Big decision

Peter chooses carefully.

Today we were back at Wessenden, planting 150 Sessile Oak and 30 Hazel.

We were: myself, Andrew, Dave, Ben and Solo the dog, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Jess, Lee, Hap, Steve, Adrian, Peter, Sue, and Geoff.

Cake was coconut and cherry sponge.

https://youtu.be/iXAfWKOgo2Q

Black dog

Solo

First week of the new season's planting, and we were up the Wessenden valley, stumbling around on a bracken covered slope. Weather was mixed, with sunshine, showers, rainbows, and a brisk wind.
Cake was a revolutionary nutella bakewell, a cake in need of a proper name I think.

We were Guy, Jess, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Philip, Hap, Adrian, Steve, Tanya, Ben and Solo the (black) dog, Dave, Peter and Stephen.

Jess thought Solo looked a bit morose today, hence the song.

We planted 210 trees. Tanya took the nice pictures.

https://youtu.be/TTbw0kzEaxE

Philip, me, and Hap

White punks on dope

The Tubes!

Highly misleading post title, but the connection is in the name of the band this week.

Up to Butterley this morning for some reclaim and re-use work. Taking tubes and stakes off sturdy young trees, and stashing them for future use on the same hillside.

We were: Adrian, Hap, Steve, Geoff, Sue, Geoff, myself, Ben and Solo the dog.

Cake was ginger.

This week's tune has to be seen to be believed. Please watch. Legend has it, Geoff's band the Academic Hamiltons were a lot like this.

https://youtu.be/rs9wuaVV33I

Here there and everywhere

Solo, solo.

Dave, Dianne, Lizzie, Dean and Geoff

John and Adrian

Funny old morning this one.

Philip, John and Adrian went to Fieldhouse, to mow brambles.

Guy, Ben and Solo the dog, Dean, Jess, Lee, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Geoff, Dave and Hap went to Marsden to remove tree guards.

That left myself and Susan at the Nursery, she had flu, I am still nursing my sprained ankle. Then Susan went home. That left me on my own.

Until I was joined by Corey, very young grandson of Sharon from the adjacent terrace. Corey was very enthusiastic about helping me cut up logs and split them with the log splitter (under very careful supervision). He also picked apples, and rode his bike round the paths. I ended up spending longer at the nursery than I anticipated, because I couldn't get rid of Corey. Finally he got tired/bored, and went to his nan's.

Then I came home and wrote emails to this year's planting site landowners.

Later on, I was deluged with lovely photos.

https://youtu.be/ZdeNcqvfV0I

Didn't it rain

Ben, gathering rainclouds.

This week we ventured all the way over to the far side of Scammonden to do some weeding of Japanese Knotweed.

We were subjected to heavy showers, and only had Cadbury's mini rolls to sustain us.

But we had a good time.

We were: Steve, Adrian, Hap, Philip, myself, Ben and Solo and Geoff.

https://youtu.be/2jLOvkNRIB4

Blanket of weeds

Before

After

This week we were at the nursery battling the Mares Tail, making space for storing this years saplings. We were: myself, Geoff, Hap, Ben and Solo the dog. Cake was scones with Jam made with berries from the nursery.

Another tune for Philip.

https://youtu.be/2hfkHbneoUc

Cheap sunglasses

Jess and Geoff, both cutting a dash, in their own ways.

Back to Butterley for more bashing this week, the last week of this?

We were: Ben and Solo the dog, Geoff, Dave, Philip, myself, Tanya, Jess, and Robert.

https://youtu.be/97bMX7KV8d4

The long and winding road

Geoff making strides.

Back at Wessenden for further bracken based activity. We were: myself, Philip, Geoff, John, Stephen, Adrian and Robert - plus Dave somewhere in the valley with the mad dogs.

Its a long walk in, 25 minutes before we can even begin work. But it was a nice day.  As you can see.

https://youtu.be/8noiJUhJ3E8?list=RD8noiJUhJ3E8

Tears are not enough

Hap,overwhelmed.

Though he claims he had something in his eye, I think Hap was overwhelmed today, by the camaraderie, the wonders of nature, and the Eccles cakes.

We were far up Wessenden valley bracken bashing, and we were: myself, Hap, Philip, Adrian, Sue, Dave, Stephen, John, and Guy.

We got a lot done, and the sun shone at the end. A stiff breeze kept the midges off.

https://youtu.be/6lazXg2pAXk

Three imaginary boys

Just myself Philip and Hap this evening, out for a spot of bracken bashing on the banks of Butterley.

https://youtu.be/PDVzELTbHPg

The Numbers

Dave versus a million bracken plants.

See that picture, just Dave versus a world of bracken. We are not getting the numbers on Saturdays for bracken bashing. There were five of us this week: myself, Philip, Dave, Robert, Geoff, Ben, and Solo the dog. Three line whip for next Saturday, as we move up Wessenden.

Was a nice morning though, coffee cake, and no rain.

This weeks song was mentioned a the pub afterwards, and is a nice tune recorded in someone's back garden. Well worth a watch/listen.

https://youtu.be/Ti6qhk3tX2s

Raised on robbery

Ben and Philip

Another day back cutting down Bracken at Butterley Res. We were: myself, Philip, Steve, Geoff, Ben and Solo the dog. Cake was very nice Raspberry buns. Solo robbed one when Philip dropped it. Bad dog. Bad Philip. The sun shone, and a nice breeze kept the midges off. Ideal.

https://youtu.be/TjbfsKaG86g

Turned out nice again.

First day of bracken bashing of the season. We were: Hap, Philip, Adrian, Geoff, myself, Robert and Jess. Cake was chocolate. Looked apocalyptically rainy first thing, but turned out nice again.

https://youtu.be/P0qyrnGLnsw

Kurious oranj

Curious about our orange log splitter?

Yet more log sawing and splitting. Just myself Dave and Steve today. And some very large bits of ginger cake.

A song for Steve and Geoff.

https://youtu.be/6A3cHzFQsqI

Split myself in two

Back at the Nursery for more splitting. Looked like Dave had been hard at work sawing and moving stuff around. We were: myself, Sue, Adrian, Ben, and Solo the dog. Cake was freshly made rock cakes.

This Saturday's song is for Philip.

https://youtu.be/1iCAuSt40dY?list=RD1iCAuSt40dY

Crosscut saw

Today we were at the nursery, and cut and split a phenomenal amount of wood. We were: myself, Sue, Adrain, Geoff, Tanya, Dave and Hap. The sun shone, bakewell tart was eaten.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnn7zBN6n6g

Last go round

Last day's planting of the season, and a day of some considerable significance for other reasons too.

We finished the planting at Parkwood, putting in 180 Hawthorn, 15 Dog Rose, and a load of Willow cuttings. Present were: myself, Philip, Steve, Stephen K., Peter W., Peter T., Ben and solo the dog, Jess, Dianne, Lesley, Robert, Tanya, Neil, Sarah, Geoff, Dave, Adrian and Hap.

At tea break we presented Peter W. with a "Sorry you're leaving" card. Sadly Peter is moving to Exmoor to be near to his daughter and granddaughter. We will miss him very much as he has been a pillar of the Society for many years, and is much respected and loved.

After this we moved across the valley to Meltham Cop, where we met Brian and his wife Margaret. In celebration of Brian's 50th year of planting with the tree society we planted a large (for us) Bird Cherry tree. It is on the hillside, and may even be visible from Brian's house one day.

Brian and Philip

https://youtu.be/6K56ls_XjEA