Glasshouses verge and footpath: 08-09-2020

 And this week's task will be.......

Umm, not sure.

Well. Liz kept everyone guessing this week. All the NCVs knew was that they had to turn up at the barn at 9:30am. The task would be revealed to everyone at that point. How mysterious! Was this just a ploy to get as many as possible turning up for yet more balsam pulling?

As it turned out no-one need have worried on that score. Instead:
SCYTHING SEASON HAS BEGUN!!!!  The wildflower verge at glasshouses was well ready for a haircut and some footpath clearance alongside was needed to allow walkers to socially distance. It had become very overgrown during the year.

So - how far did they get with the jobs?

Everyone gathered for a socially distanced and highly visible briefing.

Picking and sticking to your tool of choice for the day was an important decision.

As usual there was much deliberation over how to put a scythe together.

Why can't they ever remember that all you need to do is: 

'Insert sticky-out bit A into hole B and et voila'?

Scythes assembled, the team then set off in 

pursuit of some grass that needed cutting.

Even the grim reaper had to wear a hi-vis tabbard.

No wonder he looked so grim. 

A yellow jacket just doesn't look as threatening as the black cloak,

In spite of the damp conditions, Liz managed to get a fire

 burning to get rid of the cut grass.

Paul's commitment to the task was admirable. 

He continued in spite of bursting into flames as a 

result of getting too close to the bonfire.

Evidently Paul is fireproof as he made a 

biblical comeback to show his expert scything skills.

His film star sized invoice is in the post.

Click here if the link above does not work.

Every so often Anita took time off from scything

 to rest her muscles and practise her golf swing.

Brenda demonstrated her super-human strength 

when she shifted a ton of cut grass in one go.

Slowly but surely, the first half of the verge succumbed to the blade.

Whilst all that action was going on along one side of this wall, 

over here there was a lot of vegetation and mud to shift.

The footpath was in danger of disappearing.

Those who had opted for mud shovelling had a L-O-N-G day!

However, by the end of the day they had 

uncovered a motorway width of tarmac.

No problems socially distancing here!

A nice little lunch spot - no need to sit on the damp ground.

No prizes for guessing what this is.

However - this?????

And finally:

NCVs Julia and Dave sent another picture postcard of the wildlife they have been lucky enough to see up in Scotland. Last week it was a photo of reindeer on the top of Sgor Gaoith, a Munro.

 Father Christmas was nowhere to be seen!

It isn't only Julia and Dave that have been up in Scotland spying out things of interest in the natural world. Tom was also up there. Unfortunately his spot was less welcome. In his own words:

 We had a week in Ayrshire without seeing any balsam until we went to Irvine and there, on a slipway cradle unused due to covid, was an outcrop of our favourite enemy. Sadly, it was cordoned off and I couldn't get in to destroy it.!!!

Balsam obviously gets everywhere!