Old Spring Wood and other things: 28-07-2020

BACK TO BASICS BRACKEN

Having successfully uprooted all the balsam upstream from Limley Farm last week, the NCVs returned to Old Spring Wood this week to complete the job of bashing the bracken that was left untouched along the bottom level of the wood. By lunchtime the job was done! Not a piece of bracken left standing. This shows how much impact the NCVs have had over the years - they used to  spend two full days and still have to leave some unbashed. 

You can see them at work below and, lower down, you can see what other tasks were tackled through the week.

There was plenty of bracken to tackle.

Ros E's bubble was the first to set off and they left a clear signpost 

to ensure that Liz's bubble went the right way this week.

Needless to say- they missed it and went another route.

Some used sticks....

...and others chose metal slashers.

They had to be careful to B-ash and not SL-ash.

We need bruised, not cut, stems!

The bracken fell before us and all that was left standing were the ferns.

Osian's bubble found some socially distanced rocks in the shade for coffee.

Whereas Ros E's team managed to find four logs - 

- all awaiting in a beautifully sheltered, sunny glade.

This little amphibian managed to escape a bashing.

Now - is this a nibbled puff ball?

Or is it an extra terrestrial life form?

A group photo was attempted at lunchtime when the three work bubbles met. However - due to social distancing no fewer than 5 pictures were needed. Just one has been included.

(A request for megaphones and ear horns is to be sent to the office to allow the NCVs to interact with each other during the pandemic. Anyone conversing is going home with a sore throat from shouting over long distances.) 

Kath and John joined us for the first time since 2018.

Being married they can sit next to each other.

Welcome back - lovely to see you both again!!

Now -  what were those other tasks that were tackled?

Well - Tony and Ros E did a variety of jobs, down near the River Nidd, at Mayfield Farm.

The riverside footpath was completely overgrown with gorse.

This didn't make for an enjoyable walk!

They started from opposite ends of the tunnel and soon 

Tony was clipping off the last branch.

Well done chappies!

Whilst they were down at that end of the property they pulled up the 

few balsam stems that could be seen waving at them along the river bank.

Mind you don't roll down into the water Tony!

After coffee time they moved into the wildflower meadow and attempted 

to collect yellow rattle seeds to transfer into the top field where the grass 

layer needs repressing. Unfortunately most of the pods were now empty.

Never mind Tony - just go online and order a bagful!!

Meanwhile, way up north in the Cairngorms, Julia and Dave spent a few days spreading a new layer of gravel on top of the old on their driveway, and getting to grips with their garden. It was the first time since lockdown that they had been able to visit their cottage. What a way to have to spend a holiday!

The delivery service at work.

Dave got busy with the shovel as the gravel arrived.

Don't worry Dave, you have probably done 15% of the area already,

Only another 85% to go!

Click HERE to watch a great video clip of a pine martin that

came later in the day to quality control the gravel laying outcome!

Newhouses to Limley Farm, Upper Nidderdale: 21-07-2020

PINK GIN ANYONE?

A certain volunteer co-ordinator (who shall remain nameless) suggested that the NCVs may well be able to earn themselves a bit of money on the side from this week's task, in order to to fund a posh Xmas dinner after the winter walk this year. Her idea was based on something that she read online via the 'Craft invaders' website. Apparently the pink flowers of Himalayan balsam (this week's focus of attention between Newhouses and Limley Farm) can be used to make a 'Magical Himalayan Balsam gin'. If that doesn't float your boat then 'delicious balsam curries' were listed as an alternative.

Hmmm. Not sure just how much money we'd make from selling freshly pulled balsam. Starting up a new business during a pandemic is probably not advisable anyway, so, instead, we just got ourselves into three work bubbles and did the usual. 

Pull and crush. Pull and crush. Pull and crush.

Bubble B started down at Manchester Hole cave entrance 

where the River Nidd was nowhere to be seen.

There was very little balsam to be found at this point either.

Alistair took the high road and met a dead end.

...whilst Tony took the low road and found a patch to pull.

