David (G) attended the first of the scheduled dates last monday with his friend Jackie, but this week there was a fantastic turnout of White Peak volunteer rangers, together with some of their partners coming along too. David and Catherine, Maldwyn (+ Karen) and David G (+Jenny) were joined by two non-Sustrans volunteers (David & Martin) as well as the Groundworks regional co-ordinator, Marion Farrell.
The aim of this work is to cut back the vegetation at either side of the cycle track so as to ensure that it does not impinge upon, or hamper cyclists as the ride a long it. There is a real mixture of small trees that have started to thrive alongside the track since it was created and without a strong cleanse the track would soon become more difficult to use. Work has to be done in the winter months, and before bird nesting becomes an issue that would prevent such work.
Marion gives full training to the rangers and provides all of the specialist tools required (including chocolate hobnobs). She has a vast knowledge about the woodland habitat and was able to show us how to identify our ash from our oak, willow from alder and blackthorn from sycamore. She was able to show us examples of where ash die back has started to affect the young saplings, plus loads more.
Apart from the trackside saplings we did have one or two bigger challenges, but all taken on with great gusto. Must have been the hobnobs!
Maldwyn had just returned from a weekend of deep sea survival traing and I think his enthusiasm came from having been in a confined life raft for a few hours too many. He was a machine that onlookers could only marvel at.
As the morning came to an end he had just one last challenge to complete ... but that was going just a bit too far with a pair of branch loppers
Well done Maldwyn, but Marion did n't want that one down!
The boss (es)!
Although we made an incredibly good start last week, I don't think we would ever have envisaged getting almost all the way back to the Rowsley car park by lunch time today! However, with eight enthusiastic volunteers anything seemed possible and we are within a stone's throw of finishing this section. Marion would like one more session to finish off this bit (more cutting back, fence rails to replace, etc, etc). Well done everyone (+ Jackie). Next session will be Friday 15 February at 1000, Rowsley station yard. This is not a Sustrans work day and so volunteering will be for Groundworks. Bring your own coffee, chocolate hobnobs provided. Many thanks to everyone - great job done
