Social media training and tasks at the barn: 27-01-2015

Today was another day of a variety of tasks.

Jan and Julia reported on the training session as follows.....

Social Media formed the subject of this week’s event in the 2015 Volunteer Training Programme, quite a contrast to our usual hands on tasks. A nice warm room and as much coffee and biscuits as you could consume. Bliss!

Our tutor was Susan Briggs from the Tourism Network (– www.tourismknowhow.com) and the students consisted of five NCVs, two Heritage students and their tutors, volunteers from the WW1 Project and four from the AONB Office.

Susan soon had us identified as either those who were never knowingly parted from their mobile phone Apps, to the rest who considered social media to be the Devil’s Work! She then ably led us through the pros and cons of the various social media forums including Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest,  Instagram and even Tweetdeck (all of which are free of charge) and how to navigate around them. We found out that a twitter account may have 20 followers but each follower may have a further 40 accounts. Quickly 1,000’s of people will have received a message.

The flock of newly recruited tweeting twitterers sit, 

ready to learn what to do.

We then discussed the various ways in which these can be used to promote the work of the AONB and the opportunities it gives to recruit volunteers, encourage funding, identify future projects and generally to heighten awareness of Nidderdale and all it offers. Susan emphasised the need to show a positive and fun image of volunteering which led to lively discussion regarding photo opportunities and flapjacks!

This was a very interesting morning thanks to Susan’s enthusiasm and knowledge of her subject, and maybe we will hear the sound of gentle ‘twittering’ from some of our social media virgins on our next week’s task!

Julia & Jan

Meanwhile seven other NCVs met at the barn. Here they split into different teams in order to carry out the following activities:

• Clearing the end part of the barn to create sufficient space for our new trailer and the annual delivery of Nidderdale AONB visitor guides.

 Lots to shift.

 That looks better!

This lot can go to the tip....

 ....and these old pallets can be hidden away over here.

How tidy is that?

• Clearing scrub from the back of the barn.

Lots to cut down....

....but Anita gets on the case.....

 ....and Ros K. wields her trusty rake.

• Sorting out wood store stack as it was in danger of falling down.

What a mess!

Sorted in no time flat.....

...with every stick neatly filed by size.

• Creating some steps down to the river behind the bread oven to make tool cleaning easier.

A steep and slippery slope needs attention.

The two Daves decide that they are the men for the job.

They were right! Now it's safe to go down 

to the river to wash the muddy tools.

Ros E.

Pathway clearance in Old Spring Wood: 20-01-2015

Today was a cold clear day as 16 hardy volunteers met at Old Spring Wood above Summerbridge. This is an oak woodland with an understorey of holly – which in places was overgrowing the rights of way through the wood. Our task was to coppice some of the holly trees and cut back overhanging branches from other bushes. There were also dead or fallen trees to cut up and remove from the paths. 

Three groups armed with saws and loppers snipped away at twigs and branches and cleared the brash into neat piles. A few berries had survived the attention of the birds so far but robins were taking a keen interest in our efforts. 

 

 I think that there is a gate somewhere under this holly.

Oh yes - there it is!

Need a conifer shifting? No problem!

A tree trunk across the footpath 

needs attention at both ends.....

....and then it was gone!

Now this one is going to take more effort: 

so many branches and all of them so long.

We were fortunate that the owner had offered the use of her conservatory for our lunch break – a welcome place to thaw out numb fingers. Audrey’s flapjack was enthusiastically received.

 A luxury lunch  venue today...

...although some had to sit on the floor

After lunch the work continued and moved on to lower parts of the wood. By now it was sunny and there was a lovely view of snowy hillsides across the valley. 

Over the boundary wall.

In one area several hollies were coppiced to the ground and a low brash hedge created to mark the line of the path. 

This one of any use?

Neat and tidy brash piling of holly 

doubles up as a pathway wall.

When Andrea took a fall in the slippery muddy ground one volunteer fresh from last week’s First Aid course called for the kit to get some real practice, but our Boss, ever keen for a good story, fetched the camera instead. 

Andi decides to take a post 

lunch lie down on the job.

Three NCVs even managed to fix a hole in the wall.

What a talented lot we are.

We tidied up more path areas and cleared up a few old tree tubes as well as trimming and coppicing. Job done we finished a bit early.

 

Ruth

Three tasks in the Pateley Bridge area: 13-01-2015

Today was a day of various activities......

At 9:15am 10 NCVs  met to participate in a 1^st aid training course held in the Pateley Bridge Council Chambers. The day was led by Steve Smith of First-aider Training (www.firstaidertraining.org.uk). Everyone learned a great deal and had some fun into the bargain. Now we all know what to do in an emergency.

Dear me - these four look as if they need a lot of attention.

 Osian gets up close and personal with a resuscitation mannequin

 Julia and Mike learn how to do chest 

compressions to the tune of 'Nelly the elephant'

Steve keeps a watchful eye to ensure that Phil 

doesn't make this poor casualty's situation any worse.

Whilst this was going on 3 other NCVs and 3 heritage skills students and their tutors met at the barn to do either some work on the cleaning and maintaining of tools or distributing some flyers around the village of Bewerley to advertise the Fishpond Wood Open afternoon. This is a Nidderdale AONB event to inform residents in the area about the work already done by us in the wood and to outline the future plans for the lake and ice house.

 The lopper sharpening gang get busy in the workshop. 

All that rhodie cutting has taken its toll on these particular tools.

Ros E.

Hackfall Woods: 06-01-2015

19 NCVs, 3 Heritage Skills students and their tutors met Paul at Hackfall car park on a grey damp morning to keenly usher in a New Year of conservation work. With plenty of tasks to perform the group split into three, more or less.

The new look NCV hat from the 'Next' spring collection.

One group took the short minibus ride to a neighbouring farm from where gravel was slowly but steadily transported down the path to the Alum spring area by the expert trackbarrow drivers Graham and Sue from the Hackfall volunteers. The gravel sherpas, Phil and Osian, then transported it to the required muddy footpaths lower in the wood.

Trackbarrow  in action at 3 mph!

Tom and Ed work off the excess Christmas calories 

and load up the trackbarrow.

The sherpas do their gravel shifting job go good effect.

Having heard a rumour of work at Forty Foot falls Graham and Alistair returned from deepest Hackfall to join their group and set about cutting down elders, other plants and removing brambles from a cold windy bank at the top of the woods near the farm.

A third group tackled an area of damaged dry stone wall at the car park entrance before lopping pathside trees and heading deeper into Hackfall to lop and clear vegetation.

 I think that this bit goes there?

Indeed it did - the wall repair looks superb from all directions. 

A dedicated task force of ladies and Paul did a sterling job of bramble clearance at Fisher's Hall deep in the wood.

 Ladies - loppers at the ready please. The brambles await yet another cull.

The path to Fisher's Hall is now clear...

... and even the brash is nice and tidy.

Much appreciated comments and compliments from at least two groups of walkers and accompanying dogs were received on the volunteer's endeavours.

The weather improved to give a fine sunny windy day with a lunchtime rainbow, formation flying from the RAF and some discussion on Phil's proprietary-named, possibly out of date (?), chocolate.

The work continued into mid-afternoon whereupon tired but happy volunteers started the long walk up the hill to the car park.

Osian