Friday 27 December 2019

Work programme for 2020

A message to all members of Manchester NTV from Ally Hardy, Programme Planner

I write this as I enjoy a couple of days off work over the festive season.  As 2019 nears its end I think what a splendid year we had.  Surely 2020 cant be any better, or can it?  It is time to get your diaries out because heres whats coming up next year 

Firstly, we have two weekends planned.  On 4th-6th September, after a year off, we are heading back to the Lake District for a weekend at High Wray basecamp.  We will be staying in the Acland Block and it will no doubt be a fun weekend.  Our second weekend is our annual Christmas weekend which next year comes to you on the 4th-6thDecember from Hendre Isaf basecamp in Snowdonia.  Join us for some Seasonal Celebrations.  If you would like to help lead either weekend then let one of the committee members know.

So, those are our weekends, but what about the 40 or so workdays?  Well, I'm pleased to announce that the worksites for the whole of 2020 have been confirmed!  Many of us have already earned a Volunteer Card (50-hour card) for the volunteering we have done with MNTV since 1st April, but there are twelve workdays between now and 31st March for the rest of us to reach that magic number!

On 5th January I couldnt get us a workday so there will be a Social walk led by Sue and Andy.  Look out for details of this soon on email, website and Facebook.  Our first workday is on 12th January at Lyme Park.  We'll also be back there in March, April, November and December.  On 19th January after nearly four years away we are delighted to be returning to Dunham Massey to help Head Ranger Craig (he used to work at Styal) with jobs around the estate.  Well be there plenty more times in 2020.  Our first longer distance day comes with a trip back to Hardcastle Crags on 26thJanuary when we will be helping the Rangers with a special project called Slow the Flow https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardcastle-crags/features/natural-flood-management.  Well be back at Hardcastle doing our normal jobs in February, June and July.

On 2nd February we head back to the seaside at Formby to help the Ranger team with their magnificent landscape conservation.  Later in the month we also head to Styal, have the first of our two trips to Biddulph Grange Garden and well be back at Hardcastle Crags too.  On 15th March we have our first visit to Hayfield.  The task at the time of writing is Drains and Fence Repair.  We will be back at Hayfield at numerous times later in the year.  March also includes visits to Lyme, Dunham, Styal and the first of two trips to Speke.  In April, having missed out on it in 2019 due to helping repair flood damage in the park, Chris at Lyme has booked us for two consecutive weeks for drystone walling.  The days are 19th and 26th April.

In May there are two bank holidays and so we are having only three workdays in the month, these being at Dunham, Styal and Biddulph.  Gawthorpe and the Stubbins Estate was a very popular introduction to our worksites in 2019 and so on 7th June we are returning there.  June also brings us Hardcastle, our first trip of the year to Thurstaston (21stJune) and Styal.

In July, after six years away we are returning to Bickerton Hill on 5th July to meet up with Ranger Rich to help him with a job or two in the Cheshire countryside.  This is our only visit to Bickerton in 2020 and one that I swapped with Lyme so lets make it count.  In August we return to north Manchester (Gawthorpe and the Stubbins Estate) and also travel to Erddig on 23rd August for the first of two trips there.

September brings us the Summer in the Lakes weekend plus a visit to Erddig and our only visit of the year to Marsden Moor (20th September).  October brings us return visits to Thurstaston, Hayfield, Formby and Styal, and in November we have our last visit to Speke, a return visit to Lyme, a trip to Hayfield and our last visit of the year to Dunham.

In December we have our Seasonal Celebrations weekend in Snowdonia, one last visit to Hayfield and on 20thDecember join our Chairman Daniel for a Christmas workday at Lyme.  He has promised to bake some Christmas treats so why would you want to miss those?

We hope to see as many of you as possible on each workday in 2020 and if you have not yet joined us on a workday then let 2020 be that year.

Ally Hardy
Programme Planner

Wednesday 18 December 2019

Fencing at Alderley Edge on Sunday 15th December 2019

Today was our last workday of 2019, the last of this decade, but only our first of the year at Alderley Edge!

