Clearing bracken at Hayfield Sunday 29th June 2014

Five intrepid NT volunteers plus 3 NT Rangers and 4 dogs parked near the reservoir and walked to up to a bracken covered slope where we were to work. The bracken was tall, almost 4.5feet high in places, and had grown around some young trees that had been planted there previously.

Our task was to clear an area around each tree to give it some 'breathing space' and ensure that the bracken didn't get too close where it could fall onto the very young trees knocking them over.

Where the tree's were a little more mature and had out-grown their tree guards and stakes, we were to remove the tree guards, slicing them off the tree using a Stanley knife, and try to remove the stakes in one piece so they could be re-used.

It was hard work moving amongst the bracken as it was so high in places but the task was made even more difficult by the fact that we were surrounded by midges who were biting us every inch of the way!!!

There was no let up by the midges, even at elevenses and lunch time they were surrounding us and biting. Fortunately a couple of us had anti-mozzi wipes/spray but even this didn't distract them totally.

We worked hard and by lunchtime had visited every tree in the area and cleared the bracken. After lunch we were going to finish with a small rhody bash but there wasn't really enough to do so we called it a day and all headed back home to dive in the shower:-)

A satisfying job as we completed the task to the Rangers satisfaction but we could have done without the midges!!!!

Reinforcing the Riverbank at Styal Mill - 22nd June 2014

Seven of us meet up at Styal Mill to make the short journey to the car park at Wilmslow carrs near the confluence between the rivers Dean and the Bollin. The task was to spiling the traditional technique of reinforce the riverbank by diving stakes into the mud and weaving willow branches (withers)  between them to form a low wall.

 

Four volunteer’s donned waders to work in the river while the other three of us went to cut the stakes and withers however Gordon found his waders bore too strong a resemblance to a sieve and soon joined us on the bank. In total we completed about 15 yards of spiling forming a very elegant curve in the flow of the river; on the bank itself we also planted willow withers witch should root and help strengthen the sandy soil.

A fine Pear and ginger cake was provided for brew time  (the receipt for which came from a National Trust cook book) and while we sat eating a vole checked us out before disappearing under a log.  When we stopped for lunch a field mouse was spotted sneaking up on use from behind, I think Lisa may have the strange superpower of attracting cute furry things. After completing the spiling we packed up and went to check out a group of volunteers clearing Himalaya balsam on the carrs and helped out a bit. The weather was great so three of us went to the pub for a quick pint before going home.

Thank to Tim the ranger for arranging a fun and interesting task.         

  

Pond work at Alderley Edge on Sunday 15th June 2014

It started with a look out of the window to reveal a very damp day, and a wish I could just go back to bed, but that was not why I had travelled 180 miles for the weekend. I had come to visit MNTV for a day of pond work and so we met in the car park at Alderley Edge at 9.30am. We had a turn out of 11 Mick, Pip, Adrian, Gordon, Michelle, Susan, Neil, Lisa, Karin, Sue and myself where we met NT Ranger ,Tim, who took us to the worksite, which was two manmade ponds that had been part of the copper works that used to be part of the Edge. Our job for the day was to make them look like ponds and not patches of solid ground . This was because they were next to a newly constructed  children's adventure area and it was important that the children playing could see that there were ponds there rather than thinking it was ground that they could walk over, as they could have got stuck in the sludge.

 



Pond 1 - before we started

Pond 2 - before we started (but the Rangers had already done some work on it)

We divided ourselves into 2 groups, and some people donned the most fetching item of work wear we have, waders they are just oh so fetching, I for one gave them a miss, but Neil put some on and waded into what I can only refer to as quagmire and began shovelling. The pond was quite deep as Neil, Karin and Gordon found out, Gordon in thigh waders and Neil and Karin in chest waders, some people even got stuck in the mud, but I won't name names because that would be a little on the harsh side and what happens on the Edge stays on the Edge.

We raked, shovelled and dug our way round the ponds until Lunchtime. When we sat on the tree stools that had been placed there as part of a children's nature area.

