It was a given. There was no way the NCVs were going to get away with just one week of balsam pulling at this time of the year. Sure enough - the weekly task email laid to rest any idea that such activity is no longer needed. So - off the gang went for another day of waterside fun, pulling up any balsam growing on the banks of Ashfoldside Beck and Foster Beck, both tributaries of the River Nidd, in the areas where they pass through a number of caravan sites. And here they are - getting the job done.
This is what a perfectly formed work party looks like.
Half the group walked to the top of
the work area and worked downstream.
The other half worked upstream from the bottom.
At the bottom of the beck the terrain was
clearly going to be difficult to negotiate.
And so were the steep slopes at the top end!
Everyone was on task from the start.
Paul gave these balsam stems his fiercest look, willing
them to leap out of the ground. However, all
they did was to look back with a cheeky grin.
There were a number of challenges that
had to be overcome - such as getting
down steep banks, over fallen trees;
...vaulting over unopenable gates;
... balancing on pipes;
... and forming human chains to reach
the stems on the far side of the mill race.
An electric fence was deployed
to keep Sarah safe.
These three lay-abouts relaxed whilst
conscientious Brenda continued
working on the task in hand, high above.
We asked this horsey chap if he would like to
come over and eat the balsam.
He simply looked at us in disdain and walked on.
By 2pm everyone was ready to have a lay
down in a darkend room -
or even a lean on a post!
Wonderful blog as ever Ros!
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