Goeff, Dave, Dan, Jim, Peter, Asad, Hap and Steve G., completed the replacement of the shot-to-pieces guards on the oak planted in March 2022 at SC14b (Scammonden). We also began removing old guards for disposal from a section of SC14, just below where we were at SC14b, now mature enough to not need them. More to do here, probably next week.

 

Today we replaced some badly disintegrating guards on trees we planted 19th March 2022 to replace the non-native alder (American?) that died en masse around 2018 at SC14b. The trees, mainly oak are doing okay, but the deer were getting at them. In fact we saw a deer whilst there - it just stood a few yards from us watching our activities, then calmly sauntered off. 

Geoff, Dan, Jim and Kara attended.

Too long at the fair

Dianne, Kara, and Dave.

There was some tree work this morning. But there was also representation going on at the Leadboilers Fayre. Dianne, Jess, Kara, Dave and Ben were there.

Ben and Jess entered the "bale races". Jess says she is now officially the second fastest woman in the  Colne Valley. I assume she's referring to here place in a race.

Beautiful bit of Bonnie Raitt 

 

Moo can go your own way

 

Another from Tanya's series "Terrifying pictures of cows"

We were up above Linthwaite today weeding some farm hedgerows planted a couple of seasons ago. It was hard work, thorny, nettly, and tightly framed by stone walls and barbed wire.

We were; Philip, Dan, Tanya, Adam, Dianne, Asad, myself, and Dave.

Dan, hemmed in by thorns and wall.

Moo can go your own way

(not) Shine so hard

Trippy pic by Tanya

So were all over the place this morning.

Philip led myself, Kara, Tanya and Dave up to Redbrook, and then down to a very nettle-y spot in Marsden.

Geoff, Dan and Jess were at New Hey.

All of us weeding. And the sun didn't shine quite so hard.

https://youtu.be/QJhqa4043xo?si=-wIpS-96-iL_n3g4

Watering parched plants.

Placeholder

 A Saturday morning up Butterley. Geoff, Dave, Asad, Ben, and Dan were working above the waterfall, straightening guards and bracken bashing for some CVTS planting.

I went all lone-wolf, and did some solo bracken bashing near to Dave's meadow. Which was gratifying, because it is Yorkshire water/National Trust stuff done by contractors, and is all in lovely rows. 

Many rivers to cross

Lonely little tree on the edge.

Up beyond Eastergate, Marsden today. Bracken-bashing some of the National Trust trees. It seems doubly important given how many did not survive the fire. The ones left need plenty of light, and less competiton from other plants.

We were; Geoff, Tanya, Jess, myself, Philip, and Dan.

Me in my hi vis and camo combo outfit.

https://youtu.be/-y9Q7ud7Or0?si=x_5nhoDCNTWOyW6l

Dead flowers

 This morning we up above Slaithwaite weeding some hedgerows we previously planted. Which does of course mean we had to have a debate and make tough decisions about whether the pretty flowers were less important than the future hedgerow. Given that hedges are rarer than flowers round here the hedges won, and the flowers are dead, or at least roughed up a bit.

We were; myself, Geoff, Kara, Dan, Tanya, Jim, Philip, Asad, and Peter.

Dan, battling brambles.

https://youtu.be/Avrv8t_nEI0?si=v3CMY33oxsSB8H80

Hard to believe that I found you

Tiny tree, regrowing after fire.

So today we were helping the National Trust identify and protect trees caught in last year's big moor fire to the west of Marsden. Lots didn't survive, but we found 300 that did, in just one morning. We have noticed from previous fires that seemingly dead trees will sprout again from the roots. But they are then tiny seedlings struggling against the rest of the vegetation around them. So for the 300 survivors we found we put new low profile plastic tubes on them to give them a better chance. This sort of work is very labour intensive, but quite satisfying. Weather helped, sunny with a good breeze.

Dave, Geoff and Dianne 

We were; myself, Tanya, Dianne, Jim, Philip, Geoff, Dave, Peter, and Kara.

https://youtu.be/R0vKLi6VgqA?si=I90b9up2kXn-RgUM And yes, reader, I own this record.

Live wire

Ben tries to recharge by sitting under power lines.

Myself, Dave, Stephen, Ben and Paul were at Clark Hill giving a struggling hedge some tlc. 45 new plants were added, and many more were straightened, weeded, re-guarded. 

https://youtu.be/DbTG9YTbdc0?si=fo2ytbrFcZJUrJZp

Meanwhile...

