Let's get these jobs sewn up.
As January came to an end this week, so did the job that the NCVs began in December - namely the laying of the hedge at Tiplady Farm. There wasn't much to do, but it couldn't be left any longer. Not only that, there was a little matter of 500 unplanted hedge trees remaining from a scouts' hedge planting event at the farm a few days earlier. They would have to be inserted into the soil asap. It was a very apt task to be doing on the day that it was announced that there are 250,000 miles of hedges in the UK. Enough to go around the Earth 10 times - 11 if the NCVs managed to finish the job!!
"Did they finish?" I hear you ask. Well - read on to find out....
First of all - the hedge laying. Here's the
section that still needed to be done.
OK Dave - chop chop!
This was not the easiest of sections
if you were working on the road side.
...and some seriously good pleaching going on.
Osian could only look on in awe
as Paul demonstrated his laying skills.
Even the highland cow watched in amazement.
Eventually the stems were laid
and the rails in place.
The job was complete!!
This trio stood and admired their work from one side....
...while these three admired from the other.
Clearly the new hats are causing NCV head
shapes to change. Anyone who wears one suffers
from 'Pyramid Head' - a little known condition
which, until now, has only ever been seen in
the upper reaches of the Zambeze.
Whilst team A did the laying, team B
slithered down the muddy hill ...
...to plant these chaps.
"We shall have them done by coffee time
said Anita gaily." WRONG!!
Landowner Kim drove the trees
spirals and canes down to the work site.
Here the NCVs found special frames to
ensure planting was done in two parallel lines.
Of course this would only work if the trees
could actually be inserted where they
were meant to go.
"Well the ground is nice and wet so
surely that shouldn't be a problem?"
"No - but the underlying layer of glacial
drift deposits and the large number
of tree roots are."
It was time to get the metal bars out.
And the lump hammers and masonry chisels.
Ker Pow!!
And it didn't help that some
trees were very rooty!!
Slowly but surely trees were planted
and protected with spirals.
The frames were moved along
as more and more were done.
Energy levels were maintained by
copious quantities of cakes, kindly
provided by both landowner Janet
(thanks Janet!!)...
...and Liz. (Thanks Liz!)
Luckily the hedge layers had
finished by lunchtime...
...so could act as the cavalry,
galloping to the aid of
the hedge planters.
The job was sewn up by 1:30pm.
This left us time to have a nosy around
Kim's barn, where he keeps his
collection of old vehicles.
This old fire engine was used in the
film 'The Return of the Mummy'!!
an army helmet, standing next
to an old US army jeep.
Another world war two vehicle -
motor bike and metal side car.
And here's the newspaper
that was on the front seat.
...including an old circus wagon!
However, the real show stoppers were Jenson
(19 hands in his stocking heavy horse shoes)...
...and his friend Roxy, a real little beauty.
Both had been rolling in the mud
and were as grubby looking as the NCVs!
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