First day at Wholestone Moor

Dave and Philip enjoying the winter sun.

Today a squad of us went to Wholestone Moor for a first day of "beating up" at that site. First planted 10 or 12 years ago the site has suffered from some mysterious Birch die back, and generally slow growth of all specimens. We are due to put in 1000 trees here over the next few weeks, using longer tubes to keep those pesky deer at bay. Today we began by planting 90 Italian Alder and 90 Oak. We were: myself, Hap, Steve, Stephen, Peter, Philip, Geoff, Cath, Neil, Julia, and Remy. Lovely winter sun, and not too cold.

Helping Netherton School

Parents, children, CVTS types and local MP, and Harvey the dog.

This morning Duncan had arranged to help Netherton school plant a hedge. He was assisted by Dianne, Dianne's Aunt Susan, Ben, Peter, Trevor and Brian. Lots of parents and children were in attendance, as was incumbent local MP Jason McCartney, and prospective local MP Binnie Joshi Barr.

To paraphrase John Milton, those who also served, myself and Steve counted out the necessary 200 canes and spirals at the Nursery at 9.00am.

Dear stalker...

Guy and I went on a site visit to Wholestone Moor, to develop a planting plan for the 1000 trees that are to be put there. While on site we saw a hare (lovely) and a deer (not so lovely, as there was plenty of evidence of it having been eating trees). Guy hopes to reconcile his Buddhist beliefs, vegetarianism, and squeamishness, with his desire to cull these tree-eating cervine scum.

Beating up Marsden Golf Course

Not an act of violence, "beating up" in our language means adding extra trees to an already planted site. This hillside overlooking the golf course was planted by us 8 or 9 years ago, and some of the trees have either been swamped by grass, or eaten by invading sheep. The man from the Forestry Commission inspected the site back in the Summer and said it needed improving. So today we planted another 250 trees, Sessile Oak and Italian Alder, in deer tubes. We were: myself, Geoff, Philip, Steve, Stephen, Andrew, Peter T, Remy, Duncan (and Harvey the dog), Ben, Cath, Vashti and Hap. Cake was a classic fruit cake, and the sun shone all morning. T-shirt weather, well, t-shirt and gloves. Group photo by Geoff.

The new tubes standing out against the old. Photo by Duncan

Wilberlee School

Not one of our own sessions, but we did lend the School some tools, and Duncan (and Harvey the dog) was there to represent us. Duncan helped plant, and gave them some useful feedback on the state of last years planting.

Butterley bliss

From the left: Geoff, Vashti, Philip, Jess, Ben, Dianne, Remy.

A far nicer, dryer morning spent at Butterly planting another 250 trees courtesy of the Woodland Trust and the One Community fund. We were: Hap, Remy, Geoff, Peter, Dianne, Steve, Jess, Philip, Helen, Vashti, Duncan (and Harvey the Dog), Ben, and myself. We had ginger cake at break time. Sometime after Christmas we will return to plant some TCV Big Tree Plant trees on this site.

The new "Anniversary" CVTS t-shirts have arrived!

Now available in a variety of sizes in dark green and dark brown, ideal for tree planting, and light blue for more casual wear. £4 each. And I'll bring them with me next Saturday morning.

Me, modelling size Medium in dark brown.

Sunshine and heavy rain - first day of the season!

Beginning planting, old Tree Society planting of Hemplow Wood in distance, looking nice and Autumnal.

A fairly representative kick-off to the season. We were at Butterley Reservoir, and we comprised: myself, Dave, Remy, Hap, Stephen, Steve, Helen, Cath, Vashti, Geoff, Andrew, Duncan (and Harvey the dog), Ben and Jess. We planted 250 trees, a mix of Oak, Rowan, Birch, Wild Cherry and Field Maple. Perhaps not ideal varieties for that site, but those were the trees the Woodland Trust gave us. Cake was a lovely moist chocolate cake. And we left 20 trees and around 100 deer stakes and guards on site. Plus two mattocks hidden in the bracken. First half of the morning was brisk but sunny for the most part. Second half cold and very rainy. Ben and Jess were both without waterproofs (rookie error) and later on were steaming in front of the fire in the Pub. At least the cold and rain makes you appreciate the log fire in the pub, and later a good hot shower.

While we were doing all this, Philip Guy were at the Nursery selling our logs. And Dianne, Peter, Trevor and Brian were at Meltham Cop removing old guards.

Photos by Geoff,  as I spent all the sunny hour dragging stakes and guards up the hill.

Dave went back a couple of days later and planted the 20 remaining trees, and counted 91 deer stakes and guards still on site.

Assembled throng break for chocolate cake.