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

Castle Hill

More work with Kirklees Council on Castle Hill. Not sure of details but Geoff, Dave, Philip, Stephen, and  Jess were there at least.

Rochdale Road

266 trees planted by Geoff, Philip Dan, Stephen, Hap, Dave, Dianne, Matthew, Jim, Tanya, myself, Peter. Cold but sunny.

Myself and Matthew

Two groups this morning. At Blackmoorfoot, Geoff led myself Tanya, Ben, Jim, Stephen, and Dianne. Planting 125 trees along two edges of a field. Philip led Dan, Dave and Matthew adding 60 plants to a hedge in need of help at Hey Knowles, and then joined us to finish off at Blackmoorfoot.

Horses

Up Crowther Laithe, Marsden today, planting two shortish tredges (as I believe hedges with a few trees might now be called?)

An eventful morning, with a fox, chickens, soup, biscuits, grubs, and some break-dancing horses.

We were Philip, Stephen, Jess, Tanya, myself, Dave, Matthew, and Dan.

https://youtu.be/NUPQ5ilvpi0?si=LF4KYjsBWh4ha31E

Pule Hill

A trip to Pule Hill to replace some failed trees for National Trust. 

We were; myself, Geoff, Dave, Philip, Stephen, Dan, Jon, Tess, Tanya, Ben, Jim, Peter, and Matthew.

I think we replaced over 200 trees.

Lovely weather, and that was nice because we were going for our Christmas drink after at the Sair, and it was good to be relatively clean and dry for that. Good beer, good company, and pasties from the Handmade Bakery in Slaithwaite.

All the lovely photos by Tanya, as usual.

A fungus found by Stephen

Stephen on the hunt for trees to replace, and fungi.

Castle Hill

To Castle hill for some tree planting on a Kirklees Council site. The group comprised Philip, Dave, Geoff, Dan, Dianne, Jess, Adam, Tanya, Stephen, Cath, Jim and Hap. 

Hades 2

Dreek!

All this rain does make for some nice colours.

Above Marsden again, planting another 150 horse friendly trees and shrubs.

We were myself, Dave (pictured), Cath, Tanya, Geoff, Jim, Dan, Adam, Dianne, Stephen, Hap, Matthew, Chayley, Jess, Paul,  Philip, and Ben. 

Hap and Cath brought chocolate cake and mince pies respectively. Both excellent.

Dave's new foul weather smock was admired.

 

Hades 1

Up above Marsden, planting 150 horse-friendly trees alongside a paddock.

We were; Philip, Tanya, Dan, Geoff, Dave, Dianne, Cath, Adam, Peter, Ben, and Stephen.

Save me (Redbrook 2)

Jess looking simultaneously confused yet dynamic 

Interesting morning, for me and Ptol in particular. He and I separately tried to convince the others of the health benefits of cold water plunges - by falling waist deep into a ditch of muddy freezing water. We both went home to get dry and warm. I'm very grateful to Adam for pulling me out. 

Anyway, another 200+ shrubs and trees were planted by; myself, Philip, Dianne, Adam, Dan, Peter, Stephen, Steve, Dave, Geoff, Sam and Ptol, Ali, Tanya, Jim, and Jess. 

A murky morning.

https://youtu.be/72fDsC2kX7g?si=OtncNq9wI1ZjyOZI

Redbrook 1

Up to the very head of the valley to plant a couple of hundred trees and shrubs. First day of planting of the season and it was "classic" weather. Cold, wet and windy. The wet and the digging made for muddy muddy people.

We were; myself, Geoff, Dave, Philip, Matthew, Cath, Dianne, Adam, Jess, Lee, Tanya, Dan, Hap, Stephen, Steve, Ben, and Sophie.

Hap brought cake. And we were able to enjoy it indoors for a change.

And at tea break time I was presented with a thank you card and gifts for being secretary for 18 years. Lovely!

https://youtu.be/-T9vmaTI2LE?si=ewufh9vWcaWXklg0

Thank you for card and gifts!

My trousers were yellow once.

 

Lovely larch, just too many

Up above Marsden thinning a small area planted 30 years ago. Trees removed were mostly larch, which were intended as a nurse species while other trees got established.

We were; myself, Jess, Dianne , Philip, Stephen, Dan, Cath, Geoff, Dave, and Jon.

Jess made parkin.

Everyone looking lovely in hi vis

The woods

More woodland management. This time there were 6 of us in the woods themselves. Myself, Dave, Stephen, Jon, Peter and Philip. Lots of carrying - and more good wood on site that we didn't have the time or energy to move. Be some sore backs on Sunday. 

Back at the nursery receiving all the bounty were Geoff, Cath, Hap, Ben, Dianne, Adam, Jess, and Chayley. And they had flapjack. And deckchairs.

https://youtu.be/CFjw5gJ3xv8?si=wcxUehY1fZ6F2Krz