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!!!