Task Reports

Today a group of 16 of us travelled to Buckden in Upper Wharfedale area of North Yorkshire to help with the planting scheme within an area of managed woodland. The National Trust is managing the project and Peter left us quite a big pile of trees to plant! The mix was designed to replace several cleared clusters of felled none native tree species.

The work was swift on the whole as the soil was relatively easy to dig with little obstructions such as rocks etc. though the area of woodland being worked did have an incline. The trees were being staked and guarded, planted randomly within dense clusters, grouping to allow for losses as well as returning the woodlands to a more natural state. 

Towards the end of the day we ventured onto an area that seemed to be mainly rocky etc., so it became harder to find adequate depth for the roots. Despite this we made a good contribution to the planting scheme. 

There are some photos here. 

We are now true regulars at Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s site at Hutton Roof Crags and we weren’t going to let a few inches of snow put off our journey over the A65. Luckily, the roads were clear enough to make a safe journey and by the time we passed through Ingleton the snow had all but disappeared and we had glorious weather for the rest of the weekend.

We have made this the destination for our winter residential, not only because it is a lovely place and we get a great welcome from Wal and his volunteers, but because we are pleased to be able to help with the habitat management on this National Nature Reserve. The woodland management is designed with butterflies in mind, in particular the High Brown Fritillary. Rides are being widened through the woodland to enable the butterflies to fly between areas, and areas are being coppiced to allow the ground flora to flourish, including the violets which are the foodplant of the fritillaries. 

So, we were clearing brash, stoking fires and felling trees and moving logs so they can be taken away and put to use. We also got the chance to see how Dan the charcoal maker loads and fires his kiln.  

Same time next year? 

Today a group of 12 of us traveled to the CommunityGarden located in the Sydenham Place area of Undercliffe to carry on helping the local residents in creating an accessible wildlife garden. A couple of the group were assigned the task of constructing and placing the bird boxes up into the trees. Another small group were assigned the task of litter picking and pruning back in order to clear the way for a channel to be dug out extending from the unfinished brick block pathway; this will help make the site more accessible. 

A weed barrier cloth was then laid over the soil creating a form for the path. Then reclaimed bricks were prepared by ensuring they are cleaned of any old mortar and cut to the required size using hammer and chisel before lying down over the fabric underlay.

Meanwhile a team tackled the task of measuring the height, length and angel of the slope so we were able to estimate the need of 4 step risers to climb the slope as a means to join up two section of the pathway. The timber was then cut to the required length and evenly spaced out before being staked in place. Finally the step risers were then back filled with soil and compressed until level so to create a surface to walk on.

See more photos and end results here. 

Today we completed the winter pruning of the apple trees. We also turned the compost heaps and gave the trees a feed of compost, and a handful or so of seaweed and fine charcoal (a by-product of our barbeque charcoal making that we understand helps to make minerals more accessible to the tree). The shed had a spring clean and was made secure. 

Two years ago Sue and I went to a grafting workshop and ‘created’ two new trees – Aklam Russet and Yorkshire Greening. Today we planted them. They are still fairly small, but make welcome additions to our selection of trees as they will both store well. 

Bradford Apple Group have been successful in receiving a grant form Sovereign Healthcare, who wanted the money to go towards the management of the orchard. 

Today a group of 18 of us travelled to the allotments located in the Scholemoor Road area of Lidget Green, to continue to assist in putting the garden’s infrastructure in place as well as finishing off the polytunnel by fixing its outer membrane onto its metal frame. 

The opening of the garden is planned for 25th February, so the group split up into smaller teams and went about the task of weeding, raking and general landscaping the raised bedded areas, while a group focused its attention on the polytunnel.

The work was delayed due to a brief spell of bad weather in the morning, however shortly afterwards the work was able to begin. The team swiftly applied the Anti hot spot tape once the metal frame had been dried of moisture. The Polythene was then drawn over the structure until it hung equally on each side. Once satisfied with the polythene sheet alignment the team stretched the sheet tight, trimmed it around the door frames battening around the ends before applying the necessary two stages tensioning of the sheet in order to obtain a drum like tightness.

 See the end result and more photos here. 

Today a group of 12 of us travelled to Guardhouse in Keighley to help with the planting scheme on a strip of land that was once allotments. Forest of Bradford are managing the project and Ian left us quite a big pile of trees to plant! The mix was designed as woodland edge and included hawthorn, hazel, wild cherry and guelder rose. 

A day to wash away the cobwebs! 

Our task was to increase the amount of sunlight reaching the pond and meadow areas. This involved felling sizable ash and willow trees, and removing spreading branches from the hornbeam next to the meadow. The long handled saw was very useful for removing ash growing over the path and pond. We practised our bird’s beak cuts in order to control direction of felling, and were pleased with the amount achieved through the day. We also removed piles of compost left from our autumn pond clearance day.

It was a pretty wet start to the day, and despite the rain clearing by mid-morning, the paths became very muddy and slippy through the day. Long-tailed Tits buzzed around above our heads, the thrushes were vocal, and we were pleased to have good site and sound of a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling loudly from a tree adjacent to All Saints Road. 

See some more pictures here

A good start to the year, getting tools in shape and organised ready for the year ahead. 

Having a day in the workshop gives us the chance to sharpen sickles, billhooks and shears more thoroughly using files. We made a new wedge for one of the scythes so that the blade sits in the correct position (more of a job than it sounds). Chris also had a go with a gadget to reset the teeth on some of the old panel saws. It was effective, but my guess is they still won’t be our go to saws for field work. 

We made a start on the inventory of tools, but the freezing conditions made this task a bit uncomfortable and it will need to be continued at a later date. We all admired the new trailer!

Not sure yet if we will resume tasks this week. We will update website or tell you before Christmas.