Otley Chevin and a very shy toad

Paul and the team building a revetment

Despite the drizzle, threatening grey clouds and Friday 13th being “unlucky for some”, we managed to get our conservation group out onto Otley Chevin for a productive afternoon improving access to the countryside.

We had some unfinished business with a path we started building a few months ago in Jonathan’s Orchard – so we spent some time backfilling the revetment with gravel and extending it further around some rare fruit trees that have been planted there. Now our friends at Otley Chevin will be able to prune and tend for the trees much more easily on the steep slope of the orchard.

We also put in some posts at the base of each fruit tree in the orchard. Soon people will be able to come in and read information boards about each fruit tree, which will be attached to those posts.

Chris and Steve had the unenviable task of digging out well-rooted Hawthorn bush which took the best part of the afternoon, while Simon and Deborah put in posts. Regulars Billy and Paul helped sort out the revetment with help from Bill and Paul from Open Country.

Mid-way through the day we were joined by a small four-legged volunteer, as one of our members (Deborah) found a small toad lurking about near one of the fruit trees. Paul picked up the shy little creature but not before we grabbed a few snaps of it crawling around in his hands.

You can look at some photos from the day, including shy the toad, on our Facebook fan page.

Shy toad