Jess, Peter, Dan and Tanya completed the final 10m of the hedge planted earlier this season Crowther Laithe, Marden with some 40 plants (25 blackthorn, 15 hawthorn, 1 elm, 2 hazel), whilst I (Geoff) straightened and replaced guards and stakes from the contiguous hedge section done last year. 

After break, Geoff, Jess, Dan and Tanya went up to the top hedge section of the Crowther Laithe plantings of 24/25 season to beat up some trees that died in last year's drought (10 hazel, 6 birch) and replace a fair few of the canes and spirals with hare guards and do general required maintenance on the rest due to severe weather battering the site had taken in the winter.

The major majority of plants from both sections are growing well, and the site now looks quite ship-shape. We finished the work just after 1.00pm. Nice photo from top section attached.

Meanwhile also...

Philip, Jonathan, Tarun and Andrew planted some 40 trees (25 oak, 10 rowan, 2 silver birch) on adjacent land with a different owner, slightly down the hill from Crowther Laithe

Black cow

This pic by Tanya is slightly scary

We spread ourselves over a variety of valley beauty spots this morning. Finishing bits of hedge and using some plants on a track verge. I think 330 plants total, approx.

We were; myself, Tanya, Cath, Dan, Dianne, Jess, Stephen, Hap, Ben, Andrew, and Philip.

I may have used this track before, as I love a bit of Steely Dan, but it is entirely appropriate for Tanya's picture.

https://youtu.be/XRj0Ohg-y1A?si=p51bDrJ7I_hri8Sv

Stephen

Upside down

Peter and Philip

Molly!

Last day planting at Castle Hill? Present were: Philip, Dave, Peter, John, Tess, Dianne, Jess, Tarun, Jim, Dan, and Geoff. 400 trees planted? 

https://youtu.be/5zyidkj2fpo?si=EvUqcAMP2goXNLbH

 

Tarun at the point of origin

Paul at the destination

A woodland management and wood processing day today. Philip, Dave, Hap, Tarun, Peter, Dan, Tanya, Stephen and myself were in a patch of woodland that we planted over 20 years ago, thinning it out. The healthier and more long-lived varieties were left alone, and given more light and space to grow by removal of some less prime specimens. Brash piles were made with the branches.

The timber was then moved back to base by Mick and his trailer

At base, Jess, Dianne, Paul and Geoff unloaded, sorted and stacked, but also split some logs and stacked the wood in the drying sheds.

Hap provided cake for both groups!

Warning!

We have been told that someone is going door to door claiming to represent us, and other local charities, and taking donations. 

Do not donate money in this way. If you want to donate to any local charity contact them directly.

 

Nice pic by Ben!

Up above Slaithwaite again, putting in another 500 hedge plants on farmland. We were; Ben, Philip, Geoff, Dianne, Dan, Peter, Stephen, Sophie, Jess, Tarun, myself, Dave, and Jon.

We belong together

Up Meal Hill way again, putting in another 500 hedge plants. We were; Philip, Dan, Dave, Geoff, Dianne, Jess, Judith, Peter, Asad, Ben, Jim, Andrew, Tanya, and myself.

And a valentine themed tune?

Other voices

Pic by Tanya. Site of a previous fire on Castle hill. Next to where we parked.

Another tree planting session at Castle Hill, made possible by cooperation with Kirklees, and our chaperoning of members of the public who wanted to help, special thanks to Philip, Stephen, Dan and Hap for this.

Also present were myself, Tanya, Asad, Dianne, Judith, Andrew, Jim, Dave, Geoff, John, and Jess.

And more thanks to Kirklees staff and their volunteers.

https://youtu.be/BnwTjTR1NmY?si=8BEL8LRUCDvCESdL

I washed my hands in the muddy water

Cath, Philip, Dan and Dianne.

 Hedging at Meal Hill. We were; Dan, Philip, Tanya, Jim, Hap, Asad, Dianne, Richard, Judith, Stephen, Ben, Dave, Sophie, myself, and Cath.  Geoff and Jess were at Wilberlee finishing off last week's stretch. 500 plants in total.

Me in my boiler suit in the muddy farmyard.

https://youtu.be/08UAnAOlymI?si=JPtSdf2iYuaUPTMB

All down the line

 

Up at Wilberlee, planting mixed hedge row for a local farmer. 500 plants went in, mostly hawthorn with elements of hazel, dog rose, guelder and field maple. We were; myself, Geoff, Tanya, Jim, Philip, Dave, Andrew, Dan, Hap, Cath, Ben, Jess, Jon, Tess Asad, and Stephen.

https://youtu.be/5GUV9dUpa-k?si=g-Iqj8bf-V_D-UaP