THE OLYMPIANS ARE BACK -
Only to face their next challenge!
Hot on the heels of their well deserved Olympic gold medal in the Himalayan balsam pulling event in Tokyo last week, the NCVs were back in training. This time they needed to polish up their balsam techniques in readiness for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next summer. Trainer Liz is relentless. Not satisfied with them ridding the Nidd, the Laver and even the Sumida river in Japan she pushed them to the limit this week with yet more practice at the area of the Dropping Well in Hackfall Woods. When asked why she thought this additional training was necessary she answered:
"We just cannot afford to be complacent. This year's success was a close run thing. The team from Nepal almost beat us. I think the NCVs' really need to concentrate now on speed as well as thoroughness. Effective arm action will be crucial and the use of a slasher will shave hours off their time record."
Team members grimaced as they heard this but were happy to hear that there was an alternative activity up Liz's sleeve. Apparently another athletic event is to be introduced at the 2022 games in Birmingham - that of clearing circles of vegetation and marking them with sticks and bailer twine ready for tree planting. Now that would require a whole new skill set.
Were the NCVs up to it? Let's take a look......
Liz blew her whistle and everyone raced off.
Their progress down to the area of the Dropping Well was
helped by the new footpath surface (completed by Woodland
Trust contractors only last week).
This motorway standard path covered the really muddy section
down to the sand beds so allowed them to gain precious seconds,
UNTIL....
...an eagle eyed Liz spotted some balsam stems hiding
on the slopes above.
"STOP!" she ordered. "Commence pulling but be quick.
It's a very long walk to the Dropping Well from here."
It took the NCVs a good 20 mins to clear the area.
Now - on to the proper work site.
Oh no!! Another issue to deal with en route.
Andy thought a quick clip of the loppers would clear
the problem, but no. More man power was needed.
"At least this gives us a break from pulling balsam",
one NCV was heard to whisper to their nearest colleague.
30 mins later the obstacle was much reduced.
That was all that could be done without saws - so -
on to the Dropping Well.....
The NCVs finally arrived at their intended destination at 10:45am,
only to see a forest of HUGE balsam plants wafting around in the breeze.
At this juncture they all collapsed, exhausted, and reached for their flasks.
provided a much needed energy boost.
For anyone who hasn't visited the Dropping Well before
(we don't blame you - it IS rather a long trek)
this is what it looks like.
The sound of running water and lots of lovely ferns in the
cool interior made everyone wish they could just
sit here for the rest of the day.
But no. That was definitely not allowed.
Liz shouted "Slashers at the ready. Commence slashing now!"
With that she started the stop watch.
Within 30 mins all the free standing balsam was slashed.
Job done?
Of course not. Having reached the top of the slope above the well....
...the NCVs then practised their 'Walking down hill through thick bracken,
trampling and slashing as you go' technique.
They did their best to keep in a line across the slope
so as not to miss any stems.
The view that they had had at the top of the slope allowed
them to see exactly what lay ahead in the clearing below -
the area where the tree circles were going to be marked out.
Their stout hearts sank. Acres of high bracken and balsam stems.
It was now time to mark out the tree planting circles.
Dave made a start on cutting some hazel stems to use as markers.
Well Dave - if you can perform that well in the Birmingham
stadium next summer we'll be off to a good start.
gathered them up and raced off to the
areas where they were needed.
It was just like a relay race.
The sticks were passed over and speedily inserted into the ground.
Liz stopped the timer and announced it was home time.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, trying not to think about the
extremely long walk back.
As they wound their weary way they thought back about all
the interesting things that bashing the balsam had allowed them to see.
Badgers' burrows and latrines.....
...Oak bracket fungus....
...and some King Alfred's cup cakes
(another fungus - not an alternative to the flapjack.)
As they reached Fountains Pond they couldn't resist having a
little rest on the felled ash trunks.
catch their breath, admire the new footpath surface ....
...and play with the fountain pump.
It worked spectacularly well -
just like the NCVs!!
BRUM - HERE WE COME!!
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