Final task for August.
Hope sprang eternal.
Yes - believe it or not, this week brought the NCVs to their last task in August. They are to have a day off next Tuesday, seeing it will be the August Bank holiday week.
They were left wondering what the task may be until the very last minute. Possibilities mentioned were either a final balsam fling on the Nidd, to catch any blighters that had grown since their first foray a few weeks ago, or scything on the Glasshouses verge. The NCVs hoped against hope that it would be the latter.
In the event it turned out to be ................SCYTHING! Hurray! No more balsam! Practise your swings and get cracking.....
Get those scythes sharpened first.
Hang on - I just need to remember
how to put the scythe together.
One team worked along the
road edge on the ridge.
Of course, the ridge is everyone's
least favourite bit as it is not
flat and easy to do.
Another team worked down the
opposite edge, next to the hedge.
This year the council are going
to do the easy bit down the middle.
Of course the scythers were
supported by the grass removers.
Tom raked and filled the barrow...
...which Friedy whisked off along the road...
....to Ruth who shifted the grass
that was deposited at her feet....
....to the ever increasing heap by the hedge.
That's right ladies. Keep that
heap from getting too big for its boots.
Hoy. Dave - the barrow is for
transporting the grass - not you!
Another grass transportation tool
was the tarp and the builder's bag.
Unfortunately the high wind didn't
help as the fabfic filled up with air
en route to Ruth.
Hang on a minute.
What do we need wood for?
Well - see this slope down to the picnic benches?
With a bit of yogic bending...
....then a bit of digging and joinery magic....
..."Izzy whizzy let's get bizzy"....
suddenly appeared.
Thanks Osian and Tom!
Oh - and Osian also used some
wood to prop up this collapsing fence.
Clearly not scything!
No - clearing the bridleway of brambles.
Good job chaps.
As well as a change of task
there were biscuits left over
from last week to enjoy during
the breaktimes.
The path clearance job had taken its toll
on Ken. Either that or he had
eaten too many biscuits and needed
to sit down.
tired out and needed
to walk the half mile back to the barn.
They had made a good start on the job
but a return visit will be needed.
The verge is gradually becoming more and more biodiverse. This year the flowers are really starting to get a hold. Oxeye daisies, knapweed and meadow vetchling were in abundance and the common spotted orchids that appeared last year have flourished again this year.
For a full wildflower list click HERE (this list does not include the many grasses that are also present).