The worktask was to construct a section of chestnut cleft fencing along one side of the track leading from the Wizard Inn to the Rangers compound.  The fencing in the entire area around the Wizard carpark is being replaced with chestnut cleft fencing at a cost of £6,000 – money denoted to the NT Alderley Edge by one very generous donor!

Building the fence was straightforward.  We dug four-feet deep holes at the marked spots (easy to do because the ground was loose and sandy), inserted the posts, fitted the crossbeams by sliding their tapered ends into the pre-cut mortices in the posts (with some welly from the mallet!) and then firmly tamped down the soil around the post.



At elevenses, Daniel produced a Christmas-tree-shaped (chocolate) cake.  Not everyone could eat it, but those that did all enjoyed it.



It was a very satisfying workday – doing construction not destruction and in an area with lots of passersby who showed interest in what we were doing and gave us lots of compliments.



Daniel

(with thanks to Karin for the photos)





Monday 9 December 2019

Christmas weekend at Calke Abbey - 6-8th December 2019

Lights, Tinsel, Santa!!!!

Nine people signed up for the annual Christmas weekend which this year came from Calke Abbey.  We hadn't been for 15 years and it was great to get back after so long.  Jenny had picked me up at Macclesfield station (thanks Jenny) and although we got stuck in a bit of traffic we made it to the basecamp by 5pm.  We were met by Mick, Pip and Neil who were just off to explore the park in the dark.  It was at this point that I informed the assembled group that Tim would not be joining us this weekend as he was not well.  We hope you are now feeling better Tim!  Jenny and I unpacked our things from Jenny's car and were shown around the basecamp by Neil who had decided not to go exploring.  Once we had worked out who was in which dorm we got our beds ready.  Pip and Mick got back and Jenny drove us into the village to find something to eat.  The first pub we tried wasn't serving food, so we tried another one (The Wheel Inn) which had been recommended by a local in the first pub, but which we had seen in the basecamp was now closed.  Surely the residents of the village couldn't be wrong could they?  They weren't ... the Wheel was most definitely open.  We knew that Denise was on her way after a day at work and decided to wait for her before ordering our food and had a sharing platter whilst we waited.  Once she arrived we ordered our food.  Everyone thought better of having turkey and all the trimmings as we would be having that tomorrow night.  Once finished and paid up we headed back to the park.  To enter after dark we had been given the barrier code ... would it work? Yes!  Next question ... as we were now in two cars, would both get through the barrier before it closed?  The answer was again yes!  Once back we showed Denise around, made sure the Christmas decorations that we had put up earlier in the evening were just so and waited for our esteemed leaders, Matt and Lisa, to arrive.  When they did we helped unload their car and soon headed to bed.


Saturday, we were up early to eat breakfast and make lunches.  At about 8.30 someone spotted a Ranger arrive for work.  Would this be our Ranger for the day?  At 9.30 said Ranger Iain came over and met us.  As there were 8 of us and the property dog, Hayley, we couldn't all fit in his vehicle and he asked if someone would be happy to drive the National Trust Land Rover.  Lisa offered and so we set off.  Much to Lisa's surprise we travelled out of the main park and onto the public road (!) to the worksite.  Our worktask for the day was to clear bracken and brambles from around recently planted trees.  We used scythes and loppers to clear an arm's length round each tree so the Rangers would be able to get their flail out to do the rest.  We did have to watch our footing because in some areas there were several large deep holes.  Thankfully there were no casualties.





