These may be pretty but they are NOT always wanted!!!
Yes - sorry to disillusion any readers new to this blog but, although the pink flowers of rhododendron ponticum are quite nice to look at whilst they are out, this plant is a non-native invasive species, threatening a variety of habitats and the associated flora and fauna. This is why the NCVs were back in Fishpond Wood, Bewerley, this week, tasked with the job of removing any that was growing where it shouldn't have been. The work was started way back in August 2014 and has been a reoccurring event on the NCV calendar from time to time.
The pictures below show what was done this time.....
This pair of NCVs were tasked with removing this enormous
bush. They didn't seem unduly bothered by the prospect....
...and got stuck in right away before Liz
had blown the starting whistle.
The result of their activity was, as usual,
an ever increasing pile of brash.
This, however, was not a problem for the smiling Ros K.
who promptly set to and dragged it uphill
(with a little help from her friends.)
Gradually the brash was all transferred up here....
...where it was supplemented by a second rhodie bush
that was being demolished by Tim and Anita.
So far so good. But now what?
Well - fire chief Graham got a fire going, goaded into action
by Will. who kept poking him with a big stick.
In no time at all he had a good blaze going and
the brash pile started to be consigned to the flames.
case Graham slacked)...
...and Andrew ensured that the
fire's fuel supply was maintained.
The coffee break was a welcome moment of inactivity....
...and by lunchtime Ros K didn't have
sufficient energy to remain upright.
A little look at the results of their work will help you
understand why they may have been a little tired.
Hang on - wasn't there an enormous
rhodie bush here this morning?
There certainly was.
If Boris Johnson needs a role model for the 'Northern Power House'
he need look no further than these two.
Or the other team that had worked further up the
slope on enormous rhodie bush B, which has also,
miraculously, disappeared.
All that remained by 1:30pm was a smouldering
heap of twigs and leaves.
Great job gang!
Some things of interest....
is this a sign of climate change?
Rhodies are usually in bloom in early May so
was this bush late to the party or very early for
next spring's celebrations?
A tiny little nest came to light during the work.
It was dwarfed by this nearby Fly Agaric toadstool.
(Welly toe - size 6) included to give a sense of size.)
Inside the bushes were many glass bottles.
This was one of the nicer ones.
Anyone who hadn't already seen the Fishpond ice house
went in to have a look.
The European cave spiders are still very much in residence.
The afternoon was rounded off with a rather unsettling moment.
As the NCVs were about to set off a herd of cows, calves and a bull
suddenly hurtled down the track towards them.
Everyone ran out of their way double quick -
not something they want to have to do on a regular basis!!
And finally - honorary NCV Harry has decided to
put in a complaint of exploitation.
His mum (vol co-ordinator Liz) forced him to sweep up
leaves outside the NCV barn before having to go to school!
Shame on you Liz.
Don't stand for that kind of treatment Harry!
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