Work at Yew Tree Farm, Dunham Massey, on Sunday 12th December 2021

Seven of us met up with Natalie at the car park kiosk on a grey Sunday morning, which should originally have been the Christmas weekend away.  We put all the tools into the van and set off walking to the worksite.

This was a new worksite for MNTV as we had to walk back down the road to near the Vine Pub.  Yew Tree Farm has been returned to National Trust care after having been extensively farmed.  Natalie explained how they had been awarded £500,000 as part of the green recovery scheme and what we were tasked with doing today was part of that project.  The scheme ends in March so all works must be completed by then.

Whilst this was taking place the sun came out which was a very pleasant surprise.

We split into 2 groups. The first group were to remove fencing along the public footpath that divides two fields.  This was to enable the Dunham rangers to lay the hawthorn hedge that was growing all around the fencing.  So it was a case of cutting a way into the hedge to get the bolt cutters on the 3 rows of barbed wire and try to pull it out from all the entangled branches and then remove the posts.  Martin had his own challenge - there was an old wooden gate also with the hawthorn growing around it at the entrance to the field.  He managed with great perseverance to cut it up and get it out.

Before ...

... and after

The second group were given the task of removing posts clearing rubbish as well as ground clearance.  This is in an area that will become a walkers rest area with picnic benches so people can sit looking over an area of water which is slowly becoming a bird haven.  With visitors in mind this group also built natural barriers with brash and cut back bushes to hopefully stop anyone falling into the water.

After lunch we all worked in the walkers rest area, some clearing brambles etc from around fruit trees and bushes as part of it was and will continue to be an orchard.  There are apple trees, raspberry and gooseberry bushes, rhubarb as well as things like bay trees.  All of these they want to keep as well as adding to and they will encourage visitors to take any fruit they want.

Before ...

... and after

It was a very enjoyable day with a wide variety of tasks.  Thanks to Natalie for providing us with this interesting job and thanks to my colleagues for their hard work.

Christine