Azerley: 04-08-20

Green (& Pink) Grows the Balsam-O

Bracken - balsam - bracken -..... continue the pattern if you can. 

Not only were the NCVs back to balsam pulling this week, they were also back to Azerley Grange - a venue they last visited just over a year ago. It was good to get back and see Kevin, the estate manager, now fully recovered from his accident. Of course, the balsam situation was less welcome to see. In spite of Kevin reporting that the majority of the estate is now balsam free (thanks to both our efforts in the past and those of owner John Dalton who spent the best part of lockdown battling against it), there is one remaining stronghold. There was not a moment to lose - the plants needed eradicating before they set seed - pods were already in evidence!

Just before we get started...

Anita (aka lady bountiful) distributed cucumbers to all and sundry.

(If you remember - her lockdown hobby involved 

cultivating this particular salad item in great profusion.)

Thanks Anita!

Thanks also to Kevin (aka Lord Bountiful) who distributed 

bags of frozen pheasant at the end of the day. 

No need to do any shopping this week!

OK - now we can begin properly......

Luckily there is now a new car parking area at Azerley.

Plenty of room for all the cars and a large, 

socially distanced, group of NCVs ready for briefing.

And so to the balsam - at first we had to go looking hard.

Tom found some beneath these gi-normous Gunnera leaves.

There was none to be seen here.

These three intrepid explorers found the 

odd stem or two down be the water's edge.

And then we glanced over to the other side of the stream.

Uh oh!

As the rain ran down her collar, Ruth wondered whether 

she had made the right decision to return to volunteering this week.

Graham, too, looked less than delighted at the 

balsam forest ahead of him.

However - many hands make light work and 

great inroads were quickly made in the first area.

Soon Andy pulled up the last piece of balsam left standing here.

Only the nettles and other vegetation were left upright.

Lunch was needed!

Keep your distance on those logs lads.

A bridge came in handy as a dry(ish) place to sit.

It was a bit wobbly mind. Everyone had to sit very still to ensure no tea was spilt.

These two NCVs risked sitting on the wet ground.

This group worked very neatly....

...constructing balsam 'cairns' as they went.

This group preferred the slightly speedier approach 

whereby a river of crushed balsam is left in the wake of each puller.

Dave was given the honour of pulling up the last stem on 

a particularly tricky uphill section of the wood.

Kevin's group was working far away.

They had similar a balsam situation to contend with.

However, they soon got into their swing.

That's one patch out of the way.

Paul sheltered from the rain underneath another patch.

Kevin has obviously been fertilizing the ground this year!

Both Andrew and Paul vied with each other to pull the tallest piece.

Note - both of these NCVs are over 6 ft tall.

This empty nest was found in a tree stump.

The chicks have all flown.

This little blue tit chick had flown his nest and was 

cheeping for his mum to come with his dinner. 

Mr Toad came to watch what was going on.

He didn't offer to help.

Good job we'd finished. Well - there is still a bit left..........