Tuesday 13 December 2016

Time off for good behaviour: 12-12-2016

This week the NCVs were excused work. Too much work makes for very dull volunteers - so we sparkled and left the dullness to the weather. There was a good turn out today (I wonder why???) with no fewer than 25 NCVs in the group.

Instead our very own Graham - a walk organiser par excellence - planned a lovely pre-Christmas ramble. The 5 mile morning walk began at Dry Gill lay-by, just west of Stump Cross Caverns and followed bridleways and footpaths to Appletreewick. Once we got to the village we were treated to a soup and sandwiches lunch at the Craven Arms and Cruck Barn (thanks to the AONB office for that!!) After lunch there was the option to do a further 3.5 miles to complete a circuit back to the starting point. 11 opted to do this. Those who felt that they had done enough were given a lift back in the students' mini bus (thanks Maggie!)

The photos below show us on our way....

 Father Christmas style hats (and even a Christmas pudding)
 were very much in evidence when everyone gathered in the car park.

Take a video tour around Anita's hat which was covered
 in lots of knitted Christmas paraphernalia.


Andy went for the more bohemian look with green dreadlocks.


 Maggie favoured a jaunty Christmas tree.


Graham wore a pair of festive horns - 
although one was decidedly droopy.

The view was shrouded in mist at first. 
Never mind - we knew it was there.

Off we went with Graham in the lead. To signify his importance he wore this year's must have outer garment; a tabard made of the finest silk and organdie in a delicate shade of lemon zest.

Gradually the mist lifted sufficiently for us to see more of our surroundings.


Over the stile and we were in Troller's Gyhll. 
This is the home of the Rottentrolls.
Click here to visit the Rottentrolls website.


Once or twice people had a look inside 
an old mine entrance in case there was anything interesting to be seen.

Tom and James looked calm and collected as they emerged from this one in spite of having just been chased out by the resident Barguest. 
(For those who are unsure - this is a mythical beast. A monstrous dog with huge teeth and eyes as big as dinner plates who used to eat the Rottentrolls.)


The valley became more and more steep sided....

... down and down we trekked.


The view back up the ghyll - good job there hadn't been too much rain recently. 
This can become a raging torrent when conditions are right!

At the bottom we took a coffee break and James 
broke out a tin of his delicious home made brownies. (Thanks James!)
Here he can be seen sharing his recipe with the group.


Off we went again...


....across the fields and around the mole hills.

Lots of chimney pots on display here. 
Now what's that just underneath?

A bird recognition chart of course. What else would you expect?


Eventually we followed the course of the river Wharfe.

Here we could even see the tops of the hills!


At last - the Craven Arms. 
What has caught Phil's eye?


A lamp inside which flickered a real gas flame!


Lunch was served on the very top floor of the ancient cruck barn.
Click here to see it in all its glory.

There wasn't much room or light to take photos inside but looking at the three tables below everyone had a good time!!



Ros E.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 

to all our followers. 

Tuesday 6 December 2016

Fishpond Wood - once more with feeling! 06-12-2016

Today was the last working day of 2016. How quickly this year has flown by! No fewer than 49 task days done and dusted in all and an impressive 3682 man hours logged. So - what was the task today for the 18 NCVs who turned out this cold and foggy morning? 

Here's a clue - we were working in Fishpond Wood and we weren't barrowing gravel. Any ideas?

Yes - you've got it. We were continuing with our battle against the invading rhododendron troops and clearing them from around the mature deciduous trees. Well - most of us were. Phil decided to skive off again and keep warm in the barn. Sorry; to sharpen tools in the barn. A very important job.😊

Luckily firemen Will, Terry and Alistair managed to get a roaring fire going - although the damp conditions meant that its start up was very slow. This allowed us to burn the copious quantities of curly, wurly brash that is very difficult to make into habitat piles. 

The photos below show us all at work and play. Next week - the Christmas walk and lunch. Hurray!!

Everyone listened carefully to the plan for the day 
(and, far more important - the details of the Xmas walk!)

Today we were spoilt - not only a box of Audrey's flapjack 
but also a 'Tower of Treats' sent by Mike Emsley,
 the owner of Dacre Banks Nature Park.
Thanks to you both!


So many rhododendrons. Where to start?

Well... let's get the fire going at least.

Pretty soon the brash started to build up ready for processing.

Greenery was cut off the thicker branches.....

 ... and any wood over 1/2" thick was piled up for the wood's owner, 
Peter, to chop up into smaller pieces for 
making into charcoal or using as firewood.


The pile grew steadily as the day progressed.


Billy No Mates sits next to the 'Tower of Treats' in 
the hope that it would soon be opened.

And very soon it was, revealing sweets, biscuits and a Panetone.


Quick as a flash, James brought out his trusty knife
 and carefully cut the Panatone into the correct number of slices.

Only 11am and Osian needed to have a lie down.

Chief Running Water desperately wafted the 
flames to send the following message to his tribe:
"Please remember to bring me back some goodies after you've had your coffee."

Will tried beating the fire with a hefty branch to 
try to make it spring back to life when it started to flag.


Alistair tried a more gentle approach and 
used his arms to coax the flames forth.

NCVs trudged backwards and forwards to bring 
the brash from the cutters to the processors and firemen.

Two of the firemen raided a child's den to get a 
piece of dry wood to help get the fire to burn.
Shame on you both.

What a good place to sit for lunch!


After lunch it was all hands to the pump to get 
the brash backlog processed.





Tom enjoyed watching the NCVs at work but Sally felt that the 
lopping and sawing that was going on was definitely sub-standard..


Before we could leave the wood we had to wait for the fire to die down a bit.
It was nice to have an excuse to just stand and watch the hard won flames.

Ros E.