Ellington Banks: 14-01-2020

😀
A new kid on the block!

This week the NCVs were at Ellington Banks, where they were greeted by a new face. John Black, the ecology officer for the MOD, introduced us to his successor, Karen Fisher, who was ready and waiting with a welcoming smile. After introductions were over we started on the business of the day - scrub clearance. Nothing new there then! That magnesian limestone grassland can't keep itself clear of encroaching alder and birch, so off to work we went. It seems a shame to be cutting down trees at this time but apparently the rare moths that live at Ellington Banks had filed a complaint to say there were just TOO MANY!

Yes - you can see the moths' point of view. 
This dense alder growth would shade out the other vegetation that they need for survival.

OK NCVs - do your stuff.

Nice bit of knee bending there to protect your back Andy.

Meanwhile, over on the muddy track, Graham, 
fire-maker extraordinaire, was struggling to light a damp match.

Osian took over. He, too had problems.

 Unlike the fire lighters, the alder cutters had no problems at all. 
Brash was being produced at a rapid rate of knots.

Ken did a peacock impersonation, dragging his colourful tail behind him.

Any good long straight poles were kept to one side, 
ready to take out for use by local primary schools.

A pole pile was established...

...which came in handy at coffee time, as the ground was VERY BOGGY.

Not much chance for conversation between these two NCVs,
who chose perching on some remaining stumps, 
rather than getting their rear ends damp.

Andy was very smug having taken possession 
of the only stone in the area.

By coffee time a backlog of brash had built up.
Any sign of that fire yet lads?

Well - there is some smoke.
Osian blew and blew but the brash was very sloooooow to ignite.

Then, miraculously, a roaring fire got going 
and the brash started to disappear in a puff of smoke. 
Hurray!

By 1:30pm all the alders growing in the area had been cut down....

...and just about every stick of brash had been put onto the fire.

Oh come on fellas - just how many men does it take to keep an eye on a fire?
There are still sticks to be picked up!

Having been caught in the act of doing nothing, Osian and Dave L. were galvanised into action and demonstrated how to safely constrain a spreading inferno.

OK - time to go home now, you wet and muddy trio.