Dacre Banks Nature Park and QGIS training: 22-11-2016

Choices,choices. So many choices!! Another week and another quandary. This time we could either:

• re-visit the Dacre Banks nature park to focus on preparing an area for sowing wildflower seed and helping with some drystone wall repairs

OR - for the more technologically minded NCVs ....

• attend the QGIS training on offer in the council chambers, Pateley Bridge. 

14 NCVs opted for the nature park and 1 for the training which was given by Jim Brightman. 

I signed up for the training having absolutely no idea what QGIS software did, but soon discovered that it is an 'Open Source Geographic Information System' - the 'Q' stands for 'Quantum'. Hmmm. OK. And....??? Well - you can use it to visualise, manage, edit, analyse data, and compose printable maps such as the two below.

There were 8 other people on the course - all of them volunteers who have been helping with the various archaeological projects in Nidderdale - so I wasn't the only student in the room.

It is probably best for interested readers to go to the QGIS website to learn more. Suffice it to say that the day was very informative (thanks Jim!!) and allowed us to use the software on our own laptops throughout. 

Whilst I was getting to grips with this IT wizardry everyone else braved the elements down in Dacre. Photos below show what they got up to.

Hay rakes were used to pull off grass thatch 
to prepare the ground for wild flower seed sowing.

Will kept a stern eye on the workers, tut tutting when things were not done correctly.

A group of NCVs with walling experience did some patching up.
It was like having to do a 3D jig saw puzzle - 
without the picture on the lid of the box to help.

Do you think that this bit goes here?
(Word on the street says that it took 5 NCVs to place one particular stone - 
either it was a very heavy stone or one that required an awful lot of figuring out!)

Ros E.

Dacre Banks Nature Park and Ripon Walled Garden: 15-11-2016

There were an impressive 24 NCVs in action today – 11 over at Ripon Walled Garden and 13 at Dacre Banks. And what a lovely sunny day they had.

At Dacre Banks Nature Park time was spent tidying up tree guards. This involved firming the stakes and weeding within the guards to prevent weeds smothering trees and also stop the trees becoming damaged by decaying vegetation. Two field mice had to be temporarily evicted from one tube in the process.

There has been a very good survival of trees throughout the whole area. Losses have been largely restricted to the spiral guarded trees but could be due to various factors. The students got stuck into shifting 2 tons of walling stone for Michael in the afternoon. A good day's work!

James

Beautiful sky as we arrived. 

The planes were keeping an eye on us.

Some of the 3000 trees that needed our TLC. 

Possibly the wings of a woodcock found on the track. 
Probably the remains of a fox's dinner.

The task ahead.

The weeds like to grow in the tubes
 just as much as the trees!

The tree now with less competition in its little tube

Yes its lunch time and the sun is still shining

Sally and the vanishing banana trick

Meanwhile, at Ripon Walled Garden the other group met with orchard expert, Barry Potter, for the second time  to participate in the next part of their orchard management training. Here we were shown how to prune the trees in order to encourage fruit to be produced, cut out rotten wood and remove branches that are stopping light and air circulating within the centre of the canopy.

Thanks to Barry for an excellent training session - and to Audrey for the flapjack!

Ros E.

We started off on the veranda.

Hoy! Dave there, at the back. Pay attention!

Now - this 'ere's a tripod orchard ladder....

... and when you're at the top you can prune the tree safely.

Barry sorts out his harness. 
"I think that this bit goes in here."

Now for a demonstration - but not for the NCVs to try out.

Everyone got busy with secateurs, saws and loppers.

Are you sure you were meant to remove such a large piece ladies?

Graham and Dave used a different kind of ladder.

Ros E. ended up sitting down on the job.

Anita and Ros had some extra tuition from the expert.

Stop!! On NO account must you prune so vigorously Jan.

Lunchtime was a very civilised affair back on the veranda.
During this time we sampled a number of old apple varieties.

Ros E.

Low Dam: 08-11-2016

Editorial Note:

Apologies to all our blog readers who have been eagerly awaiting the next instalment. Late publication is entirely due to circumstances beyond my control.

This week 17 people, including students and zoo keepers, met at Low Dam, below Thruscross Reservoir, to clear pond vegetation and cut back scrub in a wetland  that NCVs had a hand in creating several years ago. We were met there by Peter Riley, well known in Wharfedale Nats and Otley Wetlands and the expert on the Washburn Valley. He and James explained the task which involved cutting down scrub and, if time permitted, taking out some of the vegetation that has invaded the ponds. This was all for the benefit of adders, slow worms, frogs etc. as well as flowers.  It was a good day, a challenge successfully met.

Tony

The photos below give a flavour of the day..... 

 Low Dam looked lovely.

 Observation hut.

"What's through the round window today?"

Another beautiful view.

The team are briefed on the plan for the day.

 Everyone got busy with busy with bow saws and loppers.

Dave did battle with a number of saplings.

Snip, snip snip.

Ros K, Anita and Laura built one of the most
impressive brash piles we've made to date.

It will provide a good home for many creatures over the winter months.

There was fun and games for those in waders...

...but there was always a risk of being hit in the 

face by a colleague with a bulrush.

 No. It's not an NCV task - perhaps Robin Hood got lost?

Saplings were hiding the ponds and slow worm habitats

Scrub cleared!

 A good spot for lunch.

Nice to see you back after your post-operative skive Graham!!

Say "Cheese". Eat cheese.

Hackfall Woods: 01-11-2016

Today was a beautiful day in Hackfall Woods. Osian (aka Leonardo DiCaprio since the Oscar award ceremony) was in charge, as James and Ros E were not out to play.

First up the Oscar awards were shown 

to the 16 NCVs who attended.

Then everyone got down to work. The tasks this week involved footpath clearing, culvert cleaning, log cutting and removal. 

This log just had to go. So it went!

As did this one - click HERE to see Leonardo in action.

Lunch was a serious affair for some...

...and a blinding affair for others.

Anita obviously had something to hide!!

Everywhere you looked were lovely things to see:

The view across from the car park.

The field down to the woods.

The river with the autumn leaves.

The castle looked splendid. 

This view was definitely one to stop to admire.

The fungus was beautiful and jostling for space:

Tony 

Update on charcoal making results:

In case any readers are waiting to see the results of the charcoal making training day here are some photos of the results from the home made oil drum system.....

Actually - that doesn't look at all bad!

Certainly better than the oil drum!

 It even bears close inspection...

... - well, not too close. We needed to leave

 the lid off for longer to allow the steam to escape. 

Never mind - a lesson learned. How to make Parcoal!!

The charcoal that we made in the proper charcoal 
burner turned out to be the best charcoal 
it had ever produced - well done us!!