At lunchtime, Iain ran Lisa and Matt back to base so they could begin cooking dinner.  After lunch the rest of us carried on working.  The task was great for getting any anger and tension out.  During the day we found a pond that the ranger didn't know was there which was nice.  At about 3 we called it a day as we were all flagging a bit.  We had done quite a large area and Iain was very pleased with what we had all done.  We put all the tools and our bags into the vehicles and drove back to base.  This time Mick was driving the Land Rover and we followed Iain in through the exit! The things you can do when you're in a marked National Trust vehicle!  Once back we helped Iain put the tools in their store and he showed us the flail.  Then we walked across the yard to the basecamp where Matt and Lisa were busy peeling parsnips, preparing potatoes and chopping carrots.  They always have the dinner timings down to a fine art.  The rest of us enjoyed a warming drink of mulled wine and a mince pie.  Some went for a shower which I would just like to take a moment to praise as they were brilliant - lovely and hot.  You can never be too sure what base camp showers are going to be like.  Mick and Pip went out to see the big house lit up.  A trail through the servants' quarters and tunnels had Christmassy lighting and decorative pieces.  At 6pm we sat down in our Christmas kitchen.  The table was covered in delicious food which was devoured by all.

Pudding was a sticky toffee pudding which I did not have because much as I love a good pudding I didn't think I would have been able to move afterwards!  After we had cleared the table and washed up the pots we moved ourselves into the comfy chairs and it was time for Secret Santa.  Before this took place I presented Matt with his 10 years service certificate and badge.  Well done Matt!



Santa then gave us all our secret presents and we did the Christmas Quiz that Lisa had written for us.  The funniest answer came from Team Pick & Mix.  What do you call a male turkey?  Twizzler!  The winner of the quiz ...? Matt.  Apparently he hadn't seen the questions beforehand!  After this we did play some of the games people had received in their secret Santa.  One that caused much hilarity was Pip's Mr Men and Little Miss Personality Game ... highly entertaining.  It was getting late by this time so we ventured to bed.

Sunday dawned bright and a little breezy and, as in previous years, the day was ours to do with as we wished.  Some headed home in the morning - Neil to watch his son race in a half marathon.  Did he win?  Mick, Pip, Jenny and I were not in quite such a rush so we visited the tunnels under the house (again) and the shop where many goodies were bought.  We then went for a walk round the parkland.  Excellent map reading by Mick!  Once back at base we ate our packed lunch and headed for home.



It was a fabulous weekend.  Well done to all involved.  To the rest of you ... where were you?  Next year we are travelling to Snowdonia for Christmas in Cymru.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Ally

Sunday 8 December 2019

2018 Yearbook

1 page listing the 38 people who volunteered with MNTV in 2018
1 page calendar of all workdays and socials in 2018
29 pages of photos with captions showing date, worksite and work task
£22 per book

A 'look inside' ...










Thursday 5 December 2019

Dinner at Kandy then 'Nell Gwynn' at MADS theatre, Macclesfield - Thursday 5th December 2019

We had our Christmas social this evening in Macclesfield.  It began with nine of us having dinner at the Sri Lankan restaurant Kandy.  The food was delicious - spicy, but not too spicy!



After dinner, Jenny and Ian left and the seven of us walked the half-mile to MADS theatre on Lord Street.  Neil and Linda were there and we took our seats for 'Nell Gwynn'.

Written by Jessica Swale, it is described as a bawdy costume drama:

London, 1660; at Drury Lane, a young Nell Gwynn is causing a stir amongst the theatregoers with her quick wit and remarkable beauty.  When she takes to the stage as an actress, she causes merry havoc in a traditionally male world, and soon comes to the attention of the King, who has returned to the throne with a love of all things loud, extravagant and sexy.  But at a time when women are second-class citizens, can her charm and spirit protect her from the dangers of the Court?  A moving, powerful and engaging story, charting the rise of an unlikely heroine.


It was my favourite play of the three we have seen at MADS - funny, fast paced and very entertaining.  Bravo!




After the play, Daniel presented Sue Bonner with her 20 Years Service certificate and badge.  Congratulations Sue - and thank you for all those years of volunteering!

