Hedge planting at Bivouac: 25-02-2014

Back to the Bivouac to continue with the tree planting. Last week’s effort looks good, nothing has fallen over or died.

Fourteen volunteers plus Paul turned up for work, and after a brief explanation of what work had to be done, planting 900 trees to form a hedge along the track, the assembled troops were asked for a volunteer to write the blog, those volunteering to take one step forward. There was a brief moment of total immobility and silence, broken by the sound of one or two people quickly shuffling backwards - which explains why I’m writing this.

The NCVs start to gather their tools of the trade.

 The fence to be hedged stretched out a very long way.

Paul - you really must sort out how to avoid appearing as a shadow!

The trees were a mix of holly, blackthorn, hawthorn, guelder rose, elder and dogwood, paid for by the Swinton Estate, and they were to be planted in double staggered rows, in a preordained sequence, along separate sections of the track.  It was decided that the distance between trees in each line should be 20 cm and canes were planted accordingly, before it was found that the measurement should be 40 cm apart. A quick re-arrangement was completed before a further decision was taken that in some areas this should have been 50 cm. I think our errors were caused by the absence of two of our three mathematicians, and Angela wasn’t party to the decision. No problem, it all got sorted and the work went well.

Let's just stick them in here and hope for the best this time.

 The possibility of using a tree tube for a medical procedure

passes through Dave's mind as Colin bends over.

A second row of plants is added to ensure a nice thick hedge, 

whilst Terry takes a break to practise his marching technique.

So many sticks; so many tubes.

At 11am Paul called a coffee break and we were provided with tea and coffee in the café (AONB please note – real ground coffee served in cafetieres and imbibed from large china cups or mugs. We could get used to this!).  We were fascinated by one of the day’s specials written on the board: Swinton estate peasant. Sadly this was later changed to pheasant, perhaps because a contingent of Canadians was expected later in the day and it was thought that the wrong impression of English cuisine might be given. More work, then lunch at 1, sitting in the picnic area. We were shocked by one volunteer who left at this point to join family members at Harlow Carr, preferring their company and Betty’s carrot cake to lunch in the open with us.

During lunch Ros K. kindly regaled us with educational information of a nature and on a subject which it would be indelicate to explain here.  The tone wasn’t raised by Julia’s interpolations of an equally dubious nature. After the meal we were wiser but not necessarily eager to pursue the subject in more detail.

The afternoon was more demanding. The wind became extremely brisk and the temperature dropped and at the same time we were gradually working our way up the slope and into stony ground.  We had almost finished when at five to four Paul reported that we had run out of trees, an announcement that raised a cheer.

It must have got chilly - Laura's got her Antarctic hat on.

 The NCVs finally pay homage to the newly planted hedge. 

Terry oversees the moment and makes sure Sally kneels correctly.

Another good day’s work, lots of laughs and an impressive line of freshly planted hedge.

Well done folks .....

You can go home now.

 Tony K.

Tree Planting at Bivouac: 18-02-2014

The previous day some of us had helped Paul prepare the site for today’s effort. 223 trees saplings had to be planted as well as 20 mature trees, which had grown up to a height of 3.5 metres. The trees were supplied by Thorpe Trees (Ouseburn) and were funded by the Friends of the AONB, Harrogate Rotary club and Swinton Estate.17 aonb volunteers and 2 mums with very young children joined the tree planting effort.

The tree tubes start to sprout up.

Ron and Sally stand back to admire their carefully planted tree.

 

The budding NCVs learn the tricks of the tree planting trade.

Colin takes his tree partner for a whirl around the dance field.

A trio of tree planters using as much wood to 

protect the tree as is in the tree itself!

I do not think any of us had planted mature trees before – part of the problem was the weight of the root ball, perhaps up to 40 kg.

Whoa! We're used to planting little slips 
and tiny saplings. These look too heavy for us!

(Editor's note to Paul - please refer back to the photography training day to ensure future shots are free of shadows!)

