Warm Hearts on a Cold Day

By the Session Leader:

If Green-Gymmers have a slightly romantic outlook on the countryside, it is because we always look on the positive side. 

The supposedly south-east wind Tuesday morning may have felt rather more easterly than southerly, but at least there were no snowflakes wandering along its well-sharpened edge.  And really the weather was not as bad as last time we had gathered beside the Thames to bestow loving care and attention on a grove of hazel.  At least there were some views to be seen on the way to the work-area:

We’d never noticed before Christmas trees planted like ceremonial sentries (why?) either side of Brunel’s bridge: 

A distraction from the question brought up every time we go under this bridge: how did Brunel build the arch brickwork that slopes one way on the river side, is straight at the top, and slopes the other way on the land side – while the newer half of the bridge, not Brunel’s, is straight all over …

We could see how the gantries for the overhead cabling were mounted on the bridge.  Someone asked if they had got consent, as the bridge is a listed building.

But we were here to do our own job.  It really wasn’t very lovely at the start of the session, but all the more reason to get stuck into some warming work!  “Coppice a third of the trees; that is, take out every third tree” were our instructions.  That, however, meant making decisions.  Which is definitely not what most Green Gymmers expect to have to do.  How do you decide on which is the third tree when you are surrounded by them?

We were relieved to be told, “If in doubt, cut it out.”

But who is this alien figure appearing out of the woods?

It turns out to be one of the more sensible Green Gymmers with protection of the eyes against the hawthorns that had in places encroached in force on meadow and hazel-grove.

“Chopping things down / in my little red helmet”

(to the tune of In and Out the Dusty Bluebells)

[Safety-glasses and goggles are available for any Green-Gymmer who cares to use them.  They are part of our standard equipment.  As are plain helmets.  A helmet with visor, however, is more than we provide from our own stock.  There are, of course, occasions when a session leader has to decree that such PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) shall be worn, rather than leaving it to individuals' discretion; eg helmets when felling taller trees; eye-protection when tensioning wire. – Ed.]

After the tea break it turned much nicer.  [Still not a vastly romantic Valentine's Day setting, though – Ed.]  

In spite of the sun on our faces, we still did not manage to achieve all we had set out to.  Lots more to do here; and lots more warm, dry weather needed!