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.
- 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!
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