Blocking but not NFL style

Ok so I didn't stack all of this and Mike didn't fell all this wood destined for fencing posts etc. But it was harvested by contractors directed by Mike and is on a slightly bigger scale to the 'thinning ' work I have worked with the Rangers on. Thinning serves a number of needs depending on the type of woodland in question. In this case a mixed 'plantation' woodland which provides useful revenue with the fast growing conifers 'nursing' the early growth of broadleaf such as oak, ash, beech.

Broadleaf woodland

So the above Broadleaf woodland is typically where smaller scale thinning by the Rangers take place and where I get involved in clearing the brash  and stacking the woodpiles ready for transport back to base. This work is key for encouraging growth of flora and healthier growth for the ash, sycamore, beech, oak etc remaining.

So in the busy time upto Christmas 2011 I and simon {also a volunteer with impeccable running credentials} were kept busy splitting the seasoned wood which Mike had kindly been 'blocking' {with chainsaw] from the dwindling seasoned woodpiles. In this instance on one damp day late afternoon Mike and I  loaded up the trailer with the split wood and delivered this last load to the local school. Simple enough but it did require good driving skills by Mike to manoeuvre  around the school yard to deposit the load. However this was not until I was surprisingly asked by the school secretary to move the headmaster's car as she thrust his keys into my hand, overlooking the damp/dirty state I was in at this point. Oh well but no complaints and a different sort of public engagement to anything I was expecting.

Anyway that's it for now but possible future posts ..:

• Location, location, location
• 39 steps...
• Who let the fire out
• If u go into the woods today...
• Wanted for crimes against....

U can never find a Gripple when u want one!

I thought I would start my blogging with a retrospective view of my early experiences working 'alongside' the newly labelled [2011] National Trust Rangers during 2011. This may take a few postings, depends on how much I want to share before recording current experiences. I intend to adopt a humorous style but would hope that the underlying messages concerning the essential upkeep of our countryside and the often 'invisible' behind the scenes work  does filter through.

Having been released from my 'office' environment into the big outside with nothing more than my general interest in the great outdoors, a reasonable level of fitness, boundless enthusiasm but little in the way of skills,  I was confident I could be an asset. I also had by this time some solid experience working in 2 of the NT gardens under 2 head gardeners both female. So as I could handle a Mattock ,  compost and   a variety of other core tasks I had developed a skill set in the gardens which I thought would be a good start working for a NT Ranger.

So my initial work was with Senior Ranger Martin {later with Mike, as M&M - not sweets or RAP} and early summer 2011 I was introduced to the black art of FENCING!  Upkeep of boundaries for controlling livestock and public access is obviously key. So after a lot of preparatory work by Martin I climbed into the Defender & 'we' set off to the wild Cotswold countryside to remove a temporary access gate and to re-connect the original stock wire fence. I think Martin soon realised I might be a challenge as my natural passion for all things new and my questioning nature revealed itself {I talk a lot} .

Anyway I started to appreciate what went into what experienced Rangers would label 'mundane' / core work as we went 'off road' towards the boundary fence that we would be working on.  I guess my confidence took a dip when I struggled on several basic tasks Martin pushed in my direction. I could do them but not without a struggle not something Martin's last legendary volunteer Adam !  would have a problem with. So for example why is it that there are so many different ways of locking or securing access gates in the countryside, the defender didn't have central locking and who an earth would know that Gripples come in different sizes!

So I ought to end this first blog with a brief explanation of two key bits of engineering associated with joining wire fences together. The mighty Gripple is the joining link between the fence wires {which come in different sizes}. They with the even more impressive Monkey Strainer, which ensures suitable tension is achieved when reconnecting the fence wires, get the job done without the need for inserting a fence post ( another topic worthy of mention but not now}.

Anyway having failed to find the Gripple of choice that key skill imagination ,  that most Rangers seem to possess , kicked in and the job was completed and the boundary secured to standard and timescale. So began my slow but sure development of 'countryside' vice 'garden' skills and the obvious need for Martin to develop his patience levels as we began to build a working relationship..