St Cuthbert's Church, Pateley Bridge: 05-10-2021

The NCVs didn't have far to travel from their workshop this week. They were meeting at St Cuthbert's Church in Pateley Bridge, just across the river from the NCV barn. 

No - they were not gathering there for choir practice. Instead they were helping a new conservation project in the churchyard get underway, tackling ivy overgrowth and providing some trees with a little TLC. There was mention of cake!!

The pictures below give you an idea of what needed doing and what was achieved.....

The tools arrived and the fun could begin.

Unfortunately the rain had arrived too - this accounts 

for the poor quality of some of the photographs.

The NCVs met in the entrance of the church for a 

welcome from petite church warden Jane.

She apologised that there were only three 

types of cake on offer for coffee time.

The group spilt into two teams:

Team 'Free the graves' at the front of the church and team 'Free the oaks' at the back.

Team 'Free the graves':

Oooo. I wonder what's under this lot?

Goodness! I wasn't expecting that!!

Hang on - there is definitely something

 interesting over here.

Golly - that hasn't seen the light of day for a while.

What a difference Phil!

Yet another neglected area. What might be 

underneath all that vegetation?

Perhaps if we shift it out of the way we'll see?

Brilliant work lads!

This team were so impressed with their work they 

decided to do some circle dancing to celebrate.

"You put your left leg in, your left leg out..."

Team 'Free the oaks':

These two lovely oaks were showing signs

 of stress due to holly encroachment.

Dave, Tom and Adrian got stuck in with their saws and loppers.

Oh dear. The holly problem was slowly being transferred over here. 

Now they needed to 'free the grass'!

New recruit Friedy, Anita and Tony were

 on the case immediately.

They went over to the opposite corner of the church yard 

and started clearing a space to build a brash pile.

Liz came over and leant a helping chainsaw to 

make a bit more room under the laurel bushes.

No sooner was there space made for the brash than

brash flooded in to fill it.

Busy NCVs never stopped until....

...both the grass and the oaks were free of 

holly (and bramble, elder and ivy).

And the brash? What happened to that? 

Come and see....

There you go - you can hardly notice the enormous 

quantities of it in this little

 secluded corner under the laurels can you?

This team also discovered a hidden grave which had been

 completely covered at the start of the day.

Unfortunately the engraving couldn't quite 

be deciphered - it needs a good clean off.

The venue that kept on giving:

Not only did the church facilities feature toilets, they also allowed 

everyone to eat inside - IN THE DRY!! - ON CHAIRS!! 

- with LIVE MUSIC FROM THE ORGANIST!!

Teas and coffees were also served up to accompany the cake selection.

Thank you very much indeed Jane and Graham!!

This little chap decided to come inside for a piece of lemon drizzle.

Well - who wouldn't on such a cold wet day?

Everyone also had the opportunity to hose 

themselves down before heading home.

Woo Hoo! We are SO going to come here again!!

As we were so close to the AONB office, Head Honcho

 Iain Mann came across to say hello.

It was lovely to see him again - a first time since

 he re-joined the AONB, just 2 weeks after the pandemic started!

Not to be forgotten:

NCV Paul wasn't able to travel to Pateley this week as he didn't have his car available. However - he did NOT sit at home with his feet warming by the fire. Dear me no. Instead he made an excellent start on making a new bench to replace the rotten one near the ruin in Hackfall Wood. Well done that man!!

 Oh yes - I think we can safely say that this bench is a gonner.

 Now THAT looks like a much better surface to sit on.