January into February 2017

1st February 2017 - Ebchester Woods

We arrived before the others, though not particularly early. A mist hung in the fields across from the woods, and the river appeared still. Within half an hour, though, the rest of the team turned up, disturbed the peace and required us to do some work.  At less than ten acres, Ebchester Woods is a small but excellent stretch of semi-ancient woodland beside the River Derwent. We were there because the woods belong to the National Trust, and are managed and cared for by the Gibside Rangers.

Mist in fields on opposite side of River Derwent

It’s been a while since we were last here but, every so often, there is a need for a bit of a tidy and some maintenance. We two had the relatively easy task of carving out passing places here and there along the one narrow path that runs the length of the woods – cutting back the undergrowth to create little bays. “Scalloped” was the word used by Head Ranger Helen. The result was a little too crude to warrant that description, but they’ll do. At least we had the opportunity to quietly wander and pause to look at the wildlife. Tried to identify whether it was a lesser-spotted or greater-spotted woodpecker we could hear hammering. Found pleasure in mosses growing on tree stumps, birds skittering through tree-tops, mallards on the water.

Hard at work!

The cleared terraced bank

The path through the woods.

The others, it seems, had no need or no time for such distractions. There is a weir on the river here, creating a navigable stretch of water where once the locals leisurely rowed, or watched others from a series of earth terraces close to the clubhouse. These terraces had been invaded by a dense covering of gorse, bramble, bracken and the like, most of which is now removed, and in a big heap awaiting disposal.

The heap

Sandwiches and flask in the sunshine, a final tidy of the footpath, and the job was done. A lovely day: we should come here more often.

And then the sun came out...

Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne