Ivor

Ivor, 3 months ago to random

I want to find out more about degrowth and how it applies to ordinary people, so looking to follow people who have some knowledge of the subject. #degrowth

Ivor, 10 months ago to random

OK, I've alluded in some posts to problems with property that we own and I feel that, after coming to a head 2 weeks ago, I can explain more fully. It might also help me come to terms by sharing. I'll try to keep it short.

In 2019, my wife inherited a Park Home in Surrey, left to her by her aunt. It was on a site owned and managed by a company called Haulfryn, well established owners, with other sites in England. The company owned the land, we now owned the Park Home, paying ground rent. 1/

Ivor, 1 year ago to animals

You put down a box, turn your back and this happens. #CatsOfMastodon

Ivor, 1 month ago to random

This lamb is still unsteady on its feet. Maybe born yesterday.

The ewes with twins have broken through another bit of wall at the Binks, so they're all mixed up with the ewes with single lambs again. Not my fault this time. #BloodySheep #SheepOfMastodon

Ivor, 3 months ago to random

So many rabbit holes to go down when it rains. TIL that W H Auden had his spark of creativity as a boy throwing stones down an abandoned mine shaft near Rookhope. His poems include 'Allendale' and Alston Moor'. Many others inspired by the post industrial abandoned mining landscape of Tynedale, Weardale and Teesdale. He had a map of Alston Moor pinned up in his shack when living in America. I also find the N Pennines to be an inspiration.

Ivor, 3 months ago to random

Just the copes to put on now. Taking my coat off for this part.

Ivor, 2 months ago to Birds

I'm making an owl nest box. The last face to go on will have a rectangular entrance hole cut in it just above the cross bar there. I Hope the owls don't bring a spirit level. 👷🦉🦉

Do you think it needs a spar across inside to roost or hop on? Or is that just too much gentrification. #Birds

Ivor, 4 months ago to random

Dozens of Lapwing just flew along the beck. I saw my first merlin here, flew low over this field, up and over those willows and out of sight. It raised dozens of fieldfare from the fields opposite.

Going to the Dales Dinner at the Langdon Beck hotel later, it's a carvery followed by an auction sponsored by small farming related businesses in the Dales. In support of Alzheimers research. If I scratch my nose I might be coming home with a pair of overalls or a toolset! #Teesdale

Ivor, 8 months ago to random

I'm down at Bowlees doing some walling. Volunteers from the AONB have planted wildflower plug plants in one of the fields but the sheep get through the gap and eat them.

I think this planting will be to try to preserve the unique Teesdale flora. One field is unusable for grazing until the wall is repaired. Glad to do my bit to help.

Ivor, 4 months ago to random

Walked down to Widdybank Farm for a close up view of the Whin Sill which forms the prominent crags of Cronkley Scar and Raven Scar. I wanted a photo of the wall that rises out of the far bank of the Tees and goes straight up the hill. Impressive work. The walls here are all built with the hard igneous stone of the Whin Sill, with large boulders and few through stones.

Turned back as the wind was getting stronger, so strong it almost pushed us off our feet on the way back.
#SilentSunday

Ivor, 4 months ago to Birds

Since the black grouse ate every single berry off the cotoneaster, they don't come into the garden in numbers so much. There is this one though, that has flown in during this spell of harsher weather over the past few days.

I think it's eating the buds now as the tiny leaves of last year are all gone. I'll have a look later on. I assume this is a yearly thing and this bird behaviour doesn't seem to affect the cotoneaster much. #birds

Ivor, 4 months ago to VegetableGardening

It's an ill wind as they say. Farmers that couldn't get into fields because the ground was so wet are rushing to get the manure spread while the ground is frozen hard. #Teesdale #Farming

Ivor, 1 year ago to random

That's the first 8 metres of this piece of work finished. Beyond the trough, up to the top of the field is another 42 and that will be my work here complete. Andrew has scraped the ground with an excavator, making life easier for me.

The unusual continuous through stones look better now the wall is up to level, ready to put on the cope stones. It was a lovely day for working.

Ivor, 4 months ago to random

Reason we went to Newcastle was for this series of open lectures with 5 speakers held by Yorkshire Geological Society.

Most of it went over my head, very technical but it dealt largely with the Alston block and mineralisation of N Pennines, especially around Nenthead, so very local and relevant to us living here.

Speakers were expert in their fields, keen to show new understanding of Geological processes in this area. The room was rammed, full of geologists. Superb, I want to know more now.

Ivor, 1 month ago to woodworking

I bought four oak planks from Hexhamshire Hardwoods last year with the intention of cutting them into new slats for a garden bench where the wood had rotted but the metal ends were good.

So far I've cut 3 at 35mm wide and 3 at 55mm wide and they're pretty straight if I say so myself. I'm not used to working with wood and it's a different challenge to get them right. It's quality wood but a bit thicker so I'll also have to rebate the ends of the slats. #garden #WoodWorking

Ivor, 1 month ago to random

I think the germanic #Polarlicht is a rather good descriptive hashtag as licht in Scots is 'light'. #aurora

Ivor, 1 month ago to random

It's only bin day, lads. I've been rattling about in the byre. Sorry if I got your hopes up for some tasty snacks.
#SheepOfMastodon

Ivor, 1 month ago to Bloomscrolling

Farmer has told me that, as well as the Marsh Marigolds, he's never seen as many Globe Flower coming on as in this year, out of 11 he's been here. He puts it down to the extremely wet conditions from autumn into spring. It's certainly very wet still underfoot. #Bloomscrolling

Ivor, 1 month ago to random

That Monday feeling. #Grumpy #SheepOfMastodon

Ivor, 1 month ago to random

Yet another repair needed at The Binks. After this, I can work at a farm a few miles down the dale, which will keep me busy for most of this year. There are just not enough Wallers now for the miles and miles of walls that need repair.

Ivor, 1 month ago to Bloomscrolling

The grazing fields that are also cut in August for a hay or haylage crop are thickly carpeted in Marsh Marigold. Some have Globeflower among them but they seem absent in this field across from the house. The photo doesn't do the view justice here, it is an intense yellow, quite incredible to see the field transformed.

Sheep with lambs have been moved to rougher ground, I don't know if this is a rule from Natural England or just normal sheep management. #Bloomscrolling

Ivor, 26 days ago to random

I'm off to the old lead mine at Nenthead shortly to take part in a learning session concerning the condition of old lead mines. To volunteer to study the condition of mining structures across the north Pennines.

I'm torn between doing something like this, which might use my stonework skills, or learning more about the rare flora around me. About which I know nowt but Inspired by Margaret E Bradshaw MBE (98). Can I do both and still do actual work repairing walls for farmers?

Ivor, 23 days ago to random

I'm at Bowlees, having lunch in a field by the river Tees. Lambs are naturally curious but mum is looking out for them. #SheepOfMastodon

Ivor, 22 days ago to random

It's the very first Middleton-in-Teesdale Farmers Market today. At the auction mart in Middleton-in-Teesdale, run by our friends Naomi and Alan. Come along it will be great!

Setting off shortly as I've to control the traffic for a while. I'll probably send them all to Mickleton as I'm still half asleep.