Himilayan Balsam bashing at Dunham Massey on Sunday 23rd August 2015

13 of us met John, the Dunham NT Ranger, in the main car park. We then walked out of the main entrance and down a lane to Brick Kiln woods. John showed us 3 area's where the Himilayan Balsam needed pulling up and the roots snapped off below the lowest nodule on the stem - this is so they can't re-root and grow again after they've been discarded on the ground.
We also had various styles of slashers we could use to chop the Balsam off as close to the ground as possible but most of us were quite happy pulling the Balsam up rather than using the slashers.

We worked steadily, avoiding brambles and other trip hazards, stopping for cake and coffee in a clearing in the sun mid-morning.

By lunchtime we'd finished pulling up all the easily-accessible Balsam so we gathered our First Aid kits, slashers and other equipment and walked back into the Dunham car park where we set ourselves up for lunch using one of the empty Dunham picnic tables.

After lunch, we met up with John so he could lead us all in our cars, slowly!, through the park past the visitors and deer and out on the main drive where we parked our cars near the stile. We then climbed over the stile, crossed Charcoal Road and started tackling the Balsam in an wooded area close to the golf club. There was so much Balsam in these woods that we felt we hardly had chance to make an impact by the time it was time to leave.
Let's hope other volunteer groups are lined up to continue this mammoth task before the Balsam seed heads 'explode', scattering their invasive seeds far and wide, making the spread of Himilayan Balsam even greater:-(

Footpath work at Bosley Cloud on 16 August 2015

Six of us went to Bosley Cloud today to continue the job we began six weeks ago repairing a stretch of the Gritstone Trail near the summit.  We worked alongside Cheshire Countryside volunteers Colin and Jim and spent the morning returfing eroded sides of the path by 'plug planting' heather sods cut from the heathland on either side.

The heather had come into bloom since our visit in July and the hillside was carpeted lilac and loud with the drone of bees.  In the afternoon we changed jobs and redefined and rebuilt drainage channels across the footpath that we had built or repaired last time.

Tim Ryan (Ranger) had chalked up an A-board to explain the work we were doing and why and who was doing it:

During the day lots of people walked up and down the path and we chatted to several of them.  Many expressed their appreciation of the work we were doing.

Lunch was taken at the summit where we had fabulous views north to Shining Tor, Shutlingsloe, Sutton Common, Macclesfield, Manchester and Alderley Edge.

As a treat for everyone Daniel had baked a Battenburg Cake and this was enjoyed at elevenses and at the end of the day.

Log-splitting and other jobs on the Styal estate on Sun 9th August 2015

Eight of us met Ashley, one of the new members of the Ranger team, at the wood store. She had brought the log-splitter with her on the tractor and, once we'd all assembled, she told us what jobs needed doing.

Four stages had previously been upturned and were being used as storage for logs. These logs were now 3 years old and suitable to be sold to the tenants of Oak Cottages for their wood-burning stoves so the logs were moved by wheelbarrow and added to a pile of 2 year old logs which were in another part of the wood store.

Moving the 3 year old logs and removing the stages, created a space where a newly acquired machine for making planks could be moved undercover to protect it from the rain. Ashley was thrilled that we managed to get all this done before elevenses! Fortunately Sue had brought carrot cake and chocolate cake to fortify everyone at break time so there was no slacking after a short break!

We were shown how to use the log splitter, an easy way of breaking up large sections of tree trunks into pieces suitable for use in the wood-burning stoves.

We were also given axes and a few of us chopped the tree trunks into pieces the hard way! Christine really worked hard on this and spent hours chopping the wood with an axe.

We were also asked to go into a nearby area where the school children have activities and remove any trip-hazards. Neil volunteered for this job and, after spending quite a bit of time 'working hard', he admitted that he'd found a hammock hanging between 2 trees and felt that he really ought to try it out from a Health and Safety point of view!!!
He also decided to 'paddle his own canoe' - who knows where he was trying to get to:-)

As we were making so much great progress on our tasks, Adrian volunteered to spend his time re-painting the MNTV tools with our signature yellow paint, so that they can be easily spotted if they get left in undergrowth. He managed to get all the tools painted. This was great news for the MNTV committee members, as we had already offered to give up a Saturday in a few weeks time to get the painting done - so many thanks Adrian for completing the job for us!

Just before lunchtime, Louise came to join us. She hadn't been able to start at 9.30 but thought she'd come along to help out for part of the day. Phil also came to visit - she wasn't able to stay and work but stopped off to say hello.

We got everything done that was asked of us and Ashley was really delighted with everything we'd achieved and .............................................we even remembered to take a group photo of the day!

MNTV social - walk around the Styal estate and drink at The Ship on Friday 7th August 2015

What a lovely evening for a social:-)

Four of us (plus Honey the Jack Russell) met 'early doors' and had a meal at The Ship Inn at Styal. The food was lovely and the portion sizes were very, very generous! As we sat chatting after the meal, others who were coming on the walk around the Styal estate joined us. We met the rest by the Norcliffe Chapel sign on the old Altrincham Road at 7pm.

In total, 10 of us set off for the walk plus Honey and Archie(a lurcher-Bedlington terrier cross).

Julie, John and Honey are frequent walkers around Styal, so they offered to take us on a circular walk they often use. It started along the side of Norcliffe Chapel heading into the woods, up and down some sets of steps, over a couple of bridges, coming out at one point along the side of the airport runway (where we stopped for a photo opportunity), returning back to the Norcliffe Chapel sign
90 minutes later. It was a lovely walk with everyone chatting and sharing anecdotes as we went along. We even had the opportunity to inspect some fencing which was done by some members of MNTV a couple of months earlier.

After our walk we all went into the beer garden at The Ship for a drink and a chat.

Thanks to everyone for coming along and, in particular, to Julie, John and Honey for sharing their walk with us.

Balsam bashing at Hardcastle Crags on 2 August 2015

A new venue for the group and an old task that may well not be needed in a few years time. We were in the beautiful woodlands at Hardcastle Crags near Hebden Bridge and the task was pulling up Himalayan Balsam. Ten years ago, this was the first NT volunteering weekend and task that Pip and I had done.

The balsam on the estate is now reduced to a few patches in the woodland and the group reduced that even further. The reason there might not be a need for the pulling in a few years is that there is a trial of a natural control starting in the next valley. This is a rust from its mountainous home which only thrives on Himalayan Balsam. If it succeeds it should spread throughout the country at a rate of 100+ km a year. It won't get rid of the balsam entirely, just stop it being so widespread.

From a grey start the day brightened over time until there was warm August sunshine. We ate our lunches outside the cafe at Gibson's Mill after a short (or long - opinions differed) stroll through the woodland alongside Hebden Water and enjoyed a sociable, straightforward task.

Mick