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...