Back to Meltham

See, sunshine. That's Philip in the distance on left, Stephen, Rowan and Cath foreground,
Neil, Duncan, Geoff and Julia in on the far hillside.

Back to High Brow Meltham, lovely morning too. Not like last week. We were: Rowan, , Dave, Philip, Neil, Julia, Duncan, Cath, Geoff, Stephen, Ann, me, Ben, Trevor, Peter, Brian and John. Once again visited by Mr Sykes and Willis the dog. We planted around 250 Oak and Rowan, leaving another 50 or 60 on site to do. Cake was a very acceptable sponge with jam and buttercream filling. After planting we made a trip to collect logs to fill our drying shed. And then retired to the Sair.

Our lovely new Thor nylon headed hammer

High Brow Meltham, Week 1

Willis wants Philip's biscuit.

Awful start to the morning, with fierce wind and rain, but it did brighten up later. We began planting 500 trees on a bracken infested hillside overlooking Meltham Mills. Probably got about 150 done, so we still have plenty of work to do. We were, Neil, Neil, Guy, Ann, me, Philip, and Ben - joined later by Trevor, Brian and Dianne. Hopefully, with a better turn out, we can finish here next week. Cake was a choice of homemade ginger biscuits, and chocolate slice. Very nice. We were joined by Mr Sykes and his dog Willis. Willis enjoyed a ginger biscuit.

Parkwood Wood (needs a better name than that)

Edouard, hard at work with his mini-spade

This week we were at Parkwood in Golcar, a site organised by the landowner Richard.

We helped plant over 500 trees in an attempt to turn these old grazing fields in to community woodland. A mixture of Oak and Ash, and using canes, spirals, and biodegradable mulch mats in some cases.

We were, Geoff, Cath, Diane, Trevor, Peter, Bob, Brian, other Peter, Philip, me, Damian, Rowan, Dave, Edouard, Maxime, P.A and Claudine.

Cake was a delicious date and walnut slice, and Damian handed round some equally delicious sloe gin.

Geoff digging! Damian looks on in awe.

Woolley's trough - The Senior Section plant Rowan at Linfit Lane

In a separate planting event, Brian, Trevor and Duncan went to Linfit Lane and planted 15 Rowan. Trevor claims to have discovered an C18th horse trough while digging. Or could it be the original bathtub on wheels from "Last of the summer wine"?????

Huck Hill and a bit of snow

Blue sky, long farm track, ice and snow, intrepid wheelbarrow.

Today we were at Huck Hill above the Tunnel End, Marsden. We have planted here before, and today we planted 195 Woodland Trust trees along a permissive path across the site. Actually we only got 135 planted before it started snowing, but the landowner Iain will plant the rest when there is a nice day. I had taken all the trees up there in my intrepid wheelbarrow. Which was hard work, but it was nice and sunny first thing. We were: Peter, Philip, Geoff, Cath, Ben, Guy, Mandy, and myself. Geoff did some more filming for his documentary. Cake was a delicious almond slice (bakewell tart).

Iain, Guy, Philip, Mandy, Cath, Ben, Peter and Geoff.Cake time.

Huck Hill preparations

Spent an hour dragging planting materials up to Huck Hill, ready for Saturday. Beautiful morning.