Our Hedgelaying
Stakes prepared on 14th January task (see below) are seen here
being used by two long term
volunteers to lay hedges in the South Avenue. Wimpole Hall can
be seen in the background. (Photo:
Simon Damant)
Simon also tells
us that Cory (see article below) is a Jagdterrier. The Germans crossed him with a black
and tan and
a Lakeland terrier 100 years ago then bred the dog to scent trail
and tackle wild
boar.
Wimpole Hall Task -
14th January 2007
A cool but sunny
winters day spent in a small copse near Wimpole Hall preparing
stakes for hedge-laying.
The task involved using axes and bill hooks to make a point on
the end of the coppaced stake.
They were then tied into bundles of 10 and stacked ready for use
later in the year.
Left: Lisa preparing stake with
axe.....Centre: Alison stacking completed bundles......Right:
bill
hook for preparing stakes (alternative
to axe).
Left: Niki, Val, Alison, Clyde,
Lisa, Simon and Cory the dog.....Right: prepared and stacked stakes.
Anglesey Abbey
Task - 7th January 2007
"So today I
finally took the plunge and went out with the Cambridgeshire branch
of the National Trust Volunteers.
I arrived at the car park to see a huddle of like-minded loonies,
all decked out and ready for a day's hard work
helping to manage
the woodland. Immediately
I felt thoroughly welcomed by the group and off we trekked
to the woodland where we were to spend a very happy day. After
the obligatory tool talk we set to the task at hand
- removing whippy sapplings and reducing the overcrowding of the
woodland.
All in all it has been a fabulous day and I'm very glad I took
that plunge to join CNTV."
[Thanks to Niki for those
words on her first enconter with CNTV - the full article will
be in our next newsletter.]
Claire, Niki and Rob hard at work
at Anglesey Abbey coppicing woodland
Left: coppiced wood layered to create deadwood habitats for invertebrates
and small mammals......Right: the days task group
Ickworth Task
- 11th December
A cold and windy
day, but never-the-less very productive erecting six cattle guards
around young oak trees.
We were split into two groups of three, and after instruction
from the property weekend warden Mark work
commenced. The first guard took us about one and a half hours
to complete to Marks' exacting
requirements - engineering drawings and spirit levels included.
With practice we got the time down to just over 40 minutes, though
according to Mark two property staff
put up the cattle guards in about 20 minutes (hmmm...we think
it was a ploy to get us working harder!).
As usual, the day ended with tea and cake in the property restaurant
- thanks Mark.
On our walk to the restaurant, we found a magnificent example
of a fairy
ring (see below).
There is also an excellent diagram explaining how fairy rings
are formed here. Incidently, the new
restaurant is well worth a visit - all newly renovated and
the cakes are just like home made. It's waitress service too.
Two completed cattle guards .................................................................Tricia,
Pete and Pete in action
Val and Mark collecting materials,
Alison enjoying the walk?! ....................Vals' new found
skill
(also proof that Wardens occasionally work!!)...........................................................levitating
posts
Five CNTV fairies around a magnificent
example of a fairy
ring.......(Photos: Roger) Ickworth
House Rotunda can be seen in the background.
CNTA donation
to CNTV
We are grateful
to Cambridge National Trust Association (CNTA) for their kind
donation.
We shall be putting it towards new tools and we are also looking
at improving our website by getting rid of
adverts and adding a members login area.
This year sees the
25th anniversary of the group, and to mark the occasion our outgoing
chairman, Rob, arranged
an excellent evening at the Wheatsheaf at Quy. Our new chairman,
Val, greeted everyone, after which everyone
settled down to an excellent meal. Sadly a few members were unable
to make the event due to flu, broken fingers
(sporting injury, nothing to do with CNTV tasks!) etc. But about
20 members made it, including a number of long term members. A
good evening was had by all and thanks to Rob for arranging everything
for us.
[from Val - Chairman]
