Finishing up at Parkwood

Packing up, job done. 2500 trees in total.

Not strictly true that, we will back at Parkwood in a couple of weeks with some Woodland Trust trees and Lindley Owls, but today we planted the last of the Kirklees Environment Unit funded trees, 500 Hazel. Glorious sunny morning, enjoyed by: myself, Philip, Geoff, Ben, Cath, Remy, Duncan, Sophie (and Harvey the dog), Pierre-Alexandre, Claudine, Maxime, Edouard, Jess, Peter, Peter, Ramsay, Trevor and Neil. We were also joined by Richard, Mel and their family. Cake was a very nice chocolate sponge, enjoyed by adults and children alike.

Another 500+ trees planted at Parkwood

Ropey photo I know, but you can see the nascent hedge, and all the trees planted in the field in the distance.

Today we we planted 300 Hawthorn and 200 Ossier Willow at Parkwood, plus some Oak. The Hawthorn will formed a hedge along the top edge of one of the fields. This hedge can later be used for hedge laying practice. The Ossier Willow has been planted for a source of basket making materials, and filled a small area next to the Hawthorn hedge, and also made up what will be a Willow hut next to the Golcar food co-ops allotments. The Willow hut was planted by Richard and Rob, and the other members of the Golcar co-op.
Tree Society folk were: Ben, Philip, myself, Stephen, Peter, Hap, Geoff, Remy, Duncan (and Harvey the dog) and Dave. Planting some oaks in the adjoining field were Brian, Peter, Ramsay, Trevor and Dianne. Cake was a very nice coconut and lime sponge.

Then we retired to the Sair in Linthwaite for our mid-season meeting. Dianne provided us all with soup and bread. And the meeting went quickly as several present wished to get home to watch the rugby.

Parkwood and Pasture Wood, again.

Philip, Guy, Dave, Andrew, Hap and Stephen

Today we split into two groups again, the senior team going to Parkwood, Golcar and rest visiting Pasture Wood, Marsden. The day started frosty and a little cloudy but gradually warmed up and by eleven o'clock it felt warm and sunny, even Spring-like. We planted in excess of 150 Scots pine and Italian alder at Pasture Wood. As with all the work here this season, these quick-growing, hardy species are being planted amongst the existing trees to try and improve their slow growth rate on this exposed site by providing more shelter from the elements. It's slow going here as the terrain is so steep and uneven and much time is spent getting about the site and trying not to fall over. It's hard work. Also, the nature of the work does not help as infilling with trees ranging over a wide area makes the  ergonomics of the process hard to optimise. Despite Simon's absence we had cake courtesy of Simon's Mum and Philip who picked it up from Marsden on the way to the site. It was a delicious light fruit cake. At Pasture Wood we were, Geoff, Philip, Andrew, Stephen, Hap, Ben, Dave, Remy and Guy. Not sure of the exact turnout at Parkwood (or what trees were planted) but definitely present were, Brian, Trevor and Peter, and with a rare guest appearance from Bob. Afterwards Philip and Guy went off to a pruning event at Old Ground organised by Duncan.

Geoff

Cop Hill with Scouts

The Cop Hill plantation was planted some 16 years ago. A very difficult site, very high up and a former tip area. Initial planting struggled but subsequent planting of Italian alder has resulted in a decent copse. Last Saturday Huddersfield North Scout leaders were on a training weekend camping in the nearby Scout wood at the top of Merrydale. Guy and Phillip gave an introduction and trained on the maintenance / mangement of the copse which included planting an additional 15 Italian Alder. Tree guards and stakes were removed, the oaks were formatively pruned  and any larch that were shading the oaks had the shading branches removed. About 16 workers including Guy, Phillip and myself completed the maintenance. It would be great to plant an under storey of holly within the copse to secure the site. Duncan.

500 tree challenge! Surpassed!

These people planted 550 trees today. Photo by Duncan.

Today we were at Parkwood, Golcar, and I'd set an informal, and quite optimistic, target of 500 trees to plant. We did about 550! Well done everybody. We were: Philip, myself, Remy, Duncan (and Harvey the dog), Trevor, Peter, Stephen, Brian, Peter, Hap, Andrew, Dave, Geoff, Dianne, Ramsay, Pierre-Alexandre, Maxime, Claudine, Edouard, and Rob. We planted 255 Downy Birch, 240 Hornbeam, and around 70 Willow. Cake was a nice seed-laden flapjack. Things got a bit loud in the Sair later as our several retired teachers railed against the state of state education.

Maxime hard at work planting, while Philip and Andrew idly chat.

