B B
CBC
Boats NCVs to
herd whales deer from
Gare Loch Summerbridge Nature Reserve
In the spirit of true sustainability, today,
the BBC’s news headline from last Thursday is being upcycled. Last week they
reported on the removal of bottle nosed cetaceans from a sea loch ahead of a naval exercise in Argyll and, as the NCVs’ expert animal
herding skills were being deployed today, the chance to re-use the headline was
seized. Deer have been eating the trees in the Summerbridge reserve. There
was no time to lose. They needed ‘encouraging’ out of the area so that the new deer
proof fence could be closed. NCVs – get ready!
Different groups of NCVs and 'Make it Wild' personnel were dispatched
to the various areas that needed clearing.
Three established woodlands, one new plantation and a field.
Sixteen people. Hmmm. Enough?
The new plantation was easy to walk through and spot
any deer that might appear.
The established woodlands were a different kettle of fish.
Is that a deer? No - only Brenda.
Some deer were flushed out and when they were there was lots of shouting and mad dashes to cut off escapees (largely unsuccessful). We couldn't say exactly how many deer were spotted. Various guesses were made. It may have been four, or one pair going in circles. Or seven. Or one very active animal. Of course, they didn't move slowly enough to be photographed, and, although they were seen they didn't go obediently through the open gate. So - for the first time ever the NCVs had to admit defeat and go for a coffee break.
Deer - dix points; NCVs - nul points.
It wasn’t all Rawhide. There was another, less exciting and more prickly problem to make a start on. Parts of Banks Wood are being overwhelmed with holly and this needs removing to ensure light gets to the woodland floor. The wildflowers and trees need space to grow.
All the tools were collected from the car.
So – NCVs – pick up your loppers and bowsaws and get ready again!
The plan was to halo coppice the holly around any veteran
trees, then use the resulting brash to create a dead hedge
pathway, through the wood to this 'magic circle' in the centre.
There was PLENTY of holly that needed removing.
As the holly was cut, so it was arranged
between two rows of stakes.
'Andy the Stake' was kept busy with his mallet and billhook.
Gradually, down near the magic circle, things began to take shape.
Further up the route a proto dead hedge started to emerge.
Sun reached the woodland floor for the first time in a long time.
Lunchtime in the magic circle.
Now this veteran needs a bit of haloing.(The tree - not Paul.)
And here's just the man for the job.
Yes - that's better.
Eventually a number of big trees were cleared and the
holly was well on the way to being utilized as a smart path edging.
At home time everyone tried out the new pathway....
...before heading off back to the cars.
And finally - while all these exciting things were happening in Summerbridge, Phil and Jan were busy peening the scythe blades at an unknown address. Thanks chaps!
Peener no. 2 banged his hammer, all the while keeping close guard on the cake in case peener no. 1 got
more than his fair share.
The resulting peenage.
I think we can now say that these are a
smart set of six perfectly peened blades.
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