This week 14 of us were at Hackfall Woods for our monthly task day and faced a number of challenges with great aplomb - in spite of occasional wintry showers. The photos below tell all....
The first job was to get rid of the brash piles alongside the
entrance path, lovingly constructed on our previous visit,
to prevent escaping spring lambs getting entangled.
(They were obviously lambs that had been born pre-Aries and therefore under Pisces - apparently one of the traits of which is the 'desire to escape reality'.
Perhaps they guessed their fate?)
Over the fence went all the brash, ready for burning. Hopefully
the strong wind won't blow it all back again before this happens!
Off we then went down into the woods where we
split into different teams tackling various jobs.
Someone (not us) has been busy with a chain saw and
taken off the tops of some trees which were obscuring
this superb view of the river valley.
What a treat to see it in such lovely sunshine.
The 'Stream Shifters' went to Alum Springs to try to stop
water coming down onto the path.
Julia, Sally and Ros E. dug a dam to divert the deluge.
The bench brushers got busy cleaning
and oiling the bench below the ruin.
Nice job - too good not to try out....
The drainage channel navvies got to
work with picks and shovels.
A neat bit of carpentry shored up the edges
Up at Mowbray Castle there awaited two rusty pintles
(gate hinges to those uninitiated into the world of door furniture).
Now - if you ever have a pintle that needs painting then call in Angela.
She's a dab hand with a brush and a pot of Hammerite.*
(Other brands of pintle paint are available.)
Angela's team mate, Tom, used his great strength
to cut down this mighty elder tree that was
threatening to undermine the very foundations of the castle.
Well done Tom - not sure how you
manged that job all on your own.
Throughout the woods there were spring
entrance path, lovingly constructed on our previous visit,
to prevent escaping spring lambs getting entangled.
(They were obviously lambs that had been born pre-Aries and therefore under Pisces - apparently one of the traits of which is the 'desire to escape reality'.
Perhaps they guessed their fate?)
the strong wind won't blow it all back again before this happens!
split into different teams tackling various jobs.
taken off the tops of some trees which were obscuring
this superb view of the river valley.
What a treat to see it in such lovely sunshine.
water coming down onto the path.
and oiling the bench below the ruin.
... so they did.
Hopefully before they put the oil on!
work with picks and shovels.
to create a long lasting culvert.
(gate hinges to those uninitiated into the world of door furniture).
She's a dab hand with a brush and a pot of Hammerite.*
(Other brands of pintle paint are available.)
Angela's team mate, Tom, used his great strength
to cut down this mighty elder tree that was
threatening to undermine the very foundations of the castle.
manged that job all on your own.
flowers starting to bloom.
Although this one (Toothwort or Lathraea squamaria) isn't as pretty as the
primulas and wood anemones, it is unusual.
Talking of pretty flowers - here's a thorn between
four roses we found at lunchtime.
After lunch there was one final job which involved moving
some more brash to create a barrier. Visitors are not meant to
walk all the way around Fountains pond -
the footpath has become a real quagmire.
A couple of NCVs managed to catch a Yorkshire
water snake (the rare 'Eeh-by-gummulus reptilius' ).
Talking of barriers - there was one that we had to negotiate
on the way back to the car park. Some of us leapt over with ease.
Others... well let's just say they found it more of a challenge.
Although this one (Toothwort or Lathraea squamaria) isn't as pretty as the
primulas and wood anemones, it is unusual.
four roses we found at lunchtime.
some more brash to create a barrier. Visitors are not meant to
walk all the way around Fountains pond -
the footpath has become a real quagmire.
water snake (the rare 'Eeh-by-gummulus reptilius' ).
on the way back to the car park. Some of us leapt over with ease.
Others... well let's just say they found it more of a challenge.
Ros E.
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