they just couldn't resist dealing with this one. All the Hackfall paths are (in Paul's words) "a complete bog". At least this one is now improved.

Spot the drain blockage.

What blockage? The footpath is now draining.

On the subject of Hackfall - Paul reported that the new car park is now complete!

David M. has also found time to plant some trees near to his own house to provide a wildlife friendly break between properties.

The planting of rowan, wayfaring, dog rose, dogwood and crab apple 

will soon turn this bare grass bank and fence into a fruity paradise for birds.

Well done David!!

• Down in the Nidd Gorge 

Phil, also moonlighting as a Woodland Trust volunteer, 

was snapped removing defunct tree tubes in the Nidd Gorge.

• High Batts Nature Reserve

Tony spent a day doing some coppicing and dead hedging

 at one of the reserve's 'Muck In Mornings'.

• Back at the NCV barn

Liz made a start on the refurbishment of the pizza oven structure.

It was suggested to her that she leave the rest 

until we can all get back to work.

That's just too much hard core for one woman to shift!!

• Some sights for sore eyes

Julia and Dave were out recording veteran trees when 

they came across this fine example of woodland 

management near Copt Hewick.

Let's zoom in on that log pile shall we?

Perhaps it is an art installation?

It puts our log piles to shame!

And there was another!

What patience this woodcutter must have.

Birds of prey sightings are always a bit special - Tony hit a jackpot of three, the sparrow hawk seen from the comfort of his living room. The kestrel and the kite were snapped on Pateley Moor.

"Maybe if I sit here long enough he will offer me a mince pie?"

"I wouldn't hold your breath. I sat and watched him while he 

ate his packed lunch and he didn't even offer me the

 crust off his turkey buttie."

"I think I'll try putting on a an aeronautical display. 

Sitting around just doesn't seem to impress ornithologists these days."

Over the Christmas period there was a touch of snow and some lovely sunshine, as these photos show....

Julia and Dave saw this view from the Scarhouse path on Christmas day.

It beats looking at a mound of sprouts waiting to be peeled!

Tony went to the North York Moors for a festive drive.

Here's Sutton Bank looking gorgeous.

And finally - be on the lookout for signs of spring!!

Just in case any readers are going to be taking part in the Woodland Trust's 'Nature's Calendar' project (click HERE if you are interested to find out more), you need to be on the lookout for those extra early signs of spring. I have chosen elder as one of the species I am intending to record and spotted a tree already bursting its leaf buds last week. Luckily it wasn't the particular elder tree I had earmarked to record, so I haven't missed the all important date, but it was only a 10 minute drive away. Ros K and Anita have also spotted some too early signs of spring - aconites in flower and daffs bulbs already poking through the soil. Climate change is really making its presence felt. Let's hope that these early arrivals aren't ruined by a cold snap.

So - that's 2020 wound up. 

Due to the latest tier announcements the NCVs won't be working on a Tuesday for a while yet. Let's hope that we all get vaccinated before long and that volunteering in 2021 can soon resume some kind of normality .

A lockdown catch up: 30-11-2020

 

A LOCKDOWN CATCH UP

As during Lockdown Number 1 this spring, the NCVs have not all been lounging around doing nothing. As you all know, that is not in their nature! There have been a few jobs done during the last month, albeit in ones or twos during the daily exercise allowance. At the very least they have been observing the natural world and enjoying what they have seen.

Let's see what has been going on.......

Honorary NCV, Harry, was first to get going. 

After working hard at school he then went on to clear 

all the leaves from outside the NCV Barn.

Thanks Harry!!

Not only that - he also helped his mum to clear all this debris 

from a beck at Hackfall. It had been washed down by flooding.

Some of us have called for him to be given his own NCV uniform!

Jan has now finished the signs that will ensure people 

passing, when we are working on tasks, are aware of who we are.

Nice one Jan!!

Tony has planted some blackthorn whips and 2 buddleias 

in this rather muddy corner of his top field.

Once they get established it will be a much more wildlife friendly spot!

Tony also reports that he leant a hand at High Batts Nature reserve,  repairing a track and working as a bird food chef. His signature dish is achieved by mixing 'fishy bits from the chippy with grain'. Hmm. I think that this recipe is strictly for the birds! 

Andy, too, has been working with his young trees.

The problem of planting trees on a windy hillside? 

