Snowdonia Marathon weekend - 25-27 October 2013

This year ten of us made the time-honoured trip to North Wales to help out at the 31st Marathon Eryri (Snowdonia Marathon) on Saturday 26th.  As usual we manned the Bryn Gwynant (8.5 miles) and Llyn Dinas (11 miles) drinks stations and then helped out at the finish in Llanberis.

Llyn Dinas feedstation at 11 miles

This year for the first time each runner had their name printed on their race number which meant we could encourage runners by name (ie 'Go Dai' rather than 'Come on Stockport' or 'Looking good #1234').

Back at the finish we wrapped runners in foil blankets, handed them commemorative coasters and directed them to the baggage reclaim/refreshments building.  Up until this point the weather had been mild and dry but proper marathon weather (driving rain!) arrived at 3pm and we had an hour getting wet until we were stood down.

At the finish in Llanberis

The National Trust rangers were very appreciative of our help and asked if we ever visited Snowdonia for 'normal' conservation weekends.  The offer was made of accommodation plus worktasks so perhaps in 2014 we will have a weekend (say) rhodybashing at Craflwyn.

Back at the basecamp we had a tasty supper of Lentil & vegetable cottage pie and Apple crumble & custard.  This was followed by a surprise cake for Ally, organised by Sue, to wish her well from all of us because she leaves Manchester soon for Scotland.  The jam-filled sponge was covered in icing and decorated with a montage of photos of Ally during her four years in the group.  Ally - we will all miss you and wish you the very best for your new life north of the border.  Do keep in touch!

Bye Ally, we will miss you!!

The skies cleared late Saturday evening and we had fantastic views of the Milky Way, thousands of stars and a shooting star.  In the early hours it grew stormy and was very breezy at breakfast time this morning... not that that stopped Daniel and Matt going for a four-mile run!

We were keen to get home sooner rather than later before the 'worst storm since 1987' arrives and left the basecamp at noon, chasing rainbows across the moors all the way to Denbigh.

Clearing and burning brash at Styal 20 Oct 2013

The new fish ladder is in at Styal and expected to be opened next week; the hydroelectric plant is coming along. The MNTV group helped clear the ground for these projects and this Sunday we were helping to clear the area for what will be the path for public access to the site. The fish ladder is expected to be a particular attraction it will be possible to watch the fish making their way up the ladder through a series of pools. Several large fish provided evidence that the ladder will certainly be used, as they tried unsuccessfully to leap the weir throughout the day.

Ten regulars turned out, all stalwarts of the group. Our task was to cut and burn brash from trees that had been felled. We were working in a very narrow area, muddy after the downpour the night before and with a steep slide down to the river for anyone who got too close to the edge.

Add to this a ranger who was felling and winching trees on the bank and it was clear there was good reason for extra caution and high-visibilty jackets. The day ended with us all muddy; but no-one took an unplanned swim in the Bollin. It turned out to be a pleasant, sunny day despite the forecasts, with the rain holding off until we had all left for home.

We cleared a lot, only being prevented from doing more by frequent halts when we all retreated to a safe distance while the ranger was winching up the felled trees.

Hare Hill (Recent Enquirers Day 1)- Sunday 13th Oct 2013

Although it was a grey and miserable day, our group of 10 plus Julia the Hare Hill Ranger, spent a busy day cutting back rhododendron ponticum, burning what we could and assisting Julia winch out the roots of some of the largest shrubs.

Some of our group had joined us after seeing our advertisement in the Manchester Evening News and local Free papers to recruit new members. Others were contacted by email as they had previously made enquiries about our Group but hadn't actually been out with us.

After we all met in the Hare Hill car park, we walked into the garden to be shown where we were working for the day. The weather at this point was okay as we got a fire going and started lopping and bow-sawing the rhody and dragging it to the fire.

By the time we were stopping for 11's, it was raining so we sheltered in the visitors room while we chatted and ate the cakes that Sue had made!
Some of the group who had never been to Hare Hill before were shown where the bird hide was and the walled garden, before resuming cutting the rhody.

The rain was much lighter by lunchtime so we ate near the fire under the shelter of the tree's. After lunch the winching of rhody roots was started while the rest of us continued cutting the rhody and Gabor loaded it onto the fire.

A good, but slightly damp, day was had by all and a job well done!  :-)

Thanks to Gabor for the photo's.

Helsby Hill - 6th October 2013

Four of us travelled down the M56 today for a rare workday at Helsby Hill, a dramatic sandstone escarpment near Frodsham. We would have been seven but for three overnight dropouts. Today was a joint workday with Chester NTV's 'Sunday' group and the ten of us including ranger Dave Morris spent the day cutting back regenerated growth (oak/birch) throughout woodland above the cliff edge and in the summit heathland. Herbicide was sprayed on the open cuts to ensure no regrowth.

View to Welsh border and Stanlow refinery

We were blessed with beautiful autumn weather all day and over elevenses of coffee and gingerbread and throughout lunch enjoyed the fantastic views from the worksite across to the Wirral and Liverpool. The vista from the hilltop itself was even better and in addition we could see Beeston and Peckforton Castles and the Welsh border hills.

Helsby Hill summit

Chester will be planning their January-June 2014 programme in the next few weeks and once we know their Sunday schedule we will arrange more joint workdays next year.