Day Ash Farm: 22-07-2025

 

Grab your loppers 

and bow saws folks!

Volunteer co-ordinator Liz may be on holiday but that doesn't mean the NCVs can have a sleep in and a day off. Oh no! It was business as usual, with Liz's deputy in charge. Everyone had to meet at Day Ash Farm once more to continue opening up the footpath along the edge of the woodland. Holly was involved, so body armour was, once again, the preferred mode of dress. There was also a little matter of a gully that needed bridging.

OK. That's set the scene. Now let's see them all in action....

Now - why is Andy trailing that piece of pipe 

down to the lower end of the worksite?

Because he wants to use it to bridge the 

gully I mentioned in the same way he 

bridged one at the top of the path.

First - a large piece of rock will need shifting.

Phew. Now that's out the pipe can go in.

There you go.

Now it just needs covering.

That's it. Good job!

Higher up the path the rest of the gang were

 dealing with  halo-coppicing some birch trees.

Excellent job!

Where are you off to with that Helena?

Just off to give it to the dead hedgers.

Now. What about this monstrosity?

There is an ash tree hiding somewhere in there.

Ah yes! I see it!

That's better. Andy will use his chain 

saw on the remaining holly stems.

Not only can he use a chainsaw and build bridges.

Andy is also an excellent baker. Flapjack at coffee time

kept up our energy levels.

The lunchtime conversation is best left unreported

but led to much laughter. It started off innocently 

enough with a discussion about how 

honey bees divide up their roles in the hive.

By 2pm the gang was plum tuckered out and headed

back to the cars.

Now - what have they stopped to look at?

Just a number of young bullocks that had

raced down to the wall in the hope of getting

some extra lunchtime goodies.

They were sorely disappointed.