December 2019
Our road repairs detailed in last month’s blog didn’t last
very long. Two days of constant, heavy rain washed out our valiant efforts. Never
mind, the Wednesday Conservation team’s first job in December involved a trip
out to Ebchester (a National Trust Reserve on the River Derwent). A field at
one end of the reserve belonging to Northumbrian Water had been strimmed the
day before by some of Gibside’s rangers. Our task was to rake the grass
cuttings and dispose of them. Being such an efficient group, we were finished
by lunchtime.
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| Before - looking down towards Sewage Treatment Plant! |
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| Hard at work |
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After
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The following week saw the team in Snipes Dene cutting back
our old foes, Western hemlock and rhododendron bushes. The sides of an old wagonway
were cleared first, then spreading out into the dene more rhododendrons were
cleared forming brash piles with the cuttings.
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| Rhododendrons just visible behind the birches |
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| Sun just peeping over Snipes Dene |
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| Waggonway |
December 18
th, our last session before Christmas
brought below freeing temperatures, resulting in a heavy frost. It takes more
than a bit of frost to deter some of our team even if we are raking leaves on
the bank alongside The Avenue.
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| Frosted field in front of The Orangery |
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| Frosted oak leaf |
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| Leaves blanket the bank side of The Avenue |
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| Raking in progress |
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| Cleared |
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| Holly |
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| Christmas Pudding |
So that’s it for 2019, have a great Christmas and best
wishes for 2020 to all our readers.
