Old Spring Wood part two: 28-06-2016

From: bertram.brackenfrond@old_spring_wood.co.uk
Date: Tues, Jun 28, 2016 at 4PM
Subject: Grievous Bodily Harm in Old Spring Wood
To:  ncv-task-force-leader@nidderdale_aonb.gov.uk
Cc: NBU@old_spring_wood.co.uk

Dear Sir or Madam

I am writing to voice major concern over the continuing onslaught on members of the NBU (National Bracken Union) that work steadfastly on the propagation of their kind in Old Spring Wood, Summerbridge. It is an outrage that this annual bracken bashing event is allowed to continue. I put in a complaint of 'Grievous Bodily Harm' to the North Yorkshire Constabulary but they told me that this is not a matter for the police and I should contact you.

Last week a group of your NCVs laid waste to thousands of my members. Not satisfied with that, they returned to wreak further havoc this week with 17 of them wielding long sticks and slashers. (See photographic evidence below.) It was only the fact that they finished early, due to an afternoon of heavy rain, that I am still in a fit state to write this email - probably only one of half a dozen plants still in one piece in the whole wood. 

NCVs waiting for the order to advance from YOUR officer.

 Lethal weapons were used to fell my fellow workers, 
Barny, Bill and  Barry.

 This particular NCV appeared to take great satisfaction in the slaughter.

This one, a trainee, seemed to understand 
just how best to take a fellow out. 

To add insult to injury these thugs showed no concern about what they were doing - indeed they seemed to thoroughly enjoy the activity. To make matters worse they showed species discrimination leaving our rivals, the ferns, and all other plant species entirely unharmed. 

What exactly is so special about these two species that left them standing?

Your NCVs were able to relax at coffee  seemingly 

unmoved by the groans of pain from their surrounding victims.

Whilst laying waste to my colleagues, some had the effrontery to laugh, joke and sing in the rain. Have they no heart?!

These criminals were even rewarded for their labours by the owner of the wood, Rosemary Helme, who provided them with a delicious meal in the comfort of her conservatory. How can this be right?

 NCVs relaxed over their lunch whilst our members 
lay bruised and broken only yards away.

The trainee, who had so cruelly beaten so many members of the NBU, was actually congratulated warmly and rewarded for her efforts, as this was her last day on the job. 

What example is this to set a youngster?

Has the world gone mad?

 A whole wood of strong, healthy bracken...

...has now been beaten to a pulp. Where is the justice in this?

Can I call upon you to put an end to this yearly massacre? 

Sincerely 

Bertram Brackenfrond
President of the NBU


From: ncv-task-force-leader@nidderdale_aonb.gov.uk 
Date: Tues, Jun 28, 2016 at 5PM
Subject: Grievous Bodily Harm in Old Spring Wood
To:  barny.brackenfrond@old_spring_wood.co.uk
Cc: NBU@old_spring_wood.co.uk

Dear Mr Brackenfrond

Whilst we sympathise with your point of view we, at the Nidderdale AONB, are committed to enhancing the environment and will need to maintain our annual programme of bracken eradication in the site of importance for nature conservation (SINC) where you live and work. Bruising the bracken reduces its density and vigour, benefiting the woodland ground flora and regenerating trees.  We strongly advise you and your members to give up and go elsewhere to work. 

Regards

NCV task force leader
Nidderdale AONB office


From: barny.brackenfrond@old_spring_wood.co.uk
Date: Tues, Jun 28, 2016 at 6PM
Subject: Grievous Bodily Harm in Old Spring Wood
To:  ncv-task-force-leader@nidderdale_aonb.gov.uk
Cc: NBU@old_spring_wood.co.uk

Sir / Madam

I find your tone offensive and inform you now that Brackenfronds NEVER give up.

Yours etc. etc.

Bracken Bashing in Old Spring Wood: 21-06-2016

If you went down to the woods today you sure had a big surprise. You would have heard sung (to the George Formby tune) 'If you could see what I can see, when I'm bashing bracken' or the oft repeated 'Sorry fern' when a basher bashed the wrong plant.

Apart from the fern backen imposters you also had 

to be careful not to bash the woodland livestock, such as this little frog.

Or you might have witnessed the variety of styles. Some had slashers, some had sticks, One basher had one of each, one in each hand. There were backstrokes, golf swings, sabre swishes and even some plain bashing with the flat of the blade. A trial dragging of a log over the bracken was abandoned at an early stage.

Tom had the bright idea of using a log as a roller to crush the stuff.

Because it wasn't heavy enough he and James 

found a bigger log and tried again.

This, too, failed. The bracken just played dead for a while.

Ros K. and Tom both tried pulling it up by the roots. 

This worked reasonably well in loose soil but took a bit longer.

A 16 strong party comprising NCV's, our student, her supervisors and James, our supervisor, went to Old Spring Wood above Summerbridge for a full day of bracken bashing.

The NCVs head off up the hill to start eradicating bracken.

