Goldeneye

How does a toad get to have golden eyes?

Today we were up above Slaithwaite. The ground was dry and the sun shone.

We were: Ben, myself, Geoff, Philip, Dave, Kayleigh, Laura, Sophie, Tanya, Paul, John F., John H., Jon, Tessie, Shelley, Jo, Peter, Stephen, Steve, Alastair, Jared, Matthew, Murray, Michael, Cath, Hap, Julia, Anna, plus our hosts James, Eric and Evie.

We planted 115 hawthorn, 80 dog rose, 50 blackthorn, 15 elder, 25 hazel, 25 alder, 25 small leaved lime, 10 field maple, 50 wild cherry

https://youtu.be/iZy63vxe5G0

Not the Tina Turner song, but the music from the opening of the Nintendo 64 game, which is best played loud.

In dark trees

Philip, Stephen, Hap, Oscar, John H., and Dave spent the morning in Marsden felling some large larch which were planted as nurse species, and were now shading out the other trees. Larch is of limited value as a firewood, so everything was left on site as habitat material.

https://youtu.be/OH4oeGU_o1U

Dirty work

Everyone got very muddy!

This morning most of us were at a site near bolster moor. Planting a hedge and strip of trees in a very, very wet field.

We were: myself, Laura, Kayleigh, Shelley, Jo, Kati, Ben, Geoff, Peter, Richard, Cath, Max, Jon, Tessie, Sophie, John F., Arthur, Matthew, Alastair, Jared, Paul, Murray, and Jake.

We planted 25 hawthorn, 25 blackthorn, 50 dog rose, 50 dogwood, 25 oak, 100 alder, 25 downy birch, and 25 willow.

A random act of kindness from a passing stranger. A lady gave us two packets of Bolster Moor Farm shop biscuits, as a reward for our work. 

And the field owners also plied us with goodies too, more biscuits and homemade cupcakes.

We had banned snack sharing, but so we could enjoy these kindnesses I slathered my hands with hand sanitizer several times while handing the stuff out.

https://youtu.be/QrE_cDvcgJg

Harder than you think

Jess, Lee and Geoff, throwing gang signs?

Hats off to the other half of the mornings activity. A select few made it to Scammonden and deserve a big shout out: Jess, Lee, Geoff and Hap. A couple of others made it partway, Michael and Peter. Some stakes were gathered and left for later collection.

CVTS, harder than you think.

https://youtu.be/L4EDy6wTOsg

Black cow

Them cows got attitude

Small group of us at Hey Laithe to do some light woodland management. Wasn't so cold once you were working. We were: myself, Philip, Stephen, John H., Oscar, Julia, Matthew and Kayleigh.

On the way across a field going home we were charged by some attitudinous cows. They pulled up just before they got to us, and then pretended they were cool. But cows can kill you if they want to. We also saw some walkers with tankards.

The mighty Steely Dan.

https://youtu.be/JzrDs_Vaho4

Madness

What kind of lunatic does this on a Saturday morning? Assaulted by heavy rain and sleet from above, and mud and water from below.

Our stoic and heroic crew were: Sophie, Michael, myself, Philip, Dave, Geoff, Hap, Stephen, Laura, Kayleigh, Oscar, Steve, Darren, Jared, Alastair, Cath, Peter, Duncan, Matthew, Julia, and Remy.

We planted 150 downy birch, 25 wild cherry, 25 bird cherry, 35 rowan, 15 crab apple, 15 hazel, 65 sessile oak and 50 scots pine. Which was quite an achievement in the prevailing conditions.

https://youtu.be/6sar3Ew9ZXQ