A day of preparation
in Hackfall
This week the NCVs returned to Hackfall Woods, wondering what they would need to do, not having visited since June. There were autumnal colours just starting to show, and leaves starting to fall. All very nice to see.
Less nice to find were a number of fallen branches across paths and some pathways becoming narrow due to overhanging vegetation. There was also some balsam growing where it shouldn't have been but, unfortunately, this had already seeded.
It was particularly important to sort these issues out, as Hackfall Woods was to play host to 20 VIPs the following day.
"Goodness!" I hear you shout. "Is Donald Trump and his state visit entourage coming to Hackfall with the PM?"
Don't be ridiculous. Why on earth would we go to all that effort for a second state visit of DT?
No! These were much more important visitors than that. In fact it was the Woodland Trust's Digital media team who were due to visit, on their tour of WT sites in the north. Everywhere had to be spick and span for such worthy personages. Four of the NCVs, who are also WT volunteers, would be showing the team around, so it was imperative that they would not be embarrassed by a member of the visiting group suffering from a poke in the eye from an overhanging holly twig or coming a cropper trying to step over a fallen branch.
OK. That sets the scene. Let's see what transpired shall we?
The team set off down into the wood.
Hang on - where are your tools?
Don't worry - Liz was able to drive
down the field with everything.
There was an awful lot of gear!
David was excited to use the new electric
strimmer and got all kitted out....
...only to have the string thing spring
go wonky after 8 minutes of use.
Oh dear. Back to using the grass slasher
and a pair of loppers David.
Everyone got busy slashing, bashing
and nipping and the path soon
looked much clearer.
Paul used the manual high level lopper...
...and Osian the new electric
high level hedge trimmer.
Luckily there was no string thing spring
to malfunction on this.
David could only look on in envy.
Holly was pruned with loppers.
That's right Ruth - just pick
up that prickly brash will you?
The odd hazel bush was laid here and there,
rather than encroaching
stems simply being pruned off..
Amy took it upon herself to act
as the team's pack horse and
walked all the way back up the path
to collect all the rucksacks.
Thanks Amy!
At coffee time the team were able to sit
and watch the River Ure...
...which was now in full
spate after the recent torrential rains.
A supply of biscuits gave them the energy
to continue on their clearing up quest.
Onwards towards the sand beds!
Luckily Liz successfully passed her
chainsaw refresher course last week,
so was able to get some practice in on
any large, fallen branches. This
saved the NCVs from having to
do a lot of sawing.
This left them free to shift the cut wood...
... and either dead hedge it...
...
...or stand and watch Dave trying to log pile it.
That's better - another pair
of hands would be useful.
Thanks Ken.
Ah - even better - a wooden lever,
Ideal - thanks Paul!
Space for sitting was rather restricted
down at the sand beds,
thanks to the state of the river.
After lunch the team worked their way
back up to the land rover, continuing
to slash along the way.
There were a number of fungal fruiting
bodies in the woods.
This colony cut down on the amount
of fallen log to sit on at coffee time.
Highly technical equipment was
used to clear a blocked culvert.
A new invention that can
double up as waterproof footwear!
By the time the gang arrived at the land rover it was time to call it a day, although as the team walked up to the car park they collected many nuts, seeds and fruits from various trees along the way. These will be planted and grown on as tree saplings to plant at various sites in Nidderdale.
Let's hope the VIPs are impressed with the state of the woodland when they visit!!
Breaking News!!
For the time being the Nidderdale Wallers' will have a guest slot on the NCVs' blog, as, unfortunately, they are unable to post on their own blog at the moment.
This is what Graham told me they got up to at Breaks Fold Farm on Wednesday of this week:
The site was wet when we arrived and it drizzled on and off for most of the morning. One of the wettest days for some while. By the time Graham arrived,( he'd forgotten the pies!), Andy, Steve, Dave and Rod had completed last week's work with coverband and toppers, and had started taking down the next five metres of wall. Some time after coffee break, we were down to dealing with some very messy and waterlogged foundations; but by lunchtime foundations had been installed. These were of a deepest black mud colour, much like our clothing!
take to remove one piece of stone?
An impressive pile of stone.
Now all we have to do is put it all back.
Lunchtime proved to be the end of the day's activity. The site was muddy and slippery and we felt that the foundations would benefit from a week's settling in and possibly drying out? So an early finish, although we did walk along the footpath to look at the three ponds , new gate posts and gates, all part of the conservation plan for the site. By the time we all arrived home the weather had improved dramatically and the sun was shining. If only that had happened at the start of the day!
