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 bailer
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.
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