Unexpected item in the
(bagging) work area!
The NCVs ended up doing some unexpected work this week. The task email mentioned clearing culverts and fallen branches. You would expect this, given that now is the time of year when the beautiful colours of the autumn trees all end up blocking the drainage channels in Hackfall Woods. A visit post storm Debi was bound to have brought down some deadwood. Indeed - the day started with just that kind of thing, as you can see below, although there was an unexpected task for one team up by the ruin.
Yes - here's a fallen branch.
David - the saw please!
Oh, and here's a blocked culvert.
Just deploy your spade, Julia, will you?
Talking of culverts - this one was a real mess.
Water was going everywhere,
apart from where it should have been.
This team managed to get it sorted, which was good.
Water was now spouting down the correct
channel and not eroding the hilside.
However, before they reached the final goal
Ken stood in a rather ill-advised place
and got soaked, literally, from head to toe.
While Ken was being showered, the team
up by the ruin dealt with a rotten hand rail
and some leaf covered steps.
That's it David.
Bring on the saw again.
And Julia - that spade again please.
Now that looks better ... ....and safer without the broken handrail!
The real surprise came when these jobs were finished by coffee time and Liz announced the next job, near the Grewelthorpe entrance to the wood.
"Now, we just need to take down these holly bushes, dead hedge the brash and clear the area to see where some new steps have to be constructed" she said - as cool as a cucumber. Needless to say, the NCVs didn't bat an eyelid. They simply picked up their bow saws and loppers and got busy with this unexpected task.
There was rather a lot of encroaching holly...
...on both sides of the footpath.
It was making the woodland entrance
gloomy and spoiling the view..
The holly was cut...
...and dragged...
...and gradually processed into, not just one...
...but two, high quality, dead hedges.
Amazing what can be achieved
by 8 people in 4.5 hours!
The entrance to the wood has been transformed.
Now all that has to be decided is
where best to construct those steps.
NOT a job for today!
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