@Ivor@mstdn.social
@Ivor@mstdn.social avatar

Ivor

@Ivor@mstdn.social

Scottish dry stone waller. I have worked with and loved stone for 40+ years. If you post about #geology or #palaeontology I may not understand it but will enjoy reading it.

Pets are 2 rabbits, 3 cats. You will see more of them on https://fluffy.family/@LarryandOlive

Now living in Harwood, Upper Teesdale.

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Ivor, to random
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These throughbands are some of the largest I've seen. I struggled to get them off the wall. Time to get the coat off.

Ivor, to random
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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,
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@NatureMC @jasonhickel @degrowthuk @UCPH_Degrowth @IDN @cusp_uk many thanks for your reply.

Ivor,
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@violetmadder @markhburton @steadystatemcr thanks I get what you're saying, your pinned post is powerful, advocating community building. I'm doing that here as I have a (nowadays) rare skill that is useful to my farmer neighbours. I have been repairing their dry stone walls for nothing, so that I get involved in the local community.

They have looked at me like I have two heads at times and they insist I must accept money. So far, resisted and had tonnes of firewood and some steak in return.

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

Ivor,
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That's the coverbands on, wide stones like through stones that help to bind the two faces of the wall. Not used everywhere in UK but there's lots of flaggy sandstone around here. Upright cope stones on these to finish. Should be done in an hour.

Ivor,
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Finished and it took about an hour, I had a cup of tea as well. Some pinning to do in between the big cope stones. They were a struggle as its a height from the bottom of the drain up to the top of the wall and I'm not getting any younger.

Ivor,
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@NatureMC thanks, yes, yet again I put it down to society promoting jobs or careers in line with images promoted in media. I don't think many Instagram influencers would wade about on a muddy hillside.

Ivor, to Birds
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It's a glorious morning in Upper Teesdale. Snow is still lying at Yad Moss, the skiers will have had some sport this weekend. I'm at the Binks, an abandoned farmhouse, the land around it is let to the next farm along.

The sun is slowly thawing out the stones in the wall where the mud from last week had frozen around them.

I've disturbed a snipe, there's Lapwing, curlew, a kestrel and black grouse around.

Ivor, to random
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I was walling at Geltsdale reserve today and this was me trying to leave. These herdwick (and about 20 others) love to get into the quarry beyond the gate but the reserve management plan is for no sheep in there, only cattle. To help wildflowers to establish, I believe.

The gate is often left open by inconsiderate people who ignore the signs and the sheep have to be herded out almost daily. #SheepOfMastodon

Ivor, to random
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Last #SheepOfMastodon for today (almost) is another Swaledale ewe, probably the most popular breed in the dales. Hardy and able to live outside all year round on poor quality grazing. Posing well, the white muzzle and eye patch clearly visible. As a breeding ewe, she looks a bit swollen and should lamb in a few weeks

Ivor, to random
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The destination today was a small waterfall almost directly across the valley and above the B6277 road. Water rushes off the fell above and over a thick band of Limestone maybe 5 metres thick. Near the top, after a very slippery climb, I could see coral. Light was behind me, not a decent image.

The waterfall had ruined structures either side, evidence it may have been a hush, where water was dammed up then released over lead ore to wash out the waste, leaving ores for smelting. #FossilFriday

thebaywindowgirl, to random
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I met this delightful ewe whilst out walking yesterday. She was a most appreciative audience for my special sheep song.

Ivor,
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@sarahdalgulls @thebaywindowgirl it's a Swaledale, the white eye patches and nose give it away.

Ivor,
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@sarahdalgulls @thebaywindowgirl I guess so and for the really sad people, thats not me of course, there's a couple of books. #KnowYourSheep

Ivor,
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@thebaywindowgirl @sarahdalgulls So sad.

Ivor,
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@Guy @sarahdalgulls @thebaywindowgirl there's a few herdies round here as well. They're only put on the fells in summer, for the tourists to look at. #Cute

Ivor,
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@sarahdalgulls @Guy @thebaywindowgirl all this talk about sheep! We all need to get out more, I'm going for a walk. If I go past Craig's place there's Dutch Spotted and then up at Neville's, he's got Swaledales. Oh hang on....

Ivor, to random
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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,
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@coldclimate I suppose the money was in America.

Ivor, to Birds
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The starlings have grown in numbers this morning, up to 100, with only one or two fieldfare among them and a pair of thrush that sing from the power line.

They take off in a small murmuration and land nervously in a nearby field. Constantly searching the soil for invertebrates. The fields here have no chemicals applied, just cow manure, so the soil is rich with food for the birds. #Birds #Nature #Teesdale

Ivor, to Birds
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I'm about two miles from the house here, tucked into the back of a wall, out of the wind. The upland birds are returning in numbers today. I've seen dozens of Lapwing, curlew, oystercatcher, one redshank.

Mixed flock of starling and fieldfare flew past about shoulder height. They like the soft soil in these small flat haughs by the beck. One or two black grouse moved higher up when I arrived.

#Birds #Teesdale

Ivor, to random
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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, to random
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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!

Ivor, to random
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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, to random
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That's me chasing tree surgeons after the storms. Cue the Benny Hill music.

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