Hard times

Hap working efficiently.

Today we were up Hard Hill above Marsden, fixing a fence and removing tree guards. Weather was brisk and ever changing.

We were: myself, Geoff, Dave, Hap, Peter, Michael H., Philip H., Dianne, Jim, Paul, ans Jon.

Hap provided a splendid coconut slice.

An old favourite

Dark entries

Philip with his arm down a hole. Or it could be a new yoga pose.

This morning we were up above Marsden repairing a dilapidated footpath gate and adjacent fence. We were; myself, Philip, Stephen, Peter and Dave. It was a hard mornings work, and we didn't finish til gone 1pm. But we got it done.

The (almost) finished work.

Philip's going to see a goth covers band tonight so... Ah, takes me back, lots of black eyeliner and back combed hair.

https://youtu.be/N8n6k8QcU3k?si=Cf_lsxa0Xi7ewXS7

We were up Marsden Golf club, in two groups, this week.

Philip B., Dave, Stephen and Jon were felling some trees behind Netherley drive - at the request of at least one householder, and with with the agreement of the Golf Club.

Myself, Geoff, Ben, Jim, Sophie, and Philip H. were further up the course tidying some planting that suffers from a lot of wind and sheep damage.

French disko

Me and Philip looking for a spade.

Last go round at Pule Hill, helping the National Trust

We were; myself, Philip B., Dave, Geoff, Sophie, Cath, Tanya, Hap, Ben, Peter, Jim, Paul, Dianne, and Philip H.

There was also Jess and Cat from National Trust, with about 20 of their volunteers.

450 trees got planted, in dreek, foggy weather, with snow on the ground.

Some Stereolab, just because.

Paul in foreground

Frozen warnings

Me waving, Dianne working.

Third week assisting the National Trust at Pule Hill. Cold but bright.

We were: myself, Philip B., Philip H., Elliot, Geoff, Hap, Ben, Michael H., Tanya, Cath, Jon, Tess, Jess, Dianne, Paul, Peter, and special guest, Guy.

Plus, Jess and Cat from NT, and about 15 Scouts.

Approx 350 trees planted in total.

A song for Dave (who was poorly this week)

Back to Pule Hill for our second week helping the National Trust.

We were: myself, Elliot, Hannah-May, Jess, Cath, Tanya, Geoff, Dave, Richard, Michael T., Paul, Jon, Sophie,  Matthew, Peter, and Jim.

We were helping NT folk Jess and Cat, with their own crew of a similar number of volunteers.

Together we planted 305 trees.

Ei niin kovin suuri city (Not so big city)

Geoff, embodying the Finnish quality of sisu.
(stoic determination, tenacity of purpose, grit, bravery, resilience, and hardiness)

Today we were on Pule Hill, the first of our sessions contributing to National Trusts major project of clough woodland planting.

We were: myself, Philip B., John, Tanya, Philip H., Cath, Geoff, Dave, Jim, Michael H., Richard, Dianne, and Matthew. Plus, of course Ian, Cat and Jess from National Trust, and 12 or so of their volunteers.

We planted approx 300 trees.

Great photo by Tanya.

More marvellous Finnish introspection.

Philip, Matthew and I went to the National Trust press event for the current tree planting. Philip missed being in the group photo by seconds. Nice to see Guy there, he did a speech. It was all very convivial. We even got to plant three trees.

Philip, myself, and Matthew listening to the speeches.

Puppy and a truck

This week we were in Cowlersley/Linthwaite borders. On behalf of Kirklees Council we planted 400 trees and shrubs on ground that used to be a quarry/tip. We had been supplied with biodegradable tubes, mulch mats, and wooden pegs, not stuff we had used before.

We were; myself, Hannah-May, Elliot, Stephen, Ben, Cath, Tanya, Philip B., Philip H., Dianne, Dave, Geoff, Sophie, Jim, and Peter.

You may have noticed, I have stopped trying to get tree related tunes for each week, and am now just linking to stuff I am currently listening to.

Hence, Jenny Lewis.

Stephen and Cath grapple with mulch mats

Born to sorrow and clothed in disappointment

More hedge, more understorey

Finally finished at the farm and petting zoo, the last 500 plants creating a bit more hedge and some understorey in the copse section.

We were; myself, Matthew, Geoff, Tanya, Ben, Sophie, Dave, Philip B., Stephen, Philip H., Jess, Jon, Tess, Hannah, and Elliot.

A grand day out. Despite the song/blog title

Saying goodbye to the cows.

https://youtu.be/m9QH2NnrpgQ?si=DUrx7ctX16fg51_4

Teenage wildlife

Philip takes pic of all our hard work.

 Back to High House Edge, and another 500 plants in the ground (350 hawthorn, 50 blackthorn, 25 field maple, 25 hazel, 25 crab apple and 25 dog rose).

We were: myself, Philip B., Geoff, Dave, Jim, Matthew, Ben, Jess, Dianne, Sophie, Elliot and Hannah, Jon and Tess, Stephen, and special guest Maron.

Lovely old bit of Bowie, for the kids. Play it loud.

Ruckzuck

Jim fettling the spirals.

High House Edge again. Weather was cold but fine, and a good turnout; myself, Stephen, Philip B., Philip H., Dianne, Sophie, Paul, Richard, Peter, Elliot, Jim, Michael T., Dave, Geoff, Hap, and special guest Marilene. Another 500 plants in the ground. And a very fine cake selection presented by Philip B..

https://youtu.be/tWKfo3LDI1Q?si=HiJYtEGxw5MU_lWY

High House Edge. Myself, Dave, Cath and Hap did a couple of hours sterling work laying out all the materials and doing some pre-digging.

To a new field today, up near the local scrapyard. 

We were: myself, Tanya, Philip B., Philip H., Dianne, Jess, Matthew, Geoff, Paul, Jim, Steve, Stephen, Cath, Dave, and Maron, 

We planted 350 hawthorn, 50 blackthorn, 25 dog rose, 50 field maple, 25 hazel.

Weather was bright but cool. Very satisfactory.

Everything is one big Christmas tree

Cath contemplates her Christmas tree

Myself, Cath, Geoff, Dave and Stephen spent the morning planting 75 hawthorn and 50 blackthorn. 

We also planted 7 Christmas tree that the landowner had acquired. Not our usual thing, but fun.