In the pines

Robert and Lesley remove the stump of a tree they felled.

In the pines, is exactly where we were today. We went to the small Scots pine plantation round the back of Butterley Reservoir. We think this was planted by the water board back in the 1960s, when that sort of thing was fashionable. Sadly the plantation is not looking as vibrant or viable as it did even 10 years ago. There are a large number of dead trees, and a number of trees that have been blown down in storms. At the same time, there are beginnings of natural regeneration of native broadleaf species, including Oak, Rowan and Holly, at ground level. We went in there with bow saws to take down some of the smaller dead pines, in order to allow more light to the natural regeneration. We were: Joanne and Jake, Lesley and Robert, Guy, Geoff, myself and Peter. Everyone worked safely, and no trees fell on us. We left the site at least as tidy as we found it. All timber was left on site in habitat piles.

https://youtu.be/gOZKz_sPM6U

Clare

We were extremely sad this week to hear of the death of a friend and member of the Society, Clare Bakhtiar. Clare planted trees with us between 1998 and 2001, but moved away from the area. She stayed in touch, and twice came with us on our occasional Summer walking and mountain trips. The above picture was taken at Inchnadamph Lodge in Scotland, just before we walked up Ben More Assynt. Her sudden death in an accident is a terrible loss, most of all for her son Caleb.

Nature boy

Its always a shame to split up the workforce, as a large part of the reason to be there on a Saturday morning is the social aspect, but, sometimes there are things that need doing.

So this morning we had a nursery party, myself, Dianne, Peter W., Ben and Solo the dog. And an out and about party, Philip, Geoff and Steve.

The nursery party cleared paths and covered up allotment beds with landscape fabric (donated by Duncan). This gives us access and space for storage of the Winter planting stock.

Philip and Geoff visited a prospective site at Bolster Moor, and then joined forces with Steve at Wholestone Moor to weed, straighten guards, and perform general aftercare duties. The trees are doing well. Some of the more recently planted nurse species are doing their job of growing quickly. The oak are growing, all but slowly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JquzYr-5bE4

Messing about in the shrubbery.

Bad to the bone

This evening I went up above Marsden with Sarah and Neil to take a look at the ash die-back in their field. Very sad, not every tree is affected, and most that are affected still have new growth from this year, but have lost their main upward stem, the leader. Forestry commission advice is a bit unclear. They don't advise outright destruction, but do say that coppicing from diseased trees is likely not a good idea. Coppicing was Neil and Sarah's original plan for these trees. Luckily, they have other trees, and other species in the same field.

Diseased stem, it will work its way back down the stem.

The leader (top stem) seems most often the one to go.

Classic "lesion" on stem.

In the flat field

This morning we went to Wham to do some weeding, it is not very often that we are in a more or less flat field. We were; myself, Dave, Philip, Jess, Ben and Solo the dog, and Adrian.

And a wildly inappropriate bit of goth rock this week.

Machine gun

Another solo session up Wessenden. Guy and Stephen have done their turns, and today I went up and did an hours weeding. Lovely day.

On the way back down I passed some re-enactor sorts on their way to Uppermill for one of those 1940s days. Quite bizarre to turn a corner and see a small tank trundling along the road.  Albeit the most pathetic tank ever made, the Bren Carrier, complete with (hopefully) replica Bren gun on the top of it.

Clean up at home

This Saturday we stayed at home, at our nursery base. Lots of work was done clearing paths and cutting back overgrowth. Important work, in that our neighbours won't think the place is quite such an eyesore, and also because we will need the easy access and space to store trees and materials in the Autumn.

We were: myself, Dave, Geoff, Lesley, Robert, Adrian, and John.

Still more work to be done. More paths to be cleared, stakes to be stacked for drying, and fruit to be picked. Could probably do with some new tools too, a flat hoe for clearing paths, and some new shears.

Higher ground

That same Saturday another team weeded Delight Farm, which didn't take long and Scammonden, which took longer. The Scammonden weeding was the Green Building Store's plantings from the last 2 years. There was plenty of all the nasties: Brambles, Himalayan Balsam, Nettles, Bracken, Thistles, Rose-Bay Willow Herb and Grass.

They were (if remembered correctly): Dave, Geoff, Steve, John, Adrian, Robert, Lesley, Seth, Neil and Philip.


The team were, of course, careful not to weed anything that looked like it might be a significant wild flower.

Hound dog

Solo seeks attention, Neil just stares him down.

Today some of us were at Glen View planting some dogwood (Cornus Sanguinea to latinists). We were: myself, Ben and Solo the (hound) dog, Neil, Sarah and Tanya.

All plants were thoroughly mulch-matted. Cake was peanut cookies.

Going back

A trip down memory lane to Green Owlers.. This is what it looked like in March  2009.

And this is how it looks now in July 2016!

As I walked out one morning

Another solo bracken bashing session, this time it was Stephen seeking some peace and tranquility on the hillside at Butterley.

Livin' la Vida loca

Vida obscured by young tree.

Fifth bracken bashing session of the season. Back at Butterley. Today we were: myself, Philip, Steve, Stephen, Geoff, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Jess, Ben and Solo the dog, Neil with Seth and Jake, and Robert with Jack and Vida (hence this week's song title). We got a ton of work done, despite the passing heavy showers. And enjoyed ginger cake at break time.

All followed by a short but lively conversation about Brexit with Bobby back at the Sair!

Guy said he would be bashing later on in the afternoon. No photographic evidence though yet.

One man went to mow

No photo, but Philip was up at Butterley this evening. In the rain. For the fourth session of the season.

Swords of a thousand men (well, four men and a dog)

Lots still to be done!

Third bracken bashing session of the season. Butterley again. We were: myself, Philip, Ben and Solo the dog, and Steve. There was a 50/50 split on choice of tools today. Myself and Steve had slashers. Ben and Philip favour a sickle.

We get material and financial support from Yorkshire Water and the Woodland Trust - and part of the relationship is that we undertake to weed the planted sites, in order to maximise successful growth. Still quite a lot to do so we will be piling on the emotional blackmail in order to get more boots on the ground next Saturday.

Cake was fruit slice. Midges, middling. But we had nets and Jungle Formula (sponsorship opportunity).

After bashing, Philip and I went to visit Eileen and Yogi to discuss planting up some of their land this Winter. We were enthusiastic... and they were charming.

Some enchanted evening?

Nicely bashed.

First Thursday night of bracken bashing for this season. We were; myself, Hap, Philip and Steven. No official cake, but Hap did share his with us. Pleasant evening. Not too midgy.

Bracken bashing is hard, sweaty work. But it means that the new trees get plenty of light, when otherwise they would be shaded out by the seasonal growth of bracken.

We get material and financial support from Yorkshire Water and the Woodland Trust - and part of the relationship is that we undertake to weed the planted sites, in order to maximise successful growth.

The long and winding road (up Wessenden)

Jess being helped up the steep slope by Lizzie.

So week one of this years bracken bashing, up the far far end of Wessenden. We were: myself, Dave, Jess and Lizzie the Dog, Hap, Adrian, Steve, John and Geoff.
Cake was the legendary Eccles. We got a fair bit done, but there were a lot of stakes needed banging in, and a lot of cable ties needed tightening.

Bug powder dust

Went back to Jolly's field to finish the cardboard mulch matting. Just myself, Ann and Tanya. And it just took til 11am. There were, however, shed loads of midges. A timely reminder to re-stock the insect repellent and head nets.