Hackfall Woods: 14-02-2023 and Angram Reservoir: 09-02-2023

 

 Loving the woods!!

As today was Valentine's day it was appropriate for the NCVs to be working in a place that they love to visit. One that is already full of old trees - not one that needed any tree planting for a change!! Last time they visited they were racing around in the Hackfall Handicap Horseless horse race. This time the circuit was taken at a more leisurely pace. Now, what, I wonder, did the gang need to do to show the woods they loved them? Let's have a look shall we?

 

   

This old set of steps down at the sandbeds

 needed blocking off.The bank is

 eroding and visitors need to be deterred.

 

 

OK. Let's gather some natural resources...

 

 

And create the framework for a hurdle at the top...

 

 

...and at the bottom of the bank.

 

Then you just need to get weaving.

 

Ta da!

 

A pair of super sized hurdles to keep out

 the most determined walker.

 At coffee time we were treated to a love story from Paul entitled 'Tessa the Hag Beech' which we thought was rooted in folk lore but, it turns out, was rooted in Paul's imagination. You can access the story HERE. We loved listening to it.

 

And here is Tessa herself.(Can be seen on the way

 through the woods towards Alum Springs from Grewelthorpe)

 

Apparently Tessa the witch made excellent curd 

cheese griddle scones. And so does Paul!! 

Thanks Paul - we loved those too. 

 

 

 After coffee Tom and Osian left the weavers 

and walked on to rake displaced gravel 

back onto the path. Nice job lads.

 

Tom returned to create a Zen garden on the beach.

After lunch The Boss (standing in for poor Liz who is off work with an injured hand) decided to continue with Tom's art activity and challenged everyone to.....

THE HACKFALL VALENTINE'S DAY BEACH ART COMPETITION.

Within no time at all there were 7 pieces of Valentine themed artwork being judged. 5 were heart related:

 

Cupid hasn't been. (Paul)

 

Heart of stone (Dave A)

 

Cupid's arrow (Tom)

 

Statement of intent (Ruth)

 

My heart's a balloon (Ros E.)

But 2 artists thought outside the box and so won the day:

 

Save all your kisses for me (Ken) 

 

Love letters in the sand

 (David M. - using beech twigs)

 Then it was time to get back to work. 

 

The old hurdle above the sandbeds needed adding to....

....so the NCVs did.

And then - apart from a bit of encroaching holly removal - all the jobs were done and the ascent to the car park could begin. Some things of interest seen along the way included:

King Alfred's cup cake fungus which, 

apparently, grows a new layer each year.

 

Nessie on holiday in the River Ure.

 

 A bird box with a patio extension. 

 

A forest of sycamore saplings, 

each wearing foot warmers! Love 'em!!

ADDITIONALLY - a double helping of blog content.....

The NCVs were invited to join Liz for a day of 'Extreme Tree Tube Maintenance' way up above Angram reservoir last Thursday. This was the first of a few additional task days planned to beat the start of the nesting season. Four brave hearted individuals took up the challenge and sallied forth on a day that was extreme in a number of regards, as you can see below.

The weather was EXTREMELY windy creating huge white horses on the reservoir itself. In spite of this Liz made use of a sheep's scapula as a fan to keep herself extra cool.

The work area was an EXTREMELY long way up the hillside from Liz's car. Those readers with exceptionally good eyesight may be able to make it out in the distance, down near the water.

The terrain was EXTREMELY challenging. The trees had been planted in a very steep sided gully.

Weeding the tubes was fairly straightforward and some EXTREMELY large quantities of grass, bilberry and heath bedstraw were removed.

 

The NCVs also had to ID the species that were still alive (always EXTREMELY difficult during the winter) and record any that were dead. This particular tree obviously needed a lot of discussion.

EXTREMELY good use was made of this winter twig ID chart. 

Much time was spent on the knees but, standing or kneeling everyone managed to keep smiling EXTREMELY broad smiles.

Everyone was EXTREMELY glad to hunker down in the gully bottom for their breaks.

By 2pm every one of the 275 tubes had been checked - which was EXTREMELY good going. There has been about a 20% loss. These will now be replaced with new saplings as part of the 'Beyond Nature' project requirements.

Days from a bygone age number 9

The brass player featured last week was, of course, the youthful Tim. Perhaps he could give us a tune next time we meet?

 

Then...

...and now - still smiling!