Saturday, 23 August 2025

Rattlesnakes!


Geoff, Dan, Dave, Philip H., Ben, Steve G., Sam, Tol and Jim cleared all remaining the guards from High Wood on Saturday (leaving just a few on some more spindly of the newest trees). This covered quite a wide area across different eras of planting. About six bags of guards were taken by Dave straight to the tip. The whole site is a lovely, quiet, green oasis now though the himalayan balsam needs some serious tackling.

As a significant update to this, Philip H got stung on his leg this morning. Later, seeing as his foot was starting to swell he went to hospital. They told him he'd been bitten by an Adder. Needless to say this has never happened before. And assuming Philip ever comes out to play with us again he will be given some sort of award like volunteer of the year. I hope he is feeling better.

Saturday, 16 August 2025

Pinfold


Geoff, Jess, Dianne, Dan, Philip H. and Ben de-guarded this site today. We left a few on some of the more spindly oaks and sweet chestnuts. Spoke to Chris the owner at the end and he will remove these in due course.
 
One patch of trees was mostly dead (about 25). Don't know why but probably lack of water. Maybe beat up at some point - Chris was keen and he spoke about more trees on the site. There isn't a great deal of room but worth looking at I think.
 
We retrieved 45 good deer stakes which are now in the polytunnel. 


Saturday, 9 August 2025

On the beach


An hours solo bracken bashing, then beachcombing on the sand at Butterley. Found a fragment of slipware (18th century plate?) Along with the usual broken willow pattern stuff. And a few beer cans.

A bit of appropriate Neil Young?

Nursery


 A day tidying up the nursery. Geoff, Dave, Jim, Dan, Ben, Jess, Tanya, Philip H., Dianne and Philip B.

Saturday, 2 August 2025

Dogwood


 Some light guard removal at Rochdale Road. Geoff, Dianne, Jess, Steve and Dan.

Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Heroes

1005 trees (67 bundles of 15), kindly donated by CFH. These will be the basis of 3 planting projects this Autumn. CFH got in touch with us via Matthew at the Employer Engagement team at Kirklees Council.


https://youtu.be/fCTt0VDNJaQ?si=LrvgdD_2wR2l6QJT

Saturday, 19 July 2025

So it goes

Foreground previously done, back newly done.

Back to Butterley for a bit more solo work rescuing some small trees overwhelmed by bracken. Muggy, midgy, sweaty work.

https://youtu.be/UCaf8woXAeM?si=2DKRr5orv57fJTYh

Saturday, 12 July 2025

Shady Lane

Shady looking bunch

Weeding and guard collecting on the far side of Scammonden, ground planted in partnership with White Rose Forest, who paid us for aftercare. We were; myself, Geoff, Dave, Philip H., Philip B., Dan and Jim.

https://youtu.be/ixncbflEqes?si=1ZV9Zxdjx-1LOgwA

Saturday, 5 July 2025

 Weeding at Rochdale Road, Geoff, Philip B., Jim, Philip H.

Saturday, 28 June 2025

Weeding at Hey Knowles, Geoff, Philip B., Philip H., Dan, Chayley, Matthew, Jess, Dave, Hap.

Saturday, 21 June 2025

Bracken bashing at Butterley, me, Geoff, Philip B., Paul, Dan. Jim

Saturday, 14 June 2025

 Bracken bashing at Willykay Clough. Me, Geoff, Dan, Paul, Jim.

Saturday, 7 June 2025

Ghetto

Bracken bashing at Willy Kay Clough. We were; myself, Philip B., Geoff, Dave, Ben, Dan, and Jim.

Willie Kent (Willy K?) Chicago bass player.

Saturday, 31 May 2025

Devil's haircut

 Light duties today, trimming a hedge we planted years ago, so that it doesn't overhang a road. We were; Sam, Ptol, Dave, Dan, Peter, Geoff, and myself. A small amount of tidying and guard removal also occurred. Lovely day.

https://youtu.be/aa3rBVb3v4g?si=AzG2-ExTsfSi84Zh


Saturday, 24 May 2025

Hold on

Dead grass, but also unwell plants. Hold on little plants!

This week we were weeding a previously planted site above Slaithwaite. Most of the plants looked good, but a few had been damaged by some over enthusiastic use of weedkiller.

We were; myself, Philip H., Dianne, Philip B., Dave, Jim, Peter, Geoff, Sam, Ptol and Matthew.

https://youtu.be/Le-3MIBxQTw?si=9Mj8lTYY0ZRAtwVa

Saturday, 26 April 2025

Fire in the hole

That's a lot of bags.

This morning we were in WillyKay Clough, Marsden Moor,  helping the National Trust clear up after the most recent moor fire.  A lot of the recently planted trees and their deer tubes got burned, so we were removing the burnt plastic

We were myself, Sarah, Matthew, Paul, Philip H., Dianne, Sophie, Alastair, Stephen, Tanya, Dan, and Cat from the National Trust.

We filled 9 builders bulk bags.

Matthew!

Where we were

Crimble!

Geoff, Dave, Hap, Chayley and Steve visited Clough to collect some old tree guards that a local resident had brought to our attention.

Saturday, 5 April 2025

Fantastic day

 

Carter's spears 

A twofer today.

At Cowlersley myself, Tanya, Dan, Alastair, Matthew, Chayley and Peter planted 105 trees to finish this site.

At Slaithwaite gate Philip B., Philip H., Hap, HuDianne, Jess, Ben, Dave, Geoff, Jon, Tess, and mystery guest planted a 250 hedge.

https://youtu.be/FHPjSTtKBkw?si=zbjF_lfS4tak0mSS

Saturday, 29 March 2025

New gold dream

Gold!
In Marsden, putting in 585 plants in two hedges (thickets). We were; Geoff, Dave, Jim, Philip H., Philip B., Cath, Chayley, Dan, Peter, Hap, Alastair, Jon, Tess, Paul, Alfie, Philip B., myself, Matthew, and Tanya.

https://youtu.be/GWAC4UeWGd0?si=XcONZeVrljy2JfSU



Saturday, 22 March 2025

The night they drove old Dixie down

Dixie and Trixie
We were back at Pymroyd again. We were; myself, Dave, Geoff, Tanya, Sophie, Alastair, Hap, Steve, Stephen, Dan, Philip B., and Philip H.

Plus 6 excellent members of the public.

505 plants got put in, but we still have another 105 to go in.


https://youtu.be/wanJQC5KAfo?si=wgsbKbONN_o_-vLe