When balsam rookie, Brenda, found her first plant 

she attacked it with appropriate gusto. 

Little heaps of balsam were left in their wake.

Further upriver Alistair looked on in horror as a wall

 of water cascaded towards him.

He got his 25m 'Tadpoles' swimming badge when at school 

but, luckily, didn't need to put his aquatic skills to the test .

Bubble A started up at the top end of the stretch at Newhouses.

They were tasked with digressing up steep Foggyshaw Gill 

before doing the banks of the Nidd. Not an easy option!

At least there was plenty of room, high up there, 

for a socially distanced lunch.

Along the banks of the river the balsam was thin on the ground. 

We think that the flood earlier in the year swept away the seed bank in the soil.

That's one way of getting the job done thoroughly!

Bubble C worked on the stretch below Manchester Hole. 

Once again the balsam was patchy in its distribution 

but Tom managed to find a few juicy stems.

All three bubbles found the terrain 

challenging on many occasions.

Ros K. went searching far and wide.

This view of the large area above the barn on the 

far side of the valley was a heartening one.

When the NCVs visited it last year it was awash with balsam.

However, this year - none to be seen.

A triumph for both the NCVs and the contractors who worked on it.

Eventually a "Mr. Livingstone I presume?" moment occurred 

as Bubble B met up with Bubble A and they knew that 

the job was complete.

At various points along the way some none balsam related points of interest turned up:

This one was smelt before it was seen - 

a slurry slick draining into the river.

Not good!!

Many of the trees by the river's edge were, 

like this one, growing straight out of the rock.

A pot hole entrance was viewed by Bubble C 

but no-one ventured down.

Early on, before many cars were about, 

this chap was seen down near the road.

Good spot Liz!

Old Spring Wood: 14-07-2020

We've reached the end of the rainbow.

Pot of gold? No - just bracken - and some bubbles!

This week, after 20 long weeks of not being able to do any official AONB volunteering in Nidderdale, the NCVs got the go ahead to resume normal duties. 

"HURRAY!" they all cried on 9th July when the email came around. Perhaps you heard the shout?

Having dutifully done their homework and read the three risk assessments and protocol documents, 13 joined Liz at Old Spring Wood for a day of much needed bracken bashing.  There they were issued with new gloves, bottles of sanitiser and numbered sticks with STRICT instructions on how to stay safe. It was lovely to see everyone again and took a real effort not to go around hugging each other!! 

Once we had got over the initial excitement of being out with the gang again everyone was allocated to a work 'bubble' and the task began. Here are the pics to what went on....

Everyone stood apart to be given their orders.

Some brought their own bashing sticks from home.

Labelled of course.
(This notice ended 'possible risk of contamination.')

The bracken was blooming - really juicy and just ready for bashing, 
both at the top of the wood and at the bottom.

 And bashed it was - by bubble A, 

...bubble B,

...and bubble C. 
Alistair leant on his beating stick to admire their handy work.
The place looked as if a herd of elephants had been on the rampage.

It wasn't all plain sailing. In one section of the wood the 

floor is covered by decaying cut conifers.
These are all hidden by the vegetation.

A number of us found this a real challenge.

"Lift your leg a bit higher Ros!"

"Now, who's that hiding there?"
"Don't know but he looks a bit shifty to me."

In amongst the bracken were foxgloves.

This one must set a world record for height.
Paul is over 6' tall and the foxglove was bigger than him!

There were other things to be found.
Better not bash these little fellows.
Leave them for the rabbits.

The bracken itself was on the tall side in many places.

What's behind this lot?

Ah - just more bracken.

At least it's already been bashed so that's saved me a job.

Breaks were taken in a socially distanced way.

Some were far more distanced than others, which made photography rather difficult.

A panoramic lens would have been helpful!

Anita was very well prepared for hand cleaning.

She had brought her flask of warm water, soap, a towel and the kitchen sink.
Top marks that woman!

By the time we finished everyone's bashing arm was feeling a little on the achy side. 

"Home for a hot bath Anita?"

 "No - I'll just fill up my kitchen sink again, right here in the wood, and have a good old soak."