Greenhow: 11-10-2022

🤔

A magical mystery day. 

The NVCs were held in suspense this week. When the task invitation was sent around all it said was that we would be up at Greenhow, working on a number of new sites linked to projects in the area. Well - who wouldn't be intrigued and book a ticket for this mysterious task day? 

So - "What transpired?" I can hear you shouting. "What were you doing and where were you doing it?!"

Well.... The news finally broke, just 15 hours before we all had to leave home, that we had been given the green light by the vicar to work in the churchyard of Greenhow Church. The aim was to help inspire the people of Greenhow for their future community hub project.

"We can do that" we all thought, and raced off to the barn to car share up the hill up to the church.

Apparently the project involves the use of lottery funding and a donation from Hansons to make the building a more versatile space.

Everyone had to wear a high vis jacket 

in case they had to work on the roadside. 

Will's only fitted where it touched.

Up at the church Liz explained the plans for 

the building and the tasks for the day.

One of the Jobs was to clear ivy off the walls,

 and boy - did it need clearing!

Friedy made a start at the back and had to be penned in, 

in case she decided it was a job too far and tried to leave early.

Dave and Alistair worked at the front, taking 

their lives in their hands as numerous lorries 

and tractors thundered past. 

(Greenhow is a very busy thoroughfare!!)

Gradually the wall clearers moved downhill.

Eventually the wall was left in a pristine condition,

front and back.

Whilst this was happening another group turned their 

attention to the untidy hawthorn hedge on the 

opposite side of the churchyard.

Paul gave Andy an impromptu master class

 on hedge laying and then they were off.

Once the trees were laid, young trees 

were planted in the many gaps.

All this activity gave rise to rising 

amounts of brash and cut ivy. 

This was when Anita and Brenda 

decided to take it all in hand.

Two habitat piles were constructed and, 

as they got higher and higher, 

had to be stamped into submission.

Now - what's going on here? Habitat pile construction?

Looks more like Brenda and Anita are counting to 10 

whilst Dave and Liz run off and hide!

Game over!

2 perfect piles!

This sprawling wodge of honeysuckle had to be cut 

back to the fence line so that the fence could be checked.

Will, having cut down and shifted this sycamore

that was growing where the new extension is going, 

came to lend Ros a hand.

Eventually they managed to get the

 offending vegetation removed - and it was true!!

There was a fence!

A young rowan tree was in need 

of re-tubing and re-staking.

Thanks Sarah!!

Morning coffee was taken in the warm, autumn sunshine. 

The moment was slightly marred (at the end of the line 

nearest the camera) by talk of Cadbury's Creme eggs, 

which for some were nectar to the Gods, 

whilst to others they are the spawn of Satan.

After a while the strimmer could be heard.

Liz was busy tidying up the area behind the church.

It was VERY overgrown!!

Liz also harvested these little beauties from the cut hazel. 

No squirrels up here to eat them perhaps?

They are now destined to be planted and used for 

the hedge.

Removal of these encroaching horse chestnut stems...

...revealed another set of beauties 

on this decaying tree stump.

By 1:30pm the magical mystery day was over

and the churchyard looked a great deal tidier.

Days from a bygone age no. 2.... NCV revealed

Remember last week's challenge? Did you guess the NCV correctly? It was, of course our very own singer, songwriter and once time cider brewer Tom (albeit with slightly more of a coif than he has now).

Then...

...and now.