There are always some that need some help.

Hopefully this crutch will help it to remain upright 

until it is big enough to look after itself.

Having caught the litter picking bug whilst working up at 

Gouthwaite Reservoir recently, Julia and Dave did the same 

thing along the Harrogate Ringway Footpath, whilst out on their daily walk.

Although they didn't collect as much as they did at Gouthwaite, 

they did find a good deal of rubbish.

Paul, living near Hackfall, used a couple of his daily walks

 to mend one of the steps in the wood

 and clear a slippery bridge of soggy leaves.

David M. also lives near the wood and cleared some steps 

of leaves when he was enjoying his daily exercise one day.

Talking of steps - Andrew set about making a new set 

in his garden so that he could get to his potting shed 

without getting his shoes muddy.

Having sorted out that job he then beetled off to fill 

in the pot holes along the track that runs past his house.

Ros E. and Brenda joined forces for their daily exercise allowance and carried out a Right of Way survey for the AONB whilst they were at it. They were allocated the Hartwith Heritage Trail. As they went along they noted down any issues they came across with the route 'furniture' and the trail instructions......

Which way? No visible trail marker. Now that's not very helpful.

Nor was the leaflet!

Oh dear. This path is becoming impassable with gorse and brambles.

This was unfortunate as a couple of minutes later a large herd 

of noisy cows (and a large bull) started following the two intrepid 

NCVs down through the gorse where they thought they would be safe.

 EXIT STAGE LEFT! QUICK!

Somewhat scratched and breathless, the pair continued. 

A number of very wobbly posts were encountered along the way.

...and a bagful of plastic litter was collected.

Liz had reported that the footpath to Scott Gate Ash Quarry 

at Sparrowhawk Farm was in need of some TLC.

There were leaves on the steps...

and lots of brambles needing trimming back.

So Tony and Ros E. took a morning's walk up there 

and worked from either end (to ensure social distancing).

By lunchtime the path was much improved.

Four NCVs attended a Woodland Trust Zoom talk about the Observatree Project.

Some of them have now decided to become Observatree volunteers, 

surveying tree health in the area.

(If you are interested, click on the logo above to find out more about the project 

and access the wealth of tree disease materials available.)

Unfortunately this was one job that Anita was unable to do alone. 

Can you believe that this was a brand new stock proof  fence at the start of November?

Once the River Wharfe broke its banks and flooded across the fields 2 weeks later,

this was the result! The power of water is frightening.

Some photos of the natural world taken by NCVs whilst out and about.....

Dave L. caught this group (flotilla?) of lucky ducks 

as they swam by in the tranquil waters of Fishpond Wood.

This eye catching Feathered Thorn moth was found by Anita, whilst 

cleaning out the gents at the Bramhope Scout centre.

It was very well camouflaged on her yellow Marigolds.

Quite what it was doing in the loo we shall never know.....

These majestic stags were photographed by Tony, at Studley during the rut.

(Red deer above, Fallow deer below)

This young buck was looking wistfully at the other two, 

wishing his crown was a little bit more elaborate.

At Hackfall, Fountains Pond Liz found that this was just the place for a tranquil sit.

Rainbow's end - seen by Julia and Dave near York's Folly.

A pot of gold? No - the end of lockdown - for now!!

And a few pieces of special news:

Chris and Helen Neave have introduced a group of 6 Exmoor ponies to join 

their herd of Belted Galloway cattle at Summerbridge Nature Reserve. 

Ros E. caught sight of them one day. They were very friendly!!

The Make it Wild website states that 

"These are our conservation grazing teams, performing a vital role in spreading wild flower seed, trampling the ground and maintaining paths through the gorse."

Liz got a new set of hot wheels for her birthday. 

She is particularly pleased that she will no longer have to hire a van on a Tuesday. 

But Liz - it is too clean and shiny to put muddy tools inside!!!!

The Pizza oven at the barn has finally collapsed, so Liz 

is going to remove the rotting sleepers at the front of the base 

and turn the structure into a roofed seating area for NCVs!

Guess where?

Answer - The Hackfall Woods car park! 

It is currently being extended so there will be plenty of space 

when we all turn up for a work day in future.

Well - that's it for the time being. We are not quite sure when the Tuesday tasks will restart but, when they do, the regular, weekly blog will, once again, be published.