Old Spring Wood: 27-04-2021

 

DON'T MISS 

THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY IN 
OLD SPRING WOOD 

It was back to Old Spring Wood for the first time since July 2020, when the NCVs were busy bashing bracken. This week there was no bracken in sight so why did they need to go there? 

The fact is that there were a number of battles to fight. So, without any further ado, let's take up our seats around the boxing rings - socially distanced and wearing masks mind!

Seconds out - round one. DING!

Ring one:

In the blue corner:

Bluebells

In the red corner:

Holly

Unfortunately holly is fast encroaching the area of the lower wood where bluebells grow in profusion. The character of the woodland is changing, Under each oak tree is a holly tree. Whilst some can remain others need to be taken out to let the light get to the woodland floor. So - no need for bracken sticks - just loppers, bow saws and sturdy gloves. Let's see which of the two opponents came out on top. Holly may be robust and prickly but the biuebells have got the NCVs on their side.

(Please note - anyone concerned about nesting birds need not worry. Only those trees next to the busy main footpath were worked on and each was carefully checked for nests before work began. All the rest of the trees will have to wait until the autumn.)

The nature of the problem.

The start of the solution.

Heaps of prickly brash was soon generated along the path.

As it arrived so it was deployed as a dead hedge.

This will provide a good habitat for wildlife AND 

act as a deterrent to walkers and dogs going off-piste

 through the bluebells and nesting areas.

What a difference!

Many metres of hedge were erected throughout the day.

Additionally all the fallen timber along the pathway 

was collected and piled as a barrier to this

 newly appeared path that shouldn't be there.

Ring two:

In the blue corner:

Health and safety

In the red corner:

Dead conifers

A second group of brave NCVs were tasked with making an area of felled conifer a little safer for us to work in the summer when the bracken needs bashing. Each year the team has to negotiate hidden tree trunks and branches. It was now time to fight back whilst the enemy was visible!

This was NOT going to be a walkover for the team.

It was a particularly spikey fight but the opponent 

had not been looking after itself and its rotten 

nature made things a little easier.

An Olympic weight lifter in training.

Luckily Andrew had partaken of porridge, 4 shredded wheats 

and a big bowl of spinach for breakfast.

By the end of the round the team had 

created a giant habitat pile big enough for 

several dozen hedgehogs or a family of hobbits. 

These are not the hobbits!

By the end of the match the area was MUCH

 safer to work in later  in the year.

The woodpile is just as useful to the invertebrates 

and fungi as were the fallen tree trunks that now make it up.

Ring three:

In the blue corner:

The handymen

In the red corner:

The vandals

Another team of NCVs were working to repair the damage caused over a year ago by a different foe - vandals. The lovely interpretation board that had been so well restored in recent times had been brutally uprooted and the frame destroyed. Other reserve signs at two of the 6 entrances had been knocked down and damaged. It was now time to fight back.....

Now - what would you like me to do with this piece of wood Alistair?

Yes - that did the trick nicely. Now visitors can read all 

about the history of this old woodland again.

(Please note that Countryfile star Andy (right) is happy to 

send you a signed copy of this photo. SAE to PO box 123)

Ring four:

In the blue corner:

The bag ladies

In the red corner:

Things that were in places they shouldn't be.

Yes - the NCVs' very own bag lady and her able assistant choose to scour the wood for litter, old tree tubes and any holly dangling down at head height along the paths.

There was a scattering of empty tubes up near the top wall.

Not any more!!

Other tubes were still in place but completely 

unnecessary and damaging the trees.

As well as holly dangling down there were some 

young saplings here and there.

These just had to go before they took over and 

crowded out the bilberry understory.

Team bag ladies won this round.

That brings us to the end of another successful day of volunteering.

What a result - blue corners 4; red corners 0!

Three pictures taken from outside the boxing rings:

A narcissistic roe deer waited long enough to be 

captured on camera before running off with 

the rest of his group.

This beetle did not set off any beetlemania

 but was interesting never-the-less

Liz is now deploying a drone to keep a

 watchful eye on her volunteers.

6 months after volunteering was brought to another abrupt halt due to lockdown 2, followed quickly by lockdown 3, this week the NCVs were back in business. They had to work in groups of six and keep their distances, but they were out never-the-less. What a pleasure! And - the sun was out and they were working in Hackfall Wood, so even better!!

Various woodland maintenance tasks were awaiting them. So let's see what was was done.....

Wow!  A swankey new car park awaited us. 

Everyone was briefed - tasks, tools and teams were allocated.

And then we were off via the smart new steps down the hill...

...leaving one of Jan's newly made 

'Vols at work' signs in our wake.

Team 'Fountains Pond' had 5 different jobs to do:

First up - remove the rotten bench from the viewpoint on the way down the hill.

Sorry Liz - couldn't do this as the bench was already gone!

(It was discovered far below amongst the holly - that was easy!!) 

Once at Fountains pond there was a hurdle to repair.

That looks better Anita.

There was also a good deal of felled ash laying around.

But Tom and Andy soon tidied up all the smaller 

brash into the 'Fountains Hilton Bug Hotel'

(5* rated on Trip Adviser)

Unfortunately, months of neglect had led to an enormous tangle 

of brambles at the edge of the pond.

 
However - deployment of loppers by the whole team soon

 had the area looking a little clearer.

Body armour would have been useful for this particular job. 

PRICKLY!!!!!

Anita did her best to stand on the teetering pile of 

bramble cuttings to crush them down but, in the end 

had to give in and resort to the use of logs.

Leaving three on bramble duty, Tom and Ruth went 

further down the stream to do a bit of log removal.

Well done you two - nice and clear now!

Team 'Alum Spring' were working further down in the wood:

Alum Springs were looking good - apart from the logs in the stream.

Well - this gave the boys a chance to be boys 

and play around in the water.

At least the logs provided some dry seating at lunchtime.

This group had to rebuild the hurdles that had been 

destroyed by people who were determined to walk where 

they shouldn't. From this small beginning...

...two large barriers were soon underway. 

This NCV was in danger of being hurdled in between them for ever.

Might the hurdle destroyers get the message now? 

Do not walk here - leave it to the wild garlic and bluebells!

Team 'Mill Pond' were up at the opposite end of the cascades.

Very tranquil it looked too.

However - just below the pond there was a lot of 

post ash felling brash to be dealt with.

Ros K and Liz are old hands at brash piling....

... and were ably assisted by new recruit, Joe, who really got 

stuck in and looked very pleased with the end result!

There was also a little matter of logs and other debris

 in the stream emerging from the pond to sort out.

Everyone was very pleased when a walker passed by

 and turned out to be none other than NCV Sally. 

Now she's had two covid jabs she should be able to 

start coming out with us again soon. Hurray!!

Interesting things found during the day:

King Edward's cup cakes.

Unfortunately not something you could enjoy with your coffee.

Although, I don't know. Perhaps with a bit of jam inside and icing on top?

Lots of beautiful spring flowers.

A collection of relics, including a couple of fossils 

(no - not the NCVs)

This crayfish - which we are hoping is NOT 

an invasive American signal crayfish!!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO.

The world's longest bramble strand (just over 6m).

And finally two NCVs having a pond fountain pumping competition.

Andrew eventually managed 1 pump per second 

but Ros E. struggled to shift the handle at all.

It was great to be back!!!