Blogging about logging

Dave and I spent a couple of hours moving the last of the logs from Throstle Green to the Nursery drying shed. We used the moisture meter on them and fresh cut they read 27-30%. I think the white coloured logs are Poplar, and the orange, Alder.

Our logs

Timber and no tantrums

Vashti, Harvey the dog, Duncan, Stephen, Alison, Guy's arse, Ben, headless Steve, 1/3 of Remy.

Today we were at Throstle Green Farm for a morning of woodland management, involving formative pruning and timber extraction. We were: myself, Stephen (with chainsaw), Philip (with Chainsaw), Duncan (with Harvey the dog), Ben, Remy, Alison, Cath, Vashti, Andrew, Steve, Dave, Neil, Julia, Guy, Mandy (and friend). We had mad christmas style cake, and soup warmed up on the fire.

Outlane antics

People eating cake, and pulling a variety of funny faces.

This morning we were planting a classic farmland shelter belt at Outlane. Shelter belts of trees help provide respite from the wind for livestock and crops, and are much appreciated on upland farms.

We were myself, Geoff, Vashti, Brian, Trevor, Peter W, Hap, Ben, Philip, Duncan (and Harvey the dog) Dianne and Jess. For the first hour myself, Geoff, Ben and Vashti went to Scammonden to reclaim 100 deer stakes and guards. Then we joined the others at the planting site, where we helped finish planting the 210 trees, Oak, Italian Alder, Field Maple and Wild Cherry. Cake was lemon drizzle.

Wholestone Moor week 2 - less sunny.

"Coconut Kiss", nicer than last Christmas's choc mint liqueur.

So, our second week at Wholestone Moor. We were: myself, Philip, Peter W, Peter T, Duncan (and Harvey the dog), Remy, Ben, Ramsay, Geoff, Dianne, Vashti, Cath, Steve, Stephen, and Andrew. Cake was Bakewell tart, which everyone loved, except Ramsay who prefers savory snacks, and Remy who won't eat cake that isn't chocolate.The cold was also kept at bay by Peter's liqueur laced coffee, Dave's coconut cocktail drink, and Andrew's bottle of whisky. I'd hate to give the wrong impression, tree planting does not usually involve so much alcohol, I blame Christmas. We planted another 300 Italian Alder and Sessile Oak, in areas where Birch had mysteriously failed. The weather could have been kinder, cool, and rainy. But we were all wrapped up well.

Vashti and Dianne put on brave faces.