Tiplady Farm and Hackfall Woods: 18-11-2025

How best to deploy the troops?

Commander in Chief Liz had to think carefully about where best to use her workforce this week.

The Tiplady hedge was a priority, as it was awaiting completion with the final set of fence posts and rails and two brash piles needed burning. If it didn't get done this week that would be it until January.

Then there was Hackfall Woods, which was well overdue a visit. The usual walk through, carrying out whatever needed doing, was the order of the day there.

In the end - a team of four went to Tiplady and the rest to Hackfall. And here is how they all got on....

Team Tiplady's achievements:

At start of play the brash pile loomed.

Brenda got started getting the 

bonfire going before the rain began.

Amy and Helena took on the carpentry duties.

A welcome break or two by the fire kept spirits up...

...as did the cake that landowner Kim brought along.

By the end of the day, the fence 

was complete from down at that end...

...to up at that end, thanks to the two

joiners working their socks off.

They were amazing!

As for the main brash pile -

it was just a smoldering ashy pile.

Kim will get his grandsons 

on the small one that is left.

Team Hackfall's achievements:

It was a nap that branches would 

need shifting from paths.

These two were a challenge.

Tom dealt with this offending obstacle.

This bench got cleaned off...

...and Kent's seat was given a good brush too.

There you go - nice and clean to sit on.

A hole had appeared at Alum Springs...

...so that had to be seen to.

Other stone work had to be dealt with.

Ruth and Tom cleaned down steps...

...while Olivia decided to do her

 hamstring stretches instead.

James got busy with a spade

on this bridge.

Hang on - who's hiding?

Oh - just a trio of NCVs.

Well done to both teams on all your achievements!

Pateley Bridge and Timble: 12 and 13 -11-2025

Gravel shifting!!

Rain stopped play for the NCVs on Tuesday this week.

However, on Thursday, the elite corps of five ROW (Rights of Way) improvers set to work shifting near a ton of gravel down to the steps leading from the Top Wath Road to the River Nidd. The job was rather demanding but, amazingly, they were finished by 11am!

The state of the steps before

work began.

On your marks,

get set, go!!!

Alistair tamps his tamper

down at the bottom of the steps.

A much better footpath than

at the start of play!

Walling update!

Graham has sent this update on progress made on Wednesday at the Timble wall face:

Another weather surprise at the biohub site at Timble Grange with a calm and relatively warm day until early afternoon and, with farmer Derek having brought another couple of loads of good quality stone, it was perfect for walling, apart from the muddy conditions underfoot.  

Barry started by sorting piles of new stone before joining Rob, Graham and Rod who were continuing with the existing eight yard stretch, where good progress was made.

Dave and our new waller Simon dismantled the final six yard section to be tackled this year and started the rebuild. 

At lunchtime Barry surveyed what had been achieved during the morning and found it to be to his satisfaction.

Yep - that'll do!

Good progress was made in mucky conditions and it was an "excellent" introduction to the joys of walling for Simon.

Now - which piece might I need?

There are too many to choose from!

Weather permitting, next week will be the final visit to Timble for this year as conditions are too wet to continue any further. 

The collapsed cheek end is  totally waterlogged and can only be rebuilt once the ground dries out, probably mid April at the earliest. Looking forward to a dry Spring! 

What a cheek!

Tiplady Farm: 04-11-2025

 

What? No fire?

But it's Bonfire Night tomorrow!

The NCVs were hoping to get in the mood for Guy Fawkes Night this week, given that they were back at Tiplady Farm. They were intending to make the most of the opportunity to practise their bonfire tending skills, ready for the following evening. However - no such luck. It was decided to do without the usual fire due to the wet conditions first thing. On the upside, they were not going to be going home smelling like kippers.

Now - I know you've all seen it all before. You don't need me to tell you why we lay hedges or, indeed, how to lay them. So, without any further ado, I will just cut to the chase and let you see what transpired....

Julia and Dave rocked up in their 

brand new electric car, looking 

very svelte after their crash diet.

Down at the hedge there was a good

 deal of 'facing up' to be done

before laying could begin.

This kept Tony busy with brash piling.

Once the hedge was faced up,

 Adrian started pleaching.

Helena joined in the fun and

soon, everyone was laying stems 

as if there was no tomorrow..

Luckily the rain stopped after a little 

while so coffee time was held in the dry.

Lunchtime goodies were kindly provided

 by landowner Janet. (Thanks Janet!)

Unlike visit 2, Liz and the chainsaw were 

on hand today to ease the strain.

An 'OffHedge' examiner arrived to 

check we were all pleaching properly.

We passed the inspection 

with flying colours.

Ken started knocking in the posts

where the hedge was ready...

...and Julia and Dave, looking a little less 

skinny after the lunchtime biscuits,

 started attaching the rails.

Ruth and James laid the 

two last stems...

...and by 2:15 the hedge was laid.

Just one more visit by a 

small group to finish the rails

and burn the brash.

ADDITIONALLY....

In case you were wondering what went on during the half term week - not everyone had a week off!

Four hardy souls braved the windy conditions at Breakfold Farm near Thruscross to do a little more pond margin plug planting. As you can see below - at least it was sunny!!

Also - the week before, despite being covered in mud on the Tuesday, five other NCVs turned out two days later to fix a bridge and two stiles along a footpath near. Grantley.

Alistair keeps a watchful eye

 on the other workers.

James was pleased to be given 

the honour of removing some

 dangerous barbed wire.

Amy felt very proud (and

rightly so) of the new stile that

she and Tim installed.

And finally - an update from Graham on the Nidderdale Wallers' progress at Timble...

Our thanks to Derek the farmer, who had left us a large quantity of stone which enabled us to have a successful day's walling.

The weather continues to surprise us. It was raining when we left home but had stopped by the time we arrived. After that it remained fairly grey but warmed up to 15%+.  Again wet underfoot, but nearly excellent for walling, as can be seen below.

Graham and Duncan finished off last week's 

six yard section adding two courses 

and toppers by coffee time.

Meanwhile Rod, Barry, Andy and Dave 

stripped down the next eight yard stretch. 

By lunchtime they had already laid the foundations. 

After lunch they added a further three courses...

... while Graham and Duncan moved on and took

 down the last five yards to be tackled in this stint. 

Amazingly, order was brought

 to this chaotic array of stonework... 

...and by close of play there was a remarkable

 transformation with three courses added.

We were very pleased with ourselves this week! Wildlife wise; no newts but the first shrew ever.