 Lunch Break

After lunch, the rain stopped and the digging carried on. Gordon and Karin went off to get some rocks to cover a piece of drainage pipe in the path to make the path continuous. I’m not really sure what happened but Gordon seemed to drop these on the path around the side of the pond and blamed the wheel barrows handle, we believe you Gordon! Pip and Adrian went to help Ranger Tim as he was doing some chain sawing and needed some people to keep the public away, he was chain sawing some wood to make a children's activity log in another location of the Edge, he said that after they had left it two children went to play on it – RESULT!

We spent the afternoon digging, shovelling and raking and, when we all decided to draw a halt on the days activities, we realised we had done an awful lot and Ranger Tim was very pleased with the  result.

Pond 1 at the end of the day

Pond 2 at the end of the day

We returned to the car park tired but happy with our days work, 9 of us went to the Wizard Teashop by the car park where we put two picnic tables together so we could all sit comfortably around the table enjoy a drink (Thank You Neil) some people even had something to eat.

I started this report on a very busy train to Edinburgh as my home is now in Dunbar, from where I am finishing this report. My thanks must go to Sue for the accommodation during my stay and I hope the next time I pay visit I can see more of you.

MNTV you were ace, here’s to next time!

Written by Ally Hardy:-)

 

 

A walk around Lymm, Thursday 12 June 2014

Five of us went for a walk this evening around Lymm.  We walked five miles, first along the Bridgewater Canal, then back through Lymm village and then around Lymm Dam reservoir.  The weather could not have been better (warm sunshine and blue skies) and the countryside was beautiful.  From the higher ground we had views of Winter Hill, Kinder Scout, the Manchester city skyline and the M6 Thelwall Viaduct.

After the walk we quenched our thirst with a drink at The Golden Fleece pub near the car park where we met.

Thanks to Kate for leading the walk.

Planting the Dahlia Walk at Biddulph Grange Garden, 8th June 2014

Five of use met up in the car park at Biddulph Grange Garden today. The task was to set out the dahlia beds for planting in preparation for the renowned summer display. First we had to measure out the spacing along the three rows per bed according to the plan provided then drive in stakes and dig holes for the plants.

Dahlia bed ready to be marked out.

 

The weather in the morning was great although because the site is surrounded by dense hedging it did get a bit warm.  Lunch was taken on the lawn next to the ornamental pond and the carrot cake provided was enjoyed by everyone, especially the moor hen chick who came to visit and the massive koy carp cruising the pond.

Completed Dahlia bed.

 

We finished work about 3 o’clock had a free ice cream provided by Paul the manager then spent about an hour exploring the gardens, finely we did a bit of fish tickling. In total we completed 8 of the dahlia beds much to the surprise and delight of Paul.  

Dahlia Walk at Biddulph Grange Garden.

 

Thank you again to Biddulph for inviting us along and providing the free ice creams…yummy!

Birch bashing at Bickerton Hill, 1 June 2014

Nine of us spent the first day of summer in warm sunshine at Bickerton Hill with five volunteers from Chester NTV, pulling up by hand or cutting down with loppers birch regen.  We piled the cuttings in the surrounding woodland where they will rot down.  The Trust's long-term aim is to eradicate all birch from the hill (including all the mature trees) and return the area to its natural heathland habitat.

At elevenses Gordon treated us all to ESAFs (Experimental Spiced Apple Fairycakes!).  They were very good - tasty and moist.

Jon Twigg (Ranger) thought we'd cleared approx 15% of the birch regen during the day.  The Chester "Tuesday" group returns on 3 June and will resume where we left off.

The birch is the tall thin vegetation in the foreground

We saw some unusual wildlife: a dozen of the Welsh and Dartmoor ponies, several buzzards (one being mobbed by crows), a Common Lizard and a small frog (a long way from water).

After we'd finished work most of us walked the 400 metres up to Maiden Castle (the Iron Age hill-fort) and enjoyed the magnificent sweeping views across to the Welsh border hills, Chester and Liverpool.  Truly we do live in a green and pleasant land!