Cockerels crowing

 Steady progress on the mildest day that we have had for some weeks, and dry too apart from a few spots of rain at lunchtime.
The better weather attracted some ramblers, three pairs and a party of six + dogs came past, those on the adjacent path making some encouraging noises. A cockerel down the valley was also in good voice.
Andy, Chris & Val, Duncan & Barry added three chunky courses to the nine yard stint.
Fatigued by the lifting of heavy stones and much hammer work we finished the day at 2:30 with a satisfying conclusion.

 

 

Barry S.

No. Wallers: 5

Freezing Eases muddy kneeses

 A lovely sunny day with the temperature around freezing, but what a contrast with the wet and mud of the past two weeks. No mud because the ground was rock hard! 

Six of us Chris, Val, Andy, Rob, Duncan and Graham.  Chris and Graham started the final course on the existing section and were joined by Val and Rob , who had started with Andy and Duncan on the demolition of the next section ; another seven metres of challenge and more very large stones.

 After lunch Andy and Chris topped out the existing ten metre section and the rest of us continued with the rebuild and a bit more taking down.  Some very good progress and some encouraging weather.

 

 

 

Graham D.

No. Wallers: 6

A Packet of Biscuits

11th January and the  second week of the year at Low Wood Farm. Whilst very damp underfoot, it stayed dry until lunchtime and then the rain came. All six of us Val, Chris, Rob, Duncan, Barry and Graham worked on the 10 yard stretch of wall opened up in December and three to four courses were added by the time we decided we were fed up with the persistent wetness!.  Liz paid us a visit, so we now have an up to date first kit and a packet of biscuits.

 

Graham D.

No. Wallers: 6

Rather too wet

 A wet and soggy start for 2023 at Low Wood Farm with Barry, Rob, Duncan, Val and Graham braving the elements. Despite a  mild forecast with very little rain but strong winds, the wind was not too bad but rain took its place. Apart from a brief spell of sunshine at  lunchtime it drizzled or rained all the time. Barry continued with an extensive patching while the rest tackled the large gap , now 3 metres wider, but now completed to half height.  With persistent rain returning and grey skies all round, we took an early 2pm finish. Too wet to take photos so see next week's blog

Graham D.
No Waller:5

History at Hackfall

Andy, Duncan, Rob & Barry were joined this week by Medieval History student Eloise who was keen to try out an ancient craft.
Working alongside ancient wallers was perhaps not quite what she expected but she gamely joined in the reconstruction of what was probably a 250 year-old wall.
Her transport arrangements demanded an earlier finish so she missed the spectacle of the fetching of a very fine top stone for the stile and the stretchering of it onto the wall - a four-man task! Good progress was made with further courses on the wall itself.

Barry S.

No. wallers: 5

Angling for a wall

Andy & Barry had a sociable day at the Angling Club car park, a succession of walkers & cyclists greeting us, plus a local in her car who suggested that our efforts wouldn’t last long before another large vehicle knocked things down. A tractor driver also stopped for a chat, also bemoaning the poor motoring skills of delivery drivers.
We re-aligned the roadside wall to reduce the risk of damage, using substantial footings. Joined by Roderick after lunch, we laid a further course in his good company.

 

 Barry S.

No. Wallers: 3

Bluebells in the wood

Big fleeces and waterproofs were a thing of the past when Barry, Chris, Val, Roderick, Duncan, Andy and Lycra-clad Rob (24 miles by bike as a warm-up for walling seems a bit extreme) gathered for a bit more taking down and a lot more rebuilding. The stint beyond the gate was given three hefty courses and was then reconnected with the buttress section which, by common consent, was deemed too solid and well-built to need stripping out.  We didn’t quite figure out why the wall had abruptly widened/narrowed at that point, but assumed that an earlier rebuilder had reached the same conclusion having repaired the cheek end after the gate to more normal dimensions.

Everyone was saddened to hear that this would be Roderick’s last session with the group for some, possibly considerable, time.  Half of him is relocating to Norfolk, the other to Scotland, neither of which is an easy commute to/from Nidderdale.  We wish him well on his travels.


Wild life generally was conspicuous by its absence but the bluebells in the wood behind the wall were looking splendid.

 

 

Chris G.

No. Waller:7