Early start to beat the bullies
You may remember, if you follow this blog regularly, that last year the NCVs' visits to the Hackfall tree cages was a washout on the first attempt and a battle against the mile high bracken and balsam on the second. The vegetation was so high that the team had difficulty even finding the 8 cages. This year the gang set their alarm clock for late May, rather than late July, in the hope that both bracken and balsam would only be at their early growth stage, the cages would be easy to see and the bullies could easily be annihilated. Of course, the weather was something that could not be controlled by the earlier start. All the team could do was hope.
Did the gamble pay off? Let's take a look shall we?
A new route to the cages was
not without its challenges.
Especially after the recent heavy rains.
Of course if they had followed Liz's instructions
they would have gone on a much better path.
As it was they followed the advice
of a certain person who shall remain nameless.....
On arrival the situation looked promising.
The bracken and balsam was, indeed,
only just starting to get a move on.
Well - here's a cage - easy to spot
and not hard to reach.
The 5 strong team (yes, that's right,
only 5. Hmmm. I wonder why?)
split into 2 groups aiming to work on 4 cages each.
Inside the cages the trees were growing well,
possibly even getting big enough to suppress
the bracken and balsam underneath.
Let the battle begin.
Team downhill (2 strong)
got off to a slow start due to the preponderance
of wild rose bushes that needed pruning down
to allow access. Only one cage was
completed in time for coffee.
Team uphill (3 strong) got through
2.5 cages by coffee time.
Now - is this because they:
a) had one extra person?
b) had easier cages to clear?
c) weren't doing as thorough job?
Time for a break in proceedings.
Initially they were sitting under an elder
in case it rained - until they realised there was
a busy colony of bees underfoot.
Everyone swiftly moved uphill.
And here we have the lovely Osian,
modelling this spring's latest French millinery creation -
a must have for all outdoorsy types.
It can be pulled down over the face,
at a moment's notice, to allow the wearer to
maintain an air of mystery or prevent
ingress of midges "dans leur nez".
Back to business.
The outside of this cage was swamped
by goat willow which needed cutting back
to allow access.
The final cage was dealt with by both teams
just in time for lunch and the arrival of the rain.
