WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH!
Now this isn't the kind of thing that you would expect to be said about the outcome of the usual kind of NCV task, but this week it summed things up very well.
The reason? Well - the gang had been tasked with collecting up any litter and accumulated driftwood they could find around the shoreline of Gouthwaite Reservoir, a SSSI. This task had originally been planned during the first week of the national lockdown in March, to deal with the aftermath of Storms Ciara and Denis (remember those?) Apparently the driftwood caused real problems for the wading birds this spring with many chicks getting caught in it and dying.
So - it was a task that was long overdue.
The group split into teams of 5 or 6 and got busy removing the stuff that was threatening the bird life. You can see from the pictures below how they got on.
Getting down to the shore was no easy task.
Once there the terrain was often challenging.
Mind you don't slip down into the water you two!
Every so often the way was barred by trees.
This group had to litter pick by hanging over the wall.
This group was working at the Ramsgill end of the lake.
Nice and flat. Easy!
NO!!! We cannot shift all that driftwood on our own.
Instead they focused on collecting the rubbish
that was lying around. Balls featured ....
...and four wellies were found.
This led to the suggestion that the NCVs should set up
a niche retail experience 'Boots and Balls.'
They left this piece of rubbish where they found it...
...but risked life and limb to collect plastic bags.
Andy buckled under the strain of carrying these two tyres...
...and it can be safely said that this group did collect a lot of rubbish!
A gas cylinder, garden furniture and a good deal of bale wrap
were just some of the items found.
This group dealt with lots of driftwood.
A plastic bucket was put to good use to carry
the smaller sticks up to the top of the slope.
Great piles of wood were created on the old railway embankment.
Brenda despaired when she looked along
the shoreline and saw what lay ahead.
So much wood!
There were good views to look at too.
Oh now then - that Scots pine is definitely worthy of a place
on the Woodland Trust's tree map.
2 hugs around. If only I had brought my tape measure!
Phil, the intrepid explorer, almost got lost in the bracken.
Surely they are not going to be doing
road works down here?!
Now Liz, what have you got there?
A nice furry animal?
No - just a piece of driftwood.
No prizes for guessing why this hump
back bridge at Bouthwaite is called 'Devil's Bridge'!
along the shore but this one was particularly frilly.
OK folks - time to go back to the cars.
Now - Brenda (at the front) seems to be rather loaded up.
I wonder why?
Ah. That's why.
She just couldn't resist these pieces of
wood to display in her garden!
NB - at all times we were only in groups of 5 or 6. After all, we didn't want to get nabbed by the police for breaking the rules like this chap
FOOTNOTE:
Apparently today is Global Statistics day with the theme: 'Connecting the world with data we can trust.' Well - here are some task related statistics for you that you can definitely trust:- 17 people spent 5 hours collecting litter
- The reservoir has a shoreline approximately 4.9 miles (7.9 km) long and a surface area of 126 hectares.
- A bin lorry* of litter were collected in heaps or bags.
- A flotilla* of driftwood was stacked.
* New SI units of measurement.
Not bad for a day's work!
Please note that there will be no blog next week as the NCVs are being given a day off for half term.
- 17 people spent 5 hours collecting litter
- The reservoir has a shoreline approximately 4.9 miles (7.9 km) long and a surface area of 126 hectares.
- A bin lorry* of litter were collected in heaps or bags.
- A flotilla* of driftwood was stacked.
* New SI units of measurement.
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