Tuesday 28 October 2014

Half term bird box event and more in Fishpond Wood: 28-10-2014

It was decided not to post a blog last week as, due to the bad weather forecast, the task was meant to be cancelled. However, four NCVs did turn up and spent half the morning sorting out gloves in the workshop and, when the weather cleared up at 10:30am, the rest of the day cutting down rhodies in glorious sunshine, up by the perimeter wall in Fishpond Wood. 

This week three NCVs ran a bird box making event for the general public in the workshop whilst another ten, plus four of the Heritage Skills students and their tutors, went off to continue the battle against the rhododendrons in Fishpond Wood. The photos below give a flavour of the day.

BIRD BOX EVENT:
 Bev and Phil get busy with a hammer.

 Mollie and Thomas lend each other a hand 
under the watchful eye of their dad.

Freddie and Benjy work as another team with Dave.

 Sam is proud of his box.

'Bird box construction level one' achievers on parade.

FISHPOND WOOD:
 Down at the lakeside Ruth makes a start on moving the brash...


... and the lads lend a hand.

Graham and Terry cross the island's drawbridge and .....
...at last! The true size of Fishpond Wood island has been revealed.

Up at the perimeter wall the rhodies were waiting 
but Tom and Ed were more than a match for the curling branches.

An extra treat.....

Part way through the afternoon some of the NCVs and students walked around to Pateley Bridge to watch the unveiling of the sculpture 'Pillars Past' that has been erected on the Old Railway Turntable by the river. This piece of public art was made by Joseph Hayton (a local sculptor) and commissioned by Sustrans, as part of the ‘Way of the Roses’ sculpture trail. The installation represents various aspects of the history of Pateley Bridge and consists of three figures emerging from rough sandstone.
The pillars were wrapped up when we arrived. Wait for it......

Et Voila! The monk (facing Fountains Abbey).

 The farmer (facing the Pateley showground) - with the actual model.


The miner (facing Greenhow lead mines) - again, with the man who was the model.

More photos of how this sculpture came into being can be seen via 
http://www.josephhayton.co.uk/395-2/

Ros E.



Tuesday 14 October 2014

De-rhododendronisation of Fishpond Wood lake continues...... 14-10-2014

No fewer than 13 NCVs turned out this week (in spite of the poor weather forecast) to join forces with the usual team of Heritage Skills students and their tutors. Due to the task for this week being much the same as it has been for the last few weeks it has been decided to give the NCVs a week off from having to volunteer their services as blog writers. Instead we will just provide a photo blog as a record of the day. Just before you look at the pics you may like to read a short poem penned by our very own bard, Tony K., about the use of the term 'de-rhododendronisation' that was coined last week......


De-rhododendronisation,
A word that should never be used
A polysyllabic vexation
That makes every ear feel abused.

Will Shakespeare would hate this invention
And so would Longfellow and Blake.
In fact any scribe you could mention
Would think it an awful mistake.

Tony K.


One team made a start on one side of the lake - the rhodies started to fall
and Ruth got that sinking feeling.

Ros K. gracefully sank into the mire too.

Laura decided to do some fungi identification whilst she was about it.


Terry and Graham made good use of the moveable bridge to reach 
a forest of saplings that were growing where they shouldn't have been.

 The saplings were passed along a chain gang to yet another brash pile.


Terry had to be helped out of his mud filled wellies 
after the first of his two bog inundation experiences.
He should have taken his Auntie Ros's advice and put on his waders before starting work.


Angela was too enthusiastic with her saw and cut off one of Joanne's legs.
Or was it just another rhodie?


On the upper path, the Heritage Skills students worked hard to 
shift the unwanted vegetation.....

.... and Julia thought that she'd finished 
until she turned and saw what lay ahead.

The concerted efforts are working a treat. The end of the lake 
is not far off ready for the diggers to come in.

To be continued.......

Thursday 9 October 2014

Fishpond Wood - once more into the Valley of Bog rode the NCVs!

With the onset of cooler damp autumnal weather there was a good turnout with 18 NCVs, six Heritage Skills students and their two tutors at The Barn. Today only one task beckoned, the third instalment of scrub clearance at Fishpond Wood.

After last week’s unsuccessful bonfire lighting Terry and fire starter Leo dedicated themselves to the task, ably assisted by Will providing reams of starter material and kindling.

 First job of the day - Terry gets busy with a match.

The group split into several locations, those high up attacking rhododendron, the energetic students at the far end of the lake, and the main group attacking pond-side scrub with the bog hoppers cutting down larger trees near the island.

After three weeks there are only so many ways you can say rhodies were cut down but path-side brash piles were elegantly constructed and wellies squelched satisfyingly.

The rest get busy with the rhodies. Again!


Precious corrugated iron sheets and a pallet 
are used to help reach the centre of the bog. 

 A rope is strung across to help bog ridden NCVs
extricate themselves from the mire. 

In the meantime the bonfire trio had successfully created a smoking giant that would intermittently develop into a flaming fire, a notable achievement considering the amount of green fuel.

Eventually the fire starts to look promising and 
Leo keeps a watching brief over lunch.

During lunch the forecast drizzle appeared and, as wet weather gear was donned, we watched the modest bonfire regress into a smoky pile of brash. Paul demonstrated the alternative use of a wheelbarrow as an armchair and informed the Fishpond-weary collective that we were likely to return for the next 2-3 weeks.

During lunch some old photos of the lake were scrutinised to see 
what it used to look like. It's nice to know what we are aiming to achieve!

With a weather shortened stint after lunch the trees surrounding the island were cleared, brash efficiently and neatly piled path side and logs stacked. Graham and Ros E. demonstrated their Isambard Kingdom Brunel bridge building skills over the bog of doom.

This week’s sacrifice to the god of the bog was Julia who suffered a near miss in the wellington boot overspill department. Fortunately a major welly infill was avoided.

Osian