The Rievaulx Sky Glade

The Sky Glade is finished!  After a hard couple of weeks in which we laboriously hacked, drilled, and chipped our way down through the rocks of the terrace for nearly a metre, we now have our pillars securely in place.  Each hole took a man-day to dig and shape, to receive the pillar that was to go in it. The pillars are sections from some Sycamores that we felled to reduce the number of non-native trees in the SSSi woodland below the Terrace. The pillars stand about 2m above ground level, and are sunk 1m into the ground for stability.  The whole process has given me a new respect for Thomas Duncombe's builders in the 1750s, when they created the whole terrace from the natural landscape.  The story goes that it took upwards of 100 men 7 or 8 years to create the Terrace and Temples.

What a change in the weather!

As I sit here (on my day off ....) with the rain pouring down, I was reflecting on the beauty and tranquility of Rievaulx Terrace yesterday.  The sun shone, the air was warm, and the visitors were lapping it up!

Here is a view of the Ionic temple in the sunshine  - and NO, the blueness of the sky hasn't been 'photoshopped'.  It was really as blue as that.

And the next step in the haymaking is done ....

Dodging showers today, and the raking of the wildflower banks is complete.  Some of the cut grass has been pulled into a windrow on the edge of the terrace - and the remainder was 'lost' over the edge of the banks.  The grass on the terrace edge will be baled in a couple of days, all being well (assuming the wind doesn't blow it all away).
The picture below shows the raking gang hard at work on the bank near the Tuscan temple.

And the finished result (with lovely stripes on the bank!) - Thanks to Nigel, Gary, Bill, and David for all their hard work, sweat, tears etc!

Haymaking !

We finished the grass cutting on Friday (Mark, Nigel, David) -  since when it's been drying out nicely ready for raking.  Until last night, when it poured down!  That's going to slow things down a bit!

David and the mower...

In a break from tradition - we've been doing the job with a power-scythe, rather than employing contractors.  Hopefully, we're getting it right, and when the hay is raked off in a few days, we should see how well (or badly) we've done.  In the meantime: the last few seeds should fall from the grasses and flowers, for next season - and also, the cowslips and primroses should get a bit more air and sunlight.  This isn't quite the end of the job however. Although we 'cracked on' with the job today - there's still a small amount left to mow, then after the drying off - there'll be some raking, and eventually baling (i hope!).

In the meantime, and just for fun - here's a video of David storming along the bank top.  The wobbling image is all the fault of the cameraman who stepped back into a rabbit hole!

WYNTV Whittling at Weevaulx...

The West Yorkshire National Trust Volunteers (WYNTV) - came on Sunday to carry out one of their customary hard-working days - and seemed quite disappointed that the hay-raking wasn't on the menu...  can't think why!
However, the merry band soon split up three ways.  The first group was away tackling shrub growth in the fen bog environment down by the old canal path; the second clambering up and down the woodland banks on a 'search and destroy' mission for sycamore seedlings; whilst the third group (Geoff and Margaret) beavered away on the shrub fringe weeding a bed of philadelphus.

By the end of the day - even a little whittling (no, I said WHITTLING -  that's neither whistling nor widdling!)  was done, making plant labels out of hazel coppice stems.  And, as you can see from the attached picture - all this was completed in sunny sunshine - which makes the Terrace look even more beautiful than ever.

For more information on what the west Yorkshire volunteers get up to - see the WYNTV website

Creepy Crawlies day at Rievaulx Terrace....

On Thursday this week (ie 19th August), we are holding our latest 'Creepy Crawley' day.  We welcome young and enthusiastic people from 8 to 88 years of age to come and see what insect, bugs, and other small creatures we can find on the day.  We will provide you with sweep nets and 'pooters' - and then we will attempt to identify the creatures for you.  Last year's CC day was a bit grey and wet - so we hope for better weather this time.
Meet on the terrace in the early afternoon, and bring your parents as well (you never know - they might also enjoy the day!).