Daniel

Sunday 1 December 2019

Brash burning and Rhodi bash at Hayfield on Sunday 1st December 2019

Seven of us, including mother and son Marianne and Callum who were with us for the first time, met Ranger Iain in the Sett Valley Trail car park, Hayfield, on a very cold and frosty morning!
Once we'd all arrived, we drove our cars in convoy to nearby Park Hall.
After parking, as we followed Iain up the bank carrying our tools, we easily found the platform that had been built for the fire so it was raised up to protect the ground underneath. After a tools and safety talk, we started the task of dragging the previously cut rhodi brash towards the fire so it could be cut down to smaller lengths to fit on the raised platform. Iain started the fire quickly as everything was very dry so we were soon walking around, dragging the brash, and getting warm:-)
After lunch, having cleared a lot of the area around the current fire site, Iain came with us to locate additional fire sites that could be used later in the week. Once these were agreed on, we again started dragging the brash around them nearer to where the new fire sites would be, cutting it into smaller pieces so it would fit on the platform once it had been moved to the new locations.
There was also some live rhody so, for a change, we cut that down or pulled the roots of the smaller shoots out of the ground.
Although cold, it was a fabulous day, cold and crispy - with a hot fire to keep us warm if we needed it.

Tuesday 26 November 2019

Fencing work at Styal on Sunday 24th November 2019

A group of ten met ranger Stuart at Styal on an overcast but (just about) dry day to continue maintenance work on the Wilmslow footpath near Badger Copse.  The ground was too wet for Stuart to get the vehicle close to the work area so we had to use wheelbarrows and muscle power to transport the tools.

During a lunch break on very wet ground Neil made good use of one of the wheelbarrows:


We worked with loppers and bow saws to clear scrub vegetation which opened up both sides of the path and made it brighter.  A fence is needed to protect wildlife from dog invasion but the old one needed repairing.  We dug out the rotten posts and used a fence post driver to hammer in new ones.  The mesh wire was in good enough condition to be recycled.

At the end of the day the huge improvement to the path was satisfying to see.



Jean

Tuesday 19 November 2019

Decorating a Christmas tree in the Timber Yard at Lyme Park Nov 2019

At the beginning of Oct, MNTV was asked if they would like to decorate one of the (donated) live and potted Christmas tree's that would stand in the Timber Yard at Lyme Park. They were contacting local community and supporter groups this year, to see if they would like to be involved in decorating one of the trees as their own.
The decorations needed to be weather and deer proof (just in case!) and the theme was books and stories but we could also advertise our Group if we wanted to.
We emailed our members and were thrilled to have a good response and many idea's of what we could produce. We settled on CD's with either random key words telling our 'story' of the sites we visit, the tasks we do and the fun we have, also some actual stories written by some of our members about what they enjoy about MNTV, as well as some advertising!! and some lolly sticks in the shape of M N T V.
It was great that many members wanted to get involved and I had CD's ready to put on the tree arriving from Scotland and the Lake District, from some of our distant members, also from Heaton Mersey from a member just before she went on holidays and the advertising came from me as I cut up and stuck on some of our MNTV leaflets:-)
After arranging a time to decorate the tree, Karin and I met at the Timber Yard and added the CD's and lolly-stick letters, whilst admiring the trees already decorated by the local Brownies and Guides.
We hope the decorations will stand up to the weather between now and Christmas!!
Photo's from Karin


the MNTV tree is on the left


Sunday 17 November 2019

Clearing poplar brush at Formby on Sunday 17th November

It was a windy and bitterly cold day when 6 MNTVers met in the carpark off Lifeboat Road at 10am. Hallam, one of the Formby Rangers was there as were 10 Merseyside volunteers so, in total, we were a large group and hoped to get plenty done!
We walked to the dunes where we would be digging up the poplars and as much of their roots as possible. As Sefton Coast is an SSI (a Site of Special Scientific Interest) we were shown photo's of some of the protected wildlife that, if we were to see, we were not to touch or disturb them but to let Hallam know immediately.
Species to look out for - Natterjack toad, Great Crested Newt, sand lizard and common lizard
So, we started work and then realised how long some of the roots were!! and that, as they wended their way through the sand, they either crossed over or under roots from other tree's or got their roots fully intertwined. or their roots went downward rather than horizontally.
only part of a root!!
Louise, another Formby Ranger also joined us so we all got to work and dug up as many roots as we could, then carried them to the edge of the dunes so we could load them onto the trailer for taking away and disposing of.
trying to dig up and untangle the roots
spreading out to avoid finding roots intertwined
Three or four loads were removed during the day, leaving at least another loads worth at the side of the dunes to be removed tomorrow.
'It just seemed easier to sit down to dig' :-)
Although it was cold and a tricky task, we enjoyed getting to know the Formby Rangers and the Merseyside volunteers during the day:-)
MNTV group photo in front of the trailer full of poplar brash

