Lime Tree Farm: 11-03-2025

 

The NCVs were back at Lime Tree Farm this week - aiming for the finish line. Regular readers of the blog will know that they started coppicing a willow plantation last week and didn't have sufficient time to complete the job. This is where they reached:

You can easily see from the picture above what still needed doing. Dead hedge the cut brash (left foreground); more willow to coppice (centre stage at the back) and a willow hurdle fence to complete to hide the brash (to the right of the area). But - if you look very, very carefully, you will see that finish line I mentioned, hiding at the back of the standing trees. 

Can't see it? Well - that willow coppice is rather thick. Let's get the NCVs to work to help you spot it. Hopefully, by close of play it will be fully on show.

Ruth lopped.

Amy and Andy H worked together

with a bow saw.

Andy C. laid waste with his chain saw.

Slowly but surely the willow stems

were nibbled back and carted off.

And yes - they were definitely willow stems

with catkins to prove it.

The cut stems were added to last week's dead 

hedge down one side of the patch....

...and also to the second hedge that

 had been started at the far end.

(i.e. along the finish line.)

Osian was on stake making duty all day.

There was the same 'us...

... and them' situation at breaktimes.

However - both 'us and them' enjoyed 

the same standard of cake, kindly

provided by birthday girl Amy.

Thank you and a very Happy Birthday Amy!!

Paul volunteered to walk the top of the dead hedge

 in order to compact it. As he walked he sang the

 little known Julie Andrews song - 

"The hedge is alive, with the sound of chainsaws."

And finally - the job was done.

The finish line was visible.

Although it didn't look quite the same 

as the one at the top of this blog entry.

Nicely woven though!!