Two weeks of hard work: 18th and 25th August 2026

What's been going on? 

The NCVs have been working hard for the last two Tuesdays. The lack of a blog last week was definitely NOT due to them having a week off!! "So what" - I can hear you saying - "were they up to whilst the editor was away?" Read on to find out!

On Tuesday 18th August the gang met at Mayfield Farm - a firm favourite of a venue due to thee wonderful catering experiences that they are treated to. This week they were removing the remainder of the tree tubes from the plantation they planted up seven and a half years ago and refurbishing a fence that had collapsed between the plantation and the embankment.

Everyone gathered in the 

plantation (to the right)

 for instructions.

A couple of bags of

tubes were removed in no

 time by one team...

...and countless tree

staked rescued.

Meanwhile a second team

turned their attention to 

the fence which was

in a sorry state - himalayan

balsam, nettles, goose grass abounded.

Then 22 posts were knocked in

- either by strong lads ....

...or by Wonder Woman!

Now all that was required

was a man with a hammer and 

staples, a teapot with a straight 

spout and a spare to act as a brace...

...and 'Voila!'

An excellent fence

rescued from obscurity.

Tony transported surplus

 tools away, hotly pursed 

by lunchtime NCVs.

The gastronomic spread 

made the morning's 

hard work worthwhile!

 

Thanks Alwin and Tony.

You are stars!!!

Just a bit of yellow rattle seed 

harvesting to do before 

hitting the road home.

Additionally, on Thursday the 13th August (an extremely hot day at the height of the 5th heat wave), three intrepid members of the rights of way team turned out to finish clearing the steps on the footpath near Watson's Lane - a job they started two weeks before. They made an early start to beat the heat but still ended up very hot and dusty. 

Steps before and after.

Top of the path before...

...and after.

The wall was collapsing...

...so Tim cleared the fallen stones.

Within an hour it was 'job done' 

- phew!

Time to go home for coffee 

and a shower.

"OK. That's last week made clear. What about this week?"

Well - this week the gang were back on scything duty - this time on Glasshouses verge which has been spectacularly floriferous this year. The photos below are all you really need to see their progress.....

OK folks. Time to insert handle A

into hole B and tighten nut C with tool D.

Before you go to the verge

can you just pack these tree

tubes into these bags so they 

remain upright?

That's better.

Now - to the verge!

There you go.

One verge - definitely 

ready for its annual haircut.

Scythes and rakes were deployed...

...and the NCVs' new secret 

weapon unleashed.

(Here Osian can be seen 

on his maiden voyage.)

With a helping of Julia's scrummy 

chocolate corgette cake ...

...the WHOLE verge  

(yes - both halves)

was cut and rowed up

ready for a man with a baler

 by 2:45pm.

HURRAY!!!!

So there you have it. All up to date. 

Oh - apart from the news that there were over 30 butterflies sheltering in the NCVs' toilet cubicle at the back of the barn. Goodness knows why. There are no flowers around there to tempt them into the area!!

The NCVs are having a week off next week so the next blog entry will be published on 8th September.

Wallers - Breaksfold Farm: 12-08-2026

WALLERS' UPDATE

by Graham

The Nidderdale Wallers can have centre stage in this blog entry, otherwise they would need to wait until the 25th August in order to keep you up to date with their progress,as the editor is away this coming week.

A mighty crew of eight of us were working at Breaksfold Farm this week.  A pleasant but warm morning with the sight of heather in the distance and the occasional flock of geese and an odd kite flying above. Unusually there was a steady stream of aircraft flying into Leeds/Bradford, obviously a factor of the wind direction.  Up to lunchtime good progress was made, but during the break someone switched the heater on and by 14.30pm any energy had been sapped away. 

From the off, Barry and Graham detached themselves and worked on the next stretch. For a good length, the wall was in relatively good condition so only toppers and a course were removed to lower the wall to match what the rest of the team were working on. 

They then set about dismantling a three yard stretch which needed a rebuild.  By lunchtime the wall had been cleared and half the foundations added. 

Barry and Graham's 

progress at lunchtime

The afternoon was another story. Barry completed his foundations and a single course was added, very little progress compared with morning.

The energy sapping progress , 

or lack of it, in the afternoon

The rest of the team continued on from last week, adding something like four courses over the 15 yard section; a lot of walling in the hot conditions!

  

End of day on the main section

Simon, Andy and Wayne 

doing a final inspection

Hackfall Woods: 11-08-2026

An unexpected item 

in the bagging area!

Occasionally the NCvs have to go to help with an unexpected event and this week was one of those times. At the end of July the front section of a very large tree had fallen across a path in Hackfall Woods and, although the main blockage caused by the trunk had been cleared to the side by contractors, as you can see from the photo below, the large quantities of brash, left on either side of the path and in the stream, needed clearing and properly brash piling.

So, suitably armed with loppers, saws, axes and lump hammers, the NCVs sallied forth to deal with the mess......

Well THOSE big logs are 

going to have to stay put!

Just below the bridge 

was a mess!

Where to begin???

Here is as good a place as any.

Yes - and at least this 

looks a bit better.

Ruth and Tom practised for the 

next Commonwealth Games

Amy's love of sawing

in the great outdoors

was clear to see.

The contractors had left a big 

heap here so the NCVs just

 had to neaten it up and add to it.

Now - that's a tidier looking brash pile!

We were able to start this from scratch....

...and then keep going!

Heave everyone!

Why don't we use some 

of these logs as seating?

Good idea - very comfortable.

Amy entertained us

with a rousing  tune or two

on her wooden saxophone.

Meanwhile, down in the stream 

bed things were difficult.

But, gradually, you could see

 the wood for the trees.

Lots of discussion was needed

about how to tackle this.

But with patience and 

the use of a rope, 

they managed to get rid.

Attention shifted to this

part of the water course.

.Slowly but surely the gang 

worked their magic.

That is most definitely better!!!

Just a few bits to clear

from under the stone bridge...

...and a bit of a sweep here and

the job was done - apart from a log

that had to be left for

 the contractors.

Wallers' update

by Barry

Another week at Breaks Fold Farm and a further 5 yards of old wall were dismantled to a point where the next section of the original may be good enough to preserve. Simon & Barry (team A) took on this work while Andy, Dave, Duncan & Rod (team B) completed foundations and added courses to the 10-yard working stint. 

Windswept showers kept us cool with fleeces donned for most of the day, a striking contrast to the calm and warm conditions in July. The Knabbs Ridge turbines were in continuous steady rotation all day. At end of play, team A had set foundations and added a course to their 5 yard section and team B had laid three courses over foundations on their 10-yards. Another productive day with a 3.15pm  finish.

Early afternoon and the

 team was still on the job.

The next three pics show the progress over the last three work days.....

End of day 1

End of day 2

End of day 3 -

it's starting to look more like a wall!!