Keeping Warm In The Bitterly Cold Northeasterly Winds

Forking Out The Wet, Heavy Leaves

Over the last week the team have been finding ways to keep warm and avoid the bitterly cold, biting northeasterly winds blowing in from Scandinavia. One such activity was to clear the leaves out from the ditch which runs from the top of the sports field and beside the canal side path, and also just happens to contain a foot of water as well as the leaves! Wellington boots on, and breaking the layer of ice that had formed on the top of the water, the leaves, wet and very heavy, were forked out from the ditch and placed on the bank to drain off. 

Forking The Leaves Into The Trailer

Piles Of Heavy, Wet Leaves On The Bank

Clearing The Piles Of Leaves

The numerous piles of leaves left to drain on the side were collected up and, using a pitch fork or leaf grab, were placed into either the wooden trailer or the large wheelbarrow and transported to the canal side hedge where they were deposited at its base as a leafy mulch. The physical exertion of clearing the leaves from the ditch, lifting them into trailers and, with the wheelbarrows, wheeling them over to the hedge and tipping them into piles then, with a pitch fork, spreading them along the base of the hedge, was a perfect way for the team to keep warm during the coldest of weeks.      

Heavy, Wet Leaves With Ice

A Leafy Mulch At The Base Of The Hedge