Sunday 10 November 2019

Rhodi Bashing at Lyme Park 10th November 2019

Seven of us enjoyed a day of rhodi bashing in Lantern Wood at Lyme Park on Sunday 10th November.  

It has been many years since I volunteered at Lyme Park but it felt like yesterday since I was last here doing my favourite task of cutting down and burning this invasive species of rhododendron ponticum.  High up in lantern wood we started the task.  Chris the Warden had already set up the fire ready for a good day's burn and later on Claire the Ranger joined us for the day.  




We split up into groups to tackle the huge quantity of rhodi surrounding the fire site.







A safe place to store tools...




There was an interesting selection of fungi on the trees nearby...








Our volunteer group...



The walk back to the car park...



Rhodi bashing at Lantern Wood to be continued... until next time...  

Tuesday 5 November 2019

Footpath work at Bosley Cloud on Sunday 3rd November 2019

First there were four... then there were more...

Waking up on a foggy Sunday morning in the dark is not the best way to start at workday but hey ho, I put on the thermals and brewed up a strong pot of Yorkshire Tea for my flask.  Never has inclement weather stopped us MNTV'ers from getting on with the task in hand!

Four of us arrived at Bosley Cloud and thankfully we were joined by the Congleton group as the task of laying a footpath was back breaking work!  For a first timer at Bosley Cloud I wasn't quite expecting the 30 minute walk up a vertical steep incline carrying tools part of the way and then pushing wheelbarrows containing the rest of the tools to the site.  That was a challenge in itself... then the real work began!  By this time it was nearly 11am, we skipped tea break and set to the task in hand.

Firstly we started by shovelling out the mud and leaves from the path to create a foundation for the path to be laid upon.

Picture shows muddy path before work started

The tree trunks on these photos were felled from the wood a few weeks ago and were used to lay the edging for the new foothpath.  Good job we had plenty of strong men and women as it took six people to carry each trunk from the wood to the path.

Picture shows tree trunks used to create edging for path

Firstly we split up into teams, four people cleared the pathway, one person was making stakes to hold the tree trunks in position and six people carried each tree trunk to the site.

Picture shows stakes being driven into the ground to secure the edging
The stakes were driven into the ground and nailed to the tree trunks to form a secure footpath edge.  In one area of the path it was particularly muddy so we created drainage channels for the water to run underneath the path and down the hillside.


Picture shows drainage channels created

By lunchtime our MNTV team were down to three people and we stopped for a short lunch break and a slice of homemade Yorkshire parkin.  Congleton group decided to carry on in earnest and started to transfer the gravel from a huge mound which had been strategically placed in the wood and covered with tarpaulin.  (The gravel came from a local quarry).  


Picture shows part construction of path with drainage
This is when the hard work got very hard.... digging gravel out of a mound and transferring it into wheelbarrows is back breaking work and we soon discovered that a pick axe was needed to loosen the gravel.  From then on our system was dig, dump and rake and a couple of hours later we had our finished path.

The finished path... to be continued... by another volunteer group...

The fog did clear but I didn't notice until until I was part way down the hillside pushing a wheelbarrow full of tools, trying not to slip in the mud or topple the barrow over so couldn't get a photo but it was a splendid view... maybe I will come back to Bosley Cloud again... if they install a chair lift!

That's all for now, see you next week for bash and burn.  Denise