Hackfall Woods:14-05-2019

Did you know that this week was 'National Feet Week' in the UK? The one week in the year when we are meant to look after our feet properly and visit a podiatrist?

No? 

Nor did I and I'm not sure now many of the NCVs did either. As none of them gave a prior podiatrist appointment as the reason for not turning out and nine did show up for duty at Hackfall Woods, perhaps they were waiting until after a day of walking around the woods, on a hot day, in wellies or stout boots, before booking in for a bit of pedal pampering.

The reason we were back at Hackfall was, of course, our monthly landscape maintenance visit. We were promised a day of path improvements, the carrying of timber and some tasks that 'may require wellies', so - lots to keep us busy.

The roving photographers caught various NCVs at work.....

 Ah - so here's the timber that was to be carried.

It kept on emerging from the back of the van.

 The kissing gates along the way proved to be a challenge...

...but not one to hold up proceedings for too long.

Down, down, down, into the woods went the wood.

Yet another obstacle overcome.

One team focused on creating a hurdle and a dead hedge 
to stop visitors using this steep shortcut down to the sandbeds.
The slope is getting badly eroded.

Posts were inserted at the top of the slope.

Lots of thin stems were harvested from nearby... 

 ...and weaving began.

Down below two rows of posts were inserted and the space between filled with brash.

By lunchtime the two barriers were complete.
Hopefully they will make people realise that this route is not to be used.
We shall see!


 Meanwhile - at the other end of the sandbeds, 
where visitors ARE meant to descend, 
the steps were in dire need of attention.

 Soon, boys were lying in dirt, using more of the wood to sort out the problem.

A bit of freehand angle cutting was going on....

...and a certain amount of standing around, watching men at work.

Alistair in action.

David and Tom in in-action.

The steps were much improved by the end of the morning, 
although some extra wood is still needed to make two more boxes towards the top.
Well done chaps.

After lunch team hurdle worked on a similar job near the Hutts bench
to deter 'off piste' pedestrians, whilst team steps went off to reveal 
a lost footpath near Fountains pond. (No photos for this - sorry!)

En route back to the car park, Dave proudly showed us the culverts he had cleared so beautifully before coffee time.

What a great place to spend such a glorious day!!

Bewerley Park Outdoor Centre: 07-05-2019

When the call to arms came around for this week's task the NCVs did wonder what lay in store. Liz emailed to say that we would be assisting the aquatic creatures of this world by helping the Bewerley Outdoor Education Centre reveal their pond area. She went on to warn us to bring wellies and said she would supply some pairs of waders.

It was probably going to be a wet and muddy job but, hey, what's a drop of water and a splash of mud to a seasoned NCV?

As it turned out the job didn't really require us to get our feet wet. Instead it involved scrub clearance around the pond - to improve the area from a biodiversity point of view AND to create a better environment for visiting children to work in when pond dipping. 

So - how did the NCVs get on? Take a look below and see for yourself.......

Pond? What pond?!

Underneath this flowering Wytch Elm was said to be a flat, raised area. 

This would be a suitable site for picnic tables for the children to work at.

All we needed to do was find it!

Ah - so there it is! An excellent start.

The elm was pruned to raise its crown and this generated some floral brash...

 ..which, in turn, was made into rather nice, flowery brash piles.

A wide range of litter was uncovered as the ground was cleared. 

This may have been an important notice years ago but has now lost its mojo.

By coffee time things were much improved.....

...so everyone retired to the nearby classroom for a board meeting.

One member of the board was spotted airing his knees.

After the meeting a variety of slashing techniques were spotted.

Dave demonstrated the 'golf swing' method,

whilst Paul used the 'tennis backhand' .

Osian favoured the side to side motion - casual but effective.

Andy strode through in a more aggressive manner, taking no prisoners.

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the site, yet more brash had appeared.

Luckily Anita was at hand to take control of proceedings....

...and in no time at all it was neatly contained in a woven habitat pile.

Eagle eyed Andrew spotted the end of a board walk...

...so set about revealing it.

Paul joined in at the other end...

...and soon the board walk was revealed in all it glory.

As the day wore on the edge of the pond became more and more obvious.

Once again, copious amounts of brash were created.

Sally was full of beans and whizzed along with her loads.

Tony, on the other hand, was rather less sprightly.

To make up for this lack of sprite, he took over the wheelbarrow and put it to good use.

This particular supply of brash was used to create a habitat wall.

It was a bit unwieldy at first, but a bit of jumping up and down....

...and some judicious use of uprights and weaving...

...eventually knocked it into shape.

In amongst all this activity one particular NCV was spotted,

 blatantly having a rest.....

....on more than one occasion. 

His pay will be docked accordingly.

Management hope that this will be a warning to other NCVs who may 

feel like taking unscheduled breaks in the future.

The end result was very pleasing to see!

No wonder the NCVs felt pleased with themselves!!