However, once we had figured out a technique the trees were planted much quicker than anticipated.

 

With one mighty bound the heavy tree was sorted, 

thanks to the super strong Jan and Graham,

The weather was pleasant with views to Teeside. The day previous was wet, windy and cold. The centre provided us with coffee and a place to recover from our efforts. The job is not finished though – there is still a hedge to be planted.

A misty start gave way to blue sky and sunshine.

The instructions were prepared by the company who provided the trees. A mix of Latin names, occasionally with an English name in brackets, described them. Reading the map made you wonder whether the company had visited the site. Anyway, Paul sorted it all out and the job was done!

A happy band of NCVs at the end of a useful day.

There had even been time for some natural art work........

Jan

Lopping at Hackfall: 11-02-2014

With rain lashing the window and a forecast of snow and more rain to come, it took a superhuman effort to crawl from under the duvet to set out for Hackfall Woods and a day of vista clearing.  Amazingly, 10 volunteers and Paul were gathered in the car park and by the time the tools were handed out the rain had started to ease and spirits rose. We slithered in the mud down the hill, some on foot, some less fortunate on their backsides!

The NCVs gingerly pick their way down the hill to the woods, 
trying to keep upright on the wet surface.

Arriving at the site, we decided that some of the brash from previous clearances needed to be tidied up in order to make a safe pathway down into the steep little valley which was to be cleared of saplings. 

The scrub spoils the vista so it has to go.

Before lunch a fine brash pile emerged, artistically sculptured into an Armadillo, (or was it a trunkless elephant?), it was hard to decide.  Meanwhile the rest of the party spread out over the little valley like a herd of mountain goats lopping, sawing and piling up the brash as they went.

The NCVs work their way up Limehouse Hill lopping away.

As the scrub is cut down a nice new brash pile is made.

Ros K. keeps a beady eye on Julia to make sure the sticks 
are being cut to exactly the right size for the armadillo sculpture.

Anita and Angela were also on the brash pile A team. 

Hannah - we hope you are proud of us!

It's an awful long way down there!

The NCVs take a well earned lunch break.

By 2 pm the job was completed and we all gathered on Limehouse Hill viewpoint to admire the vista towards the river and spire of Masham Church, as it was intended to be when originally laid out in 1751.  Paul informed us that this view, along with others at Hackfall, appear on the Green Frog dinner  service  commissioned by Catherine the Great of Russia from Josiah Wedgewood in 1773.  Not only do you get a day of fresh air and exercise with the AONB volunteers, but also an education, and all for free!

 At last the vista is revealed

The hardest part of the day was the long slog back up the hill in the mud, dragging the tools - but by now the sky was blue and the sun was out and we could look back on another enjoyable and satisfying day.

Smile please - the job's done.

Julia

Tree planting at Longside Wood : 04-02-2014

On a beautiful sunny morning a number of us met at the barn to collect tools and the 200 oak trees that had been heeled in a few weeks ago at the tree nursery in Bewerley Park Centre.  With parking limited at Longside we squeezed into as few vehicles as possible and headed off to meet up with the others at a lay-by just outside Ramsgill.  Even though several of our regular volunteers were absent for various reasons we still mustered a group of 14 including Paul and took the short walk up to the planting site.

The site before the NCVs got busy.

Stakes and tree guards were spread out across the steep hillside and planting began.  With a stiff breeze blowing several tree guards had to be retrieved from the bottom of the hill on more than one occasion, but for a group of mountain goats like us this was not a problem.

Work gets started.

A glorious day and a beautiful work site. What more could the NCVs want?

We soon organised ourselves into teams, one to dig and the other to bash in the stake and two pairs of hands to manoeuvre the tiny tree into the guard.  Amazingly by 12.20pm the job was complete.  It has to be noted that we did not stop for a coffee break, so a long lunch lazing in the sun completed our very short day.

 And there they all were - planted in no time......

...... the trees that is not the NCVs!

Anita