Brigg House Farm, Pateley and Hollingley Farm, Denton: 29-03-2022

Here we go again!!

The NCVs were back planting hedges this week - half the group aiming to finish the mega-hedge started at Brigg House Farm last week and the other at a new venue at Hollingley Farm, Denton. Both groups had about 500 trees to plant - the hedge planting season is fast reaching its end point (as far as bare rooted trees are concerned) so there was no time to waste, particularly as there were only 5 NCVs per site!!

So - did they manage to meet the deadline? See for yourselves, first of all at Brigg House Farm...

There were about 200 canes already inserted

 into the ground from last week, so work could 

start on planting right away.

Good job as there were plenty of trees awaiting!

By lunchtime, last week's unused canes were all planted up.

After that canes were inserted in batches to

 ensure we had none left unused by close of play. 

Luckily Andrew had thought to bring a mallet 

which helped with the insertion process through

 the grass thatch.

By home time this group had managed to reach

 to this section of the fence from the gate in the background. 

The tree holding area was like a magic porridge pot that

 kept filling up every time we removed some. 

Unfortunately, landowners Dan and Astrid will 

have to complete the job. 

Meanwhile, over in Denton:

Here the hedge was being planted along the line 

of an old stone wall between two fences. Entry into the

 area, over the barbed wire fence, 

was made safer by Liz's rubber matting.

The NCVs were relieved to find that the trees 

were cell grown and not bare rooted. Just as well

 given the nature of the ground. They would

 not have been able to plant them otherwise.

They all got stuck in - as NCVs are inclined to do.

Will remained on the other side 

of the fence and acted as gopher.

There were plenty of rocks available to perch on at  lunchtime.

Anita had brought delicious raspberry cake 

as it was her birthday. Ken played

 the part of waiter.

She was pleased to be serenaded by 

the group with a rendition of Happy Birthday.

Footnote:

Remember all those bird boxes that Jan and Phil constructed a while ago? 

The job had Phil on his knees...

...but Jan managed to maintain a smile in spite of the 

sheer quantity of boxes to be made.

Well, they have now been delivered to their new owner for erecting....

Mark with his wagon load of avian residential units.

Matt from the AONB.

Jan has also spent time constructing a bespoke chain saw box, for storing Liz's chain saw at the barn, and a set of safety helmet hooks. All we need now are some more new safety helmets to hang on them!!

Brigg House Farm, Pateley Bridge: 22-03-2022

 

You're as young as you feel!!

March 22nd is 'You're as young as you feel' day and this morning there were a lot of youthful looking faces working at Brigg House Farm in Pateley Bridge. The NCVs were obviously all feeling about 21 years old. Spring is all around and there was another hedge to plant - usually a nice easy job with no prickly brash to drag around, nice little sapling plugs to insert and just canes and spirals to add for protection.. So - let's have a look at those youngsters in action shall we?

This is the area where the hedge was to be planted, 

namely a double row of trees, on each side of the footpath, 

to provide a good corridor for birds across the field.

There were at least 1,300 trees to go in.

"OK,"  The NCVs thought - "there are 12 of us.

 We should get this sorted by close of play."

For some reason 2000 tree spirals had been sent. 

Hmmm. Right then. We'll carry all the boxes down 

in case there are more trees than we think.

The boxes were very heavy.

Oh calamity - the trees were all bare rooted in the bags

 and the bags were dry as a bone. "Water!! Water! Quick

 - some NCVs on water carrying duty please."

While some fetched the water the rest started

 pushing bamboo canes into the soil along 3/4 of the path. 

No. That makes it sound far  easier than it actually was. 

Try instead - "The canes were forced with great difficulty

 into the hardened ground which was thickly 

covered with impenetrable turf."

To do this you had to take great care not

 to skewer yourself at the same time.

Right - now the planting could start. As the trees 

were removed from the bags it became evident 

that the root systems were enormous. 

No easy slit planting today! 

Even the spirals had to be wrapped around like bandages,

 instead of just being popped over. as many

 of the saplings were quite bushy! 

Again - care was needed with those canes. 

You could take your eye out if you bent forwards 

or do yourself a nasty injury on the rear end 

if you squatted down carelessly. Careful Paul!!

Everyone was well ready for a break when 

coffee time was called. The majority sat at the wayside cafe.

However, these two refined ladies preferred the Ritz next door.

At 2:30 there was a frenzied episode to

 plant up any trees that had already

 been unleashed from their bundles....

...but the rest (probably about 500) were left 

in wet conditions ready for planting next week.

Tim did a final sweep for any unused tubes lying 

around and was captured posing as the 'Man from C&A' . 

Very debonair!

In spite of the difficult conditions the gang got a long way. 

However - none of them felt as young as 

21 by the time they left for home!!

Timble and Pateley Bridge: 15-03-2022

If you listened carefully in Nidderdale this Tuesday you would have heard the sound of a spring symphony. There were lambs bleating, birds tweating, frogs mating, bulbs bursting and NCVs hedge planting in stereo. It is reaching the end of the tree planting season and they were working at two different sites (Highfield Barn in Timble and Riverside Cottage in Pateley). As they planted the tiny new saplings, they all sang in unison the little known springtime folk song 'Hedge planters all', which is sung to the tune of 'What shall we do with the drunken sailor?':

Bird cherry, wild cherry, hawthorn, rowan,

Into the ground these trees are going.

Dig a little hole and in they go and,

Pretty soon a hedge will grow.

(Anon)

So - here is the photographic evidence from Riverside Cottage:

The majority of the 210 trees went in at this end of the field.

(Ignore the stakes in the pic - they are from a very old

hedge laying attempt from long ago.)

The other end was just about finished off on previous visits.

Nice and easy work with just some bamboo canes and plastic spirals

to protect the trees. The soils was nice and soft for digging.

Break times were taken in 'The Riverside bistro'....

With some delicious cake provided. 

(Thanks Fran!!)

The job was finished just in time for lunch. 

Part timers!!

Over at Timble similar things were happening....

Here the trees were much bigger and

 didn't have canes or plastic spirals to protect them.

Instead they were planted inside a double line of fencing

to keep off the pesky deer and other grazers.

A layer of smaller holed fencing wire was attached 

to the base of the fence to keep out the rabbits.

Hopefully that should do the job!!

As well as hedge planting here the gang also tidied up a pond area....

....pruning down the invading scrub ....

...and adding it to the brash pile 

(now called the 'art installation)

 that was built on a previous visit.

A nice log pile was made too.

What are these photographers interested in?

Ahh!! Some very proud mums with their newly laid spawn!!

Of course, there are weeks when the NCVs do overtime and this was one of them. The previous day saw a small group engaged in a training session at Millenium Green in Pateley, finding out how to turn a pile of willow wands into a lovely willow sculpture for the local children to play in.....

First goes in the weed suppressant 

and some wands....

....before you start 'knitting with clouds'.

Then,,,,

Ta Da!! The very hungry caterpillar, complete with two big eyes.

 The willow will take root and come into leaf very soon.

Watch this space!!

And, finally, remember Jan and Phil, making bird boxes? Well, here is the final result. They probably don't want to see another bird box for a long time. Well done to both of you!!

And the grand total was...