Glasshouses: 26-03-2024

 Let's get rid of the gaps!

Yet another hedge related job was on the cards this week.  The NCVS were back at Glasshouses to plant saplings in the gaps that remained after the verge hedge was laid a while back. In addition "bit of hedge management at Glasshouses school" had been mentioned. No one was sure what that second job entailed, but they were sure all would become clear eventually.

Here are the pick of the pics from the day....

 

The trailer was loaded up with everything 

but the kitchen sink, including about 

250 trees.

Now then, where's a gap?

Here's one!

And here's another!

Honorary NVC Harry (now 10)

found a perfect gap - just here.

A few extras were planted within

 the dead hedge sections.

Gap after gap was filled until the trees

 ran out and it was time for coffee 

and goodies. (Thanks Anita!)

It was during this downtime that

 Liz outlined the mysterious plans for 

'hedge management at Glasshouses school).

Off everyone trooped, up the hill to the school,

where they came face to face with the 

8 year old hedge which was to be laid.

Oh - and a number of Leylandii

trees that needed removing.

Oh yes - and these two veg beds

that needed knocking into 

some sort of shape.

Everyone set to - 

some on the laying job...

...others on the veg beds...

...and the rest on the leylandii

removal.

"Coo-eee - anyone in?"

 

Although the leylandii were soon 

pruned back, removing the

 main trunks was not easy. 

One root got the better

of Dave's spade handle.

 

It was decided to simply cut them 

to ground level and plant 

the large gap with saplings.

Three trailer loads of brash

were taken to the barn 

for chipping or transfer to the tip.

By close of play the hedge was laid

and the leylandii were 

but a past memory.

The veg beds were ready for planting...

 

...and the NCVs were ready for bed!

Lime Tree Farm, Grewelthorpe: 19:03-2024

 

TIME FOR THE 

VERY LAST PUSH!

As readers of this blog will know, the last two weeks have seen the NCVs doing their level best to lay a 100m hedge before the end of March. There was just 15-20m left after last week's efforts so, with a bit of a push, it could be finished in one more day.

 Oh - and there was the little matter of 6 brash piles to get rid of, with more yet to come during the day......

Let's see if they managed it shall we?

 

Well this one is for the chop.

Yeh. So's this.

Teamwork throughout led to success,

despite the many difficulties encountered.

Things seen in the hedge

 included this old bird's nest...

...and this fresh jelly ear fungus.

There was also the encouraging

sight of new spring growth just

starting on stems laid last week.

Just lay this one down there would you Dave?

Certainly Dave.

 

Look busy lads - here's the gaffer.

 

It was pleasant to sit in the sun

and enjoy delicious cake (thanks Paul)

and biscuits (thanks Irene).
 

 

Now - what about the 6 brash piles?

Shall we harvest some

 firewood to take home first? 

Now see here, you bonfire you.

Don't you dare go out.

There's lots to burn!

 

Andy's strict tone clearly paid off.

The fire eventually got going 

and was fed a never ending 

supply of brash. 

Everyone was told to wear old 

clothing to burn the brash.

Here Ken models the NCV kit from

 some years ago. Green with an orange logo.

Eventually the fire got rid of 4 brash piles 

before having to be dampened down.

The rest will be dealt with by 

observatory volunteers.

Our job here is done!

 

All that remains is for 

some new saplings to 

be inserted in the gaps.

Well done team!

Whilst all this sterling work went on, two other NCVs  were noticably absent. No - they weren't skiving off. They were undertaking some INNS survey training along the River Nidd at Birstwith. (That's 'Invasive Non-Native Species' surveying for those of you who aren't quite sure.) This was run by the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust. They were shown how to use a mapping app:

This turned out to be extremely easy to use and much better than having to record everything on a hard copy map. It can be downloaded via:

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/inns-mapper/id6445965106

or

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.natural_apptitude.innsmapper

Now Ros E. and Ruth will be able to record all sightings of Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed whenever they go out for a walk along the Nidd and its tributaries. This will allow action to be taken by the trust to get rid of the unwanted plants. A new rust fungus against balsam is already being trialled in some stretches along the Nidd and is showing itself to be quite effective.

Lime Tree Farm: 12-03-2024

 

 HANG ON BIRDIES!!!!

The NCVs were working to a deadline this week - the hedge at Lime Tree farm, started last week, needed finishing off before birds begin to build nests in the remaining, upright trees. Over 50m still needed to be laid and, if you remember, it wasn't the easiest set of stems to deal with.

So - let's see how the gang got on shall we? Can the birds now nest in peace?

 

The weather first thing was cold and wet, 

so the team warmed up with some star 

jumps whilst awaiting the arrival

 of the tools.

 

Then it was over to see what was what.

Still plenty left to do and the team 

was only half strength compared 

to last week. 

Everyone started pruning, 

sawing and chopping.

The red peril attacked trees

with his axe...

and carted off the brash 

like a pro.

Ruth, too, wielded her axe

with gusto.

Mick dragged brash out

from its tangled positions...

...as did TRP.

 

Anita did her best to keep the 

work area clear with

 the rake and wheelbarrow.

David valiently took it upon himself to

clear the biggest bramble 

bush you ever did see.

This is just one tiny part of it.

Liz's chain saw was put to good use

throughout the day.

The mantra for the day was

"Well, we'll give it a go and if it 

comes off it can't be helped"

This one clearly came off!

The real treat of the day was having coffee 

and lunch inside the now cleared iron age hut. 

There were comfy benches covered in

 soft sheep fleeces to sit on in the warm

(and biscuits to eat, thanks to landowner Irene!!)

 

Less of a treat was the quagmire that 

had to be traversed between the hedge 

and the brash piles. Ros E's wellies 

got stuck up to her ankles and she had 

to haul both feet out with her hands.

By 2:30 much had been achieved.

There are now 2 new brash piles.

(No brash could be burnt

 due to the wet conditions.)

Unfortunately there is still 

about 20m of hedge to lay.

Just one more week before the 

birdies can take up residence!!