Holy Trinity Churchyard, Dacre Banks: 26-09-2023

 

WOT - MORE GRASS CUTTING

 AND SEED PLANTING??!

Just as the NCVs had started to gear up to autumn focused tasks, so they were informed that there was one more churchyard (Holy Trinity in Dacre Banks) to seed with yellow rattle. This, of course, firstly meant more grass removal. Luckily, this time the grass did not need to be taken off site. It was to be piled up in a compost heap. Phew!! Anyone who had a strimmer and protective gear was encouraged to bring it along so that the grass around the gravestones could be cut more easily than using a scythe. 

 

There was plenty of long grass to deal with,

not having been cut for 2 years.

 

Unfortunately, it masked numerous

 stone slabs and edgings. 

 

Undaunted, Andrew got stuck in with his scythe.

 

Brenda followed suit and 

started cutting a swathe. 

 

New volunteer, Micha, was a trooper and 

scythed all day (never having scythed before!!) 

 

Paul and Ruth did a double act with 

Paul on scythe and Ruth on rake. 

Very melodic it was too. 

 

Not to be outdone, Dave snatched up a rake 

and tried to get a tune out of it.

 

Unfortunately it didn't sound nearly as good,

so he threw the grass into a barrow in disgust 

and trundled off to the compost heap. 

Anita decided that more grass could be

 transported on the tarpaulin.

But of course, more grass meant more weight.

"Osian - HELP!!"

"OK - now - HEAVE!!"

To prevent the grass heap over-topping the

 wall, frequent bouncing was required.

Ros E. leant a hand returning the empty 

tarp only to be stopped dead in her tracks.

Upon looking around she saw why."OSIAN! 

This is not the time or place to take a nap!!"

He was sent off to do strimmer duty as a penance.

Three other bods were also strimming.

This ensured the scythe blades remained 

undamaged and allowed the scythed 

areas to be cut even lower.

 

This was one of a number of little froggies

 that narrowly missed decapitation.

 

Once the grass from one half of the graveyard 

had been removed...

 

... patches could be scarifed to expose the 

soil and yellow rattle seed could be sown.

Friedy and Dave did their cow impersonations

to make sure that the seeds were trampled into the soil.

 

At last, the front half of the graveyard was completed

and the graves were clearly visible.

Everyone went home knowing that 

they had done a hard day's work!