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Sophie, Adrian, Sue, Cath, John, Stephen, Peter and Philip

Another day of feverish chopping and sawing, as a remedy to Christmas indulgence.

We were: myself, Geoff, Tanya and Ben at the nursery. And: Philip, Susan, Stephen, Hap, Adrian, Dave, Sophie, Peter and John in the woods at Throstle.

Cake was a mix of Christmas leftovers, both homemade and shop bought.

And the songs a tribute to revelations of one member's chequered past.

https://youtu.be/NHDm4oHee5A

Christmas is coming

Dianne and Cath full of cheer (or Dave's Baileys)

A very convivial pre-Christmas session at Blakeley Reservoir. We planted 2 Yew, 15 Alder, 60 Bird Cherry, 90 Sessile Oak, 30 Birch, and 15 Aspen. We were 20 strong: myself, Tanya, Philip, Dave, Geoff, Steve, Sylvie and Elliot, Kate and Martin, Jon and Tessie, Cath, Jess and Lee, Adrian, Hap, Ben, Kirstie and Dianne. Cake was the brilliant and seasonal sticky cranberry gingerbread.

Plus we also transplanted some trees which had previously been put too close to the dam.

Kirstie and Cath, and lots of others.

https://youtu.be/ICKRJ-ZL7Cs

Hit, git and split!

Dianne and Jessica keep swinging.

Another productive day of woodland management and wood fuel. All of which benefits local woodlands, and goes towards our sustainability as a tree planting group.

At the nursery we were: Stephen on chainsaw, myself, Dianne, Sophie and Adrian. Later joined by Jess and Tanya.

In the woods were: Susan and Philip on chainsaws, Ben, Hap, Dave, Duncan and Harvey the dog on lead, and Chris. A comprehensive risk assessment was shared with the group before work began, and everyone was safe and happy.

Ben communes with a tree, or maybe just saw a squirrel.

And a song by "Young Jessie" https://youtu.be/g2W_YWsQ2qU

Fall on me

Another Hogarthian scene of cake eating.

A woodland management morning at Throstle, thinning, pruning and tidying an area of planting done 19 years ago.

We were: Philip and Susan on chainsaws, Ben, Peter, Remy, Chris, Adrian, Hap, Duncan (and Harvey), myself, Geoff, Dave, Katie, Lee, Dianne and Jess.

Cake was date slice.

Safety talk was given. Lots of hard work was done. Lots of hi-vis was worn. Nothing fell on anyone.

https://youtu.be/I-nC25QQ3_w

Neon lights

Sundry hi-vis folk framed by birches.

A morning of woodland management. Hap and Adrian had been very busy marking trees up with their neon paint. And we all worked very hard felling, snedding, cutting and carrying.

We were: Susan and Stephen on chainsaws, Hap and Adrian exercising their woodland management theories, and myself, John, and Dave labouring.

Hap had made a very delicious sticky fruit cake.

https://youtu.be/KqmGZ_6LaUw