Despite the bashings of previous years the bracken was back in force. We started on the top section up to the road before coffee and continued up to the western boundary by lunchtime. We then swept down in a single phalanx to do battle with the lower section of the wood.

 Bish, bash , bosh...

...take that, you bracken you.

At coffee time Phil demonstrated just how sick of bracken bashing he was, whilst Hannah gazed into the distance dreaming of her heart throb, Leonardo de Caprio..

At lunch time Ros K. brought out some delicious birthday cake. 

Thanks Ros - much appreciated.Many happy returns!

Working in a steady line (sometimes) we swept through large swathes of growth, breaking and bruising or cutting the bracken, whilst leaving the other ferns to flourish.

 Dave was given the first aid box...

...and carried around his designer handbag all day.

Luckily it wasn't needed.

It was a warm and muggy day and once James calculated we had sweated enough, he blew the final whistle. There is plenty more bracken ready for the same treatment next week.

Phil.

For any interested readers who would like to see the progress made by some trees that we planted in March 2014 at Wilson's Plantation here is what the saplings look like now. It's good to know that projects have been successful.

Then...

...and now.

Longside Farm: 13-06-2016

Once upon a time, long, long ago and far, far away (well March and April 2015 at Longside Farm in Nidderdale) a group of NCVs took the trouble to plant 1600 British native trees on the most challenging site they had ever encountered. Loyal readers may remember that, with a slope not far from vertical, on an area that had previously been forested (so was strewn with coniferous brash), they braved strong winds, lashing rain and baking sun to complete the job. Well - this week the news came through that those same trees needed revisiting.

 "Why?" you may ask. Surely trees can be trusted to just get on with the job of growing themselves? No, no my friend. This is definitely not the case. Winds over the last 12 months have taken their toll and pushed the tree tubes and posts over -  

Bracken has sprung up to engulf the small saplings - 

Help was needed! Popping into the local telephone boxes to spin around and change into their Super Hero NCV costumes 17 brave souls flew up beyond Gouthwaite to see what needed to be done.....

Leader Osian cast a spell on the weather 

to ensure that the NCVs remained dry all day.

These NCVs shunned the escalator 
and took the footpath up instead.

Everyone started peering down tubes looking for signs of life.
Lots of the trees have done well...

...but, unsurprisingly, a number have failed so their 
tubes and stakes were removed and piled up.

Phil tried to hide to avoid having to do any work. 
Unfortunately he was a lot wider than the 
tree tube and so was immediately spotted shirking.

How on earth do you re-insert a tree like this...

 ...into a narrow tree tube like this?

Answer? With cunning. Simply slit the tube 
right the way down its length and wrap it up.

Walking down the hill required lots of care and, 
in some cases, the use of various bit of kit as walking poles.

Ros 'tree tube hands'.

Ros E uses the 'Comedy Relief' method (well known to 
all good photographers) for keeping her apple clean whilst taking a picture.

By 2:30pm we started to head off down the hillside - there were still a number of trees needing attention but they will have to wait for another day.

Ros E.

Hackfall Woods: 07-06-2016

Twelve volunteers and a three strong Heritage Skills student team met at the recently spruced up car park for Hackfall Woods on what promised to be a warm day in the woods. 

A much improved car park surface awaited the NCVs.

We spectated as a large bull knocked over a tree guard due to his scratching.

There's nothing like a good 'ol scratch on the bum.

Armed with gloves, bracken bashing sticks and curious intrigue as to how much Himalayan Balsam would be growing at this point in the season, the group descended into the woods.  

Tantalisingly small pockets of balsam were visible with even less bracken. However, being the dedicated ruthless conservation volunteers we are the team soon discovered the pesky invader’s hiding places and set about extracting all balsam specimens large and juvenile.

 Coooeee - Balsam! Where are you?

Can't see any here.

Oh - there you are. 

Hmm. A bit on the puny side.

 Never mind - let's get going. 

Now - who do these particular rear ends belong to?

Of course - we should have known. 

Anita and Ruth - two outstanding areas of natural beauty.

Roving volunteers also cleared footpaths of fallen trees and overhanging branches.

 Mich and Tom clear the obstacles...

...and make a nice neat brash pile out of the way.

Student Hannah models the latest in balsam pulling headgear.

After a tea break in the shade of the woods the attack renewed as volunteers quickly got their ‘eye in’ on the non-blooming, unsuspecting balsam.

This patch of Herb Paris (a rare little plant) was spared eradication.

Lunch was a civilised affair in the warm sunshine on the uncomfortable stones of the riverside. However, Tony’s wife had baked a truly prodigious amount of three different cakes for the group to celebrate Tony’s birthday. How we missed Jan’s cake eating abilities.

Down by the riverside.

Lovely view!

The cake was welcome - but not even 15 people could eat it all.

Thanks Alwin!!

The afternoon proceeded as per the morning. Pleased with the area stripped of balsam and wondering how much would grow back during summer the last of the tired hot NCVs made the long ascent to the car park and home around 2:15pm.

 The search continued.

A balsam free area. Hurray!

Osian