Planting trees and chasing sheep

Dave's strange animal hat has been with us for many years.

First, lets get the statistics out of the way.
Friday, Dave took 140 stakes and 120 deer guards to Parkwood.
Saturday, Richard took 270 stakes and 180 deer guards to Parkwood.
Saturday, Brian took 120 stakes and 120 deer guards to Parkwood. And 150 Lime trees.
After Saturday's planting there were 185 Alder and 365 Scots Pine left at Pasture Wood.

We were in two crews again. Brian, Trevor, Duncan (and dog), Ramsay, Dianne and Jess went to Parkwood. And planted 100 Lime, guarded another 60 Lime.

Myself, Philip, Dave, Cath, Geoff, Remy and Stephen went to Pasture Wood, where we planted an unknown number of Scots Pine. The reason we were not sure how many we got planted was we spent some time removing 9 sheep from the site. Dave acted as shepherd, the rest of us as the dogs. And it worked pretty well. The sheep needed removing, they had been eating some planted but unguarded Scots Pine, and even nibbling Alder which were still in their boxes. Philip thought the sheep had been deliberately put on site after our appearance in the paper two weeks ago, but that may be a little paranoid.

After planting Philip and I went to meet Julie from Friends of Slaithwaite Station to talk about planting for them. We agreed that we would plant around 25 trees, a mix of Hawthorn, Rowan, Oak, Blackthorn and Whitebeam on the grass verge of the car park.

Dianne, Ramsay, Brian, Jess and Trevor at Parkwood

All in all a productive and very enjoyable morning in bright cold sunshine.

Parkwood - more snowy frolics

Planting folk silhouetted against dramatic winter sky.

This week we all went to Parkwood, Golcar, and took 180 deer stakes and guards, and 315 Willow, Alder and Lime with us. It was a lovely morning, once we had negotiated the icy, slushy, roads to get there. We were: myself, Geoff, Philip, Dave, Cath, Remy, Hap, Jess and Stephen. We were joined by landowner Richard and his family. Geoff did some more taping and interviewing for his Tree Society film. Cake was a "superb" ginger cake, which again, in a worrying trend, we finished off in the pub afterwards.

There's snow business, like show business.

Cath, she's laughing, honest.

Today, a few hardy souls (myself, Philip, Geoff, Dave and Cath) ventured up to Pasture Wood and planted just over 100 trees. As you can see, it was a tad snowy, but we were moving around so we didn't get cold. While were up there a man from the Huddersfield Examiner came to visit us, interviewed Philip, took some photos. Famous at last. Then back to the Sair, where we finished off what was left of this week's cake, vegan apple flapjack (vegan apples?), and discussed Geoff's Tree Society film.

Philip, Dave, me and Cath, trying to get ice off tools.

Another tale of two woods

Jess at Pasture Wood

Today we were again at Pasture Wood, Marsden, and Parkwood, Golcar. Similar crews to last week. Myself, Philip, Dave, Chris, Geoff, Ben, Cath, Remy, Jess, Stephen and Peter at Pasture Wood, where we planted another 200 Scots Pine. And Brian, Trevor, Peter and Dianne at Parkwood, where with the help of the landowner and friends they planted 90 Willow and 90 Alder. Cake was the ever popular coconut and cherry "failure cake" (as my mother calls it). A good morning, that again saw the sun come out later on, despite the dire weather warnings. Julia joined us in the Sair, having worked at the Nursery all morning. Both pictures courtesy of Geoff.

The assembled throng in the Sair afterwards

Pasture Wood, Marsden, week 1

Geoff is undoubtedly a much, much, better photographer than me.

Today we returned to Pasture Wood, which is getting 1000 Scots Pine added to it. This site was planted 9 years ago, part funded by the Forestry Commission, and they didn't deem Scots Pine an acceptable tree for the site back then. Since that time, they have revised their guidelines, and it is now ok to plant Scots Pine on the site. The Scots Pine should thrive here, and will act as a nurse species for the existing slow growing trees on site, the Oak and Holly particularly. The trees and materials were delivered yesterday and myself, Guy, Mandy and Julian helped unload and carry all the gear across a field to the planting site. Today we were myself, Geoff, Philip, Dave, Remy, Hap, Chris, Mandy, Guy, Stephen, Peter and Ben. It is a tough, steep site, and we planted around 200 trees. Very windy up there, but the sun came out at the end. Cake was date and walnut. Very nice.

Those who also served: Brian, Peter, Trevor, Dianne and Jess went to Parkwood Golcar, with 75 trees, Common Alder and White Willow. A much flatter site, though very wet underfoot.