We moved along Sledgegate and took a few remaining guards off in an area next to the road just above Baker's Stonecote, then moved to the far end of the road and entered the plantings next to the mature conifer plantation. This area, planted around 2010, along with the birch that stretch down from it on a small exposed ridge, is the last site on this side of Scammonden that requires significant guard removal. It is not so easy to get onto the site as it is overgrown, steep and chock-a-block with nettles, but once there it is a secluded and lovely young woodland with quite a special feel: the much larger Italian alder are doing a great job at providing a shelter belt for the oak. Weather was fine and pleasant, if a little cold for the time of year. We were: Geoff, Jess, Lee, Sophie, Ben, Kati, Hap, Adrian, Jonathan and Tessie.