Ellington Banks: 25-02-2020

It may well have been Pancake Tuesday but the NCVs had no chance to practise the making or tossing of pancakes until a day's work had been done. They were back at Ellington Banks continuing to clear and burn the encroaching scrub from the MOD's SSSI magnesian grassland. Regular readers will know that this is a place that needs to be visited on a regular basis to ensure that light can reach the ground flora and the newt ponds.

As you can see from the photographs below - much work was done and lots of scrub was cut down....

Liz was on her knees praying for the chain saw to start up.

Once her prayers were answered there was no stopping her.

MOD ecologist John also joined in the chain saw fun.

Brash pile makers extraordinaire, Ros K. and Anita, were soon kept busy 

trying to pick up all the pieces.

Julia watched the proceedings from the other side of the fence.

Tom ploughed a weary furrow transporting logs from A to B.

In spite of the sun there was still some snow lying on the ground in places.

In an area of the site much further away, this NCV 

decided to spend the day soaking his feet.

The award for the most artistic kindling placer goes to Will.

(Psst...You have your hat on back to front Will.)

Soon a trademark NCV smoke generator was in action.

Three (apparently) wise men dined in the sunshine

(whilst the usual Spectre of Doom loomed above.)

Once the area was cleared ....

...the chainsaw gang from far, far away returned....

...for an end of the day meeting of the 'Natter and admire a bonfire' society.

Rock House, Bewerley: 18-02-2020

For anyone wondering what happened to the NCV blog last week .....

The aftermath of Storm Ciara meant that the normal Tuesday task had to be cancelled so there was nothing to report.

This week we were dealing with the aftermath of Storm Dennis but the tree planting window is fast closing and so we just had to get on with it - as you can see below....

There was a certain sense of foreboding when the NCVs got the message through about this week's task. 

Tree planting - fine. No problem with tree planting.

Tree planting up near Toftgate. Oh. Now then. That's different. Last time they planted trees up there they were trying to insert trees into very thinly covered, rocky ground. (Similarly when trying to insert fence posts up there a few years later - the points on more than one metal bar were bent in the process.) 

Tree planting up near Toftgate, at a place called 'Rock House' ???????!!!!!!!

So - what was the ground actually like and how did the NCVs get on with the task of planting 300 trees? Read on....

We've got the tree posts....

...and Paul's got some trees...

...there are plenty of tree guards. 
Now all we need is somewhere to put them.

The weather was not great and the forecast for the afternoon 
was dire so it was decided to focus on the lower, less exposed planting area.
This was Greenhow after all.

As the first hole was dug the NCVs' worse fears were confirmed.
This was not called 'Rock House' for nothing!

Anita followed Mallet Man Tom around the dry area, at the top of the slope,
 with a bunch of trees, anxiously waiting for him to find a spot 
where a fence post could be inserted.

Luckily, in the area below the ground was VERY marshy and soft.
Not nearly so many rocks here. By the time Tom had managed to hammer
 in one post all these had been inserted lower down. Phew!

At last the job of inserting trees could start.

 By coffee time things were well under way - both at the top...

...and at the bottom of the slope.

Everyone moved to the great banqueting hall for their breaks.

There was a certain amount of chair envy going on when it was discovered 
that those lucky enough to have a seat also had a table flap available.
Those sitting on the ladder or the floor felt like second class citizens.

Landowners Andrew and Pat kindly provided 
two boxes of biscuits and two boxes of assorted yummy cakes.
Thanks folks!

 After coffee half the group finished off the lower site and the others headed off to the second planting area at the top of the property.
Uh oh. Rocks.

Undeterred, the NCVs got busy and soon had lots of stakes in place.

In spite of the rocky terrain work cracked on for the rest of the morning and for a half hour after lunch. At this point the weather became so ghastly 
everyone decided it was time to throw in the towel.
No photographs could be taken in the afternoon due to the driving rain.
Approx. 225 of the 300 trees were planted. Not too shabby!

Throughout the task one of our new NCV signs was standing near the road.

Not sure if anyone would take up the offer on the sign if they had 
spotted us working after lunch in the driving rain and strong winds!

Hackfall Woods: 04-02-2020

A first visit in more than one sense…..

This week the NCVs were back at Hackfall for their first visit of 2020 – AND their first since the UK took the next step towards a life outside the EU. Whilst there may be many uncertainties about the future of Britain post Brexit, there were few about what the day at Hackfall would consist of. There would most probably be culverts to clear of mud, encroaching vegetation to prune, fallen branches to shift (thanks to the recent high winds) and plenty of mud to slither around in. Were the NCVs correct in their forecast? Let’s take a peek…..

Muddy paths to slither along?

Check.

Fallen branches to clear?

Most definitely!!

The log across the stream was just one section 
of an enormous larch tree that had blown down the hillside.

 It had left oceans of brash below the Alum Springs stepping stones...

 ... and all the way up the opposite bank.

Up at the root ball end of the tree there was a disaster zone.
The path had been completely demolished.

Walkers had already  established a detour around a neighbouring tree.
It was very steep and very muddy. Not safe at all.

WHAT ON EARTH WERE THE NCVS GOING TO DO?????????
WHERE ON EARTH SHOULD THEY START?????

Leave it to us.
We'll sort it.
Somehow.

David made a start with some mighty mattock wielding.
Soon the job was in full swing.

Half the group stayed with the root ball disaster....

 ...and the other half got busy with the mess at the bottom of the slope.
Good flinging skills were needed here.

Slowly but surely brash was removed from the stream...

It was then collected up and stacked very tidily on a handy flat area nearby.

No wonder Anita looks so pleased!

By the end of the afternoon the stream and platform above it was all but clear - 
apart from the tree trunk that needs a contractor to deal with.

Yes - that really is looking better.

The brash laying all over the opposite side of the stream was 
heaved up the slippery steps and put in the second brash pile.
Brenda and Dave manage to find the energy to smile in spite of being exhausted.

 Everyone was smiling at coffee and lunchtime...

...especially when Angela turned up with 
a box of delicious date, apple and walnut cake.
Thanks Angela!

Throughout the day, up at the disaster zone, things moved on....

Pieces of wood started to be deployed to shore up the path and fill in the hole.
Embryo steps started to appear on the detour.

NCVs could be seen scavenging for appropriate logs.
This will do nicely - I'll have that.

Ken and Dave did a brilliant job with the steps.



What about the hole?

Well, by home time, it was not as deep as it was at the start of the day 
and the path was less likely to collapse.

Well done gang. You can all go home and have a nice long soak in the bath now.

The mud filled culverts will have to wait until next time!

In addition to this outdoors task two other NCVs worked at the barn fixing the Old Spring Wood interpretation panel and building a prototype for a sign that NCVs can erect when they are working. 

On yes Jan - that prototype will do very nicely indeed.