Dacre Banks Nature Reserve: 25-04-2023

"My! How they've grown!!" 

Yes. These were the words that came to the lips of many of the NCVs who were in at the beginning of the Dacre Banks Nature Reserve, way back in Nov. 2015. Back then it was an empty field being planted up with around 4000 trees. Now it has become a proper woodland - all in only 8 years!

 

Then...

...and now!

Of course, you can't just plant trees and forget about them. Landowner Michael was now in need of a helping hand with tree tube removal, so the NCVs girded their loins and went into the removal business.

 

They entered the reserve through the kissing gate.

 Don't worry - no kissing went on!

 

Everyone spread out and started to slice down the 

lengths of the tubes. Some could be done 

with more or less straight legs.

 

 Others required a kneeling posture...

 

...and others a crawling position.

 

The worst were the ones that required you

 to squeeze between the merciless spikes 

of the blackthorn. Well done Ruth!!

 

Once sliced the tubes had to be opened out with 

surgical precision - as ably demonstrated by Andy.

 

A large number of trees had simply done

 the job themselves - bursting out of their tubes.

 

It was hard to believe that the tiny tube 

to the left of this mighty trunk 

had once dwarfed its, now huge, inhabitant.

 

As tubes were removed so various communities 

of wildlife were uncovered. Colonies of 

ants were disturbed and immediately 

started running around carrying their eggs.

 

These little black beetles seemed to enjoy 

the tubular protection. Sorry guys!

 

Snails were often found, complaining bitterly

about being revealed. 

This toad was very grumpy when carefully 

removed from a horizontal tube.

A mouse made a dash from this hole

 once Paul started work on the tube.

 

Some of the tubes had taken their toll on the trees 

inside, such as this one that will, forever,

 grow in a right angle form. 

The workers enjoyed their breaks in the sun and

swapped their experiences of last Sunday's 3pm

emergency alert. A number did not hear it, or recieved

it too late to swiftly concoct a tempory nuclear 

shelter out of a table and a kitchen door.

Of course, tube removal generates 

additional tasks, such as tube carrying to the pathways;

 

...removal of the stakes from the tubes; 

 

....and tube transportation off site. Luckily landowner 

Michael could deploy his tractor to assist with this.

 

Brave Dave took his life into his hands

to cross the Bog of Eternal Stench in order

to collect the tubes on the far side.

Luckily being an Olympic gold medallist

 at the javelin came in handy here.

By close of play many tubes had been removed. But, of course, with 4000 trees on site there are still a few more to do!!

Days from a bygone age number 14

This regular quiz is now coming to an end as the supply of available photos from a bygone age have all just about been used up. However - we do have this one to end the series with.

So - who is this happy little soul we have here? Take a guess and check next week's blog to see if you were right.

 

Hackfall Woods: 18-04-2023

 

 Hackfall Wood - with a Twist

This month's trip to Hackfall Woodwas a bit different to normal. Yes, there was work in the morning, but then.... everyone moved on to the cafe in Grewelthorpe for a special lunch, kindly provided by the Hackfall Trust, as a thank you for the work that we do there throughout the year. (Thanks Tom and Alison - very much appreciated!!)

The photos below show highlights from the day.

 

The 15 strong team walked the 1.5mile path 

down to the main work area. En route Ken felt the sudden

 need to check he hadn't come out in his slippers.

No - all was well. 

Upon entering the wood at the Grewelthorpe pond

Tom and Ros E were dispatched to get rid of this mighty

sycamore that was blocking a path.

Tom deployed his saw...

 

 

...and soon the barrier was but a distant memory.

Meanwhile the rest of the team coninued down 

to the riverside path below Mowbray Castle.

 

A second mini-team was tasked with repairing

 three of the broken steps leading up to the castle - 

a job that was long over-due.

 

After some initial digging ....

 

....the wooden boards could be pegged into place.

 

 The remaining vols focused on a fallen tree 

that needed removing from the bridge.

Anita wondered if a little pruning saw would work.

With a loud "TUT!" Dave A. elbowed her out 

of the way and showed her the better tool for the job.

Everyone was soon busy and 

all the brash was made into...

... Yes - you've got it - two brash piles.

 

By coffee time the bridge was clear 

and the job almost complete.

On the way back to the cafe in Grewelthorpe

a number of other jobs were seen off.

 

"Now THOSE two broken boards definitely need 

replacing" said Osian.
 

Hey presto - the boards were renewed.

Logs and brash were removed 

from the stream below Fishers Hall;

Steps were scaped clean;

Culverts were cleared;

 

Protruding branches were pruned; 

 

A bridge was cleaned off and...

...fallen branches were removed from the 

cascade below Grewelthorpe pond.

 

Tom, single handedly, risked life and limb

 to remove this monster...

 

...but nobody took a photo - 

so here's an artist's impression of the deed.

Tom ended up with very wet trousers.

At the Grewelthorpe cafe some lovely ladies were 

waiting with homemade soup, sandwiches...

 

...and a selection of gorgeous cakes. 

Thanks ladies!!

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed 

their lunch in the sunshine.

 

Tom Ramsden of the Hackfall Trust thanked 

the vols for all we do and outlined the plans 

for the forthcoming improvements to be

 made in the wood...

 

... including the restoration of 

Fishers Hall plinth...

 

... and wooden window frames.

Days from a bygone age number 13 -  NCV revealed

Remember the last challenge? Did you guess the NCV correctly? It was, of course our very own David, shown here in his Woodland Trust volunteer's kit.

 

Then...  

 

 

...and now (shown here in his 

 Woodland Trust volunteer's kit.)