Task Reports

For the second year in a row we travelled to Hutton Roof for our summer outing, though this year we entered the hill at Park wood and split our time between some dry stone walling and a short walk to look at the flowers and butterflies. 

Luckily for us, Wal, Ann and Charles (CWT wardens) joined us and lead the walking group through the woods, noting the most northerly natural Field Maple trees, and onto the limestone grassland. There were plenty of Common Blue butterflies flying as well as Ringlet and Meadow Brown. We were also treated to the sight of a couple of Fritillary butterflies on the wing, specialities of the site and a focus of the management. The flowers spotted included Common Rock Rose, Spring Sandwort, Fairy Flax and Carline Thistle. And the views of Ingleborough, Morecombe Bay and the Lake District peaks were great. 

Meanwhile the workers did a great job repairing two sections of derelict wall, adding to the sections Dennis has been working away at through the summer.

15th June 2015The task, working at our base today at The Culture Fusion Meadow and in the undercroft where we store some of our equipment. Part of the team spent their time tidying the store area and picking the best pieces from our timber repository to use in the woodwork workshop, where we produce benches, planters and the like, for use on various projects.

The other part of the team spent their day on the meadow removing some of the more dominant species and tending to our vegetables. We also covered a growing frame with plastic sheeting to protect some young tomato plants. Cucumbers, squashes, lettuce, sweetcorn and peas were weeded and thinned out and replanted. The temperature on the meadow must have been in the mid to high twenties celsius. A perfect spot for a picnic which the team partook of at lunch break. There were eight of us today.

Our work today focussed on the entrance to the woods at the top of Lynton Drive. Damage had been caused when a major water main burst earlier in the year, and Yorkshire Water needed access to gardens through the woods for their repair work. 

We installed four steps to improve accessibility at the entrance to the woods, but we also took the opportunity to clear snowberry shrub from the woodland in preparation to plant some native trees to create a more varied area of scrub later in the year. We also cut back bramble and other vegetation from a footpath leading up to the meadow, exposing a section of steps and making it easier to walk through. 

Yorkshire Water had planted a collection of replacement trees at the Lynton Drive entrance, but in order to hasten the establishment of woodland ground flora, we undertook some sensitive translocation of a few plants from other areas of the wood. This work was continued by local residents. 

We were working on a different wall this year, a few fields away from 'our' wall. 

We were next to a beautiful stream with tumbling waterfalls, but that is were the idyllic geology finished - the wall was wobbly, wavy and awkward. But we like a challenge. Don't we?

The more experienced team started on a section on a steep slope, whilst the rest of us heading to a flat section for an easy stretch for a couple of first timers. First impressions can be deceptive! We ended up stripping out just short of 5m and really should have gone a whole lot further. As we worked we wisely commented on some strange practices, "no wonder the wall collapsed", as we rebuilt we felt total sympathy for our predecessors and followed their example. Interesting how different the collection of stone seemed just several hundred meters away. 

Having got soaked on Friday afternoon we were a bit nervous of what Sunday's weather held in store for us, but it turned out to be not too bad. A bit of rain, but we could work. The steep section had been completed on Saturday and that group took on a further section and were also able to help complete the 'easy' section by lunchtime on Sunday.  

We were pleased to welcome Steve back into our midst, visiting for the day from his new location in the next valley. Peter Katic (NT) has since been in touch to thank us for the work; a section that he passes regularly and is now pleased to see the gaps repaired. 

Well, we made good progress this week, but didn't quite get to the place we hoped to. This was in no way a reflection on the amazing efforts of all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to complete the timber edging, barrow the stone, spread it and compact it, but was more a result of needing some finer grade stone to aid the binding of the top layer in places.

On Wednesday we were grateful for help from Ian and the Forest of Bradford volunteers (and Ian's pick up) for helping with a further 24 bags of stone. That's just about 24 tonnes. And a further 6 were delivered on Thursday. So in all we barrowed roughly 55 tonnes across the field. That is some work out. 

In addition to all the path work a team made a great job of leveling the turf in the area adjacent to the park. A fairly rudimentary approach to landscaping but with plenty of potential to create a great wildflower bank. 

At times there seemed to be a comical comparison to the work going on next door at the new secondary school build. They are all hard hats, high viz, machines and neat shrubs. We are all manual labour, hard work and dedication. In all there have been 101 'volunteer days' worked over the past three weeks. Thank you everyone.

Please see the report for Friday 19th for this week's update.

Please see the report for Friday 19th for this week's update.

Three days hard work in the sun has resulted in notable progress with the path. 

The majority of the timber edging is in place. We were able to make speedy progress down the straight central path. The remaining stretch will be slower as it involves a few shaped corners and bends but we hope to finish it next Wednesday. 

Another load of hardcore has been shifted from the car park to the Park, but I had not managed to order a further delivery in time to take advantage of an enthusiastic and hardworking team from Santander. Thanks to everyone BEES vols and Santander) for your help and good company.  

Once the edging is complete, the remaining tasks include packing the outer edge of the boards, laying the fabric and then lots and lots of barrowing of hardcore. I had underestimated the amount of stone we would need so we have a big job next week to complete the work. We also need to compact the paths with the wacker plate, and we will have two in action next Thursday and Friday. There is still a bit of the turf, which was removed for the line of the path, to shift.

Hope to see you next week. Bring your friends!

Wednesday depart Culture Fusion 8.45am, Thursday depart 9.30am, Friday depart 10am.

Please see the report for Friday 12th June to see how we have progressed this week. 

Please see the report for Friday 12th June to see how we have progressed this week.