Crawling back to shrew

This week we were crawling around in the undergrowth at Scammonden, retrieving plastic tubes and discovering wildlife. Hap found a shrew! Poor little blighter was terrified. And the shrew was pretty scared too. Boom, boom.

We were: myself, Dave, Geoff, Harriet, Jess and Lizzie the dog, Lee, Mel, Steve, Cath, Ben and Hap.

Cake was bakewell tart.

https://youtu.be/bpOSxM0rNPM

Fame

Such is the fame or notoriety of the Colne Valley Tree Society that there was a gathering 50 environmental professionals today, who came to feast their eyes upon our mighty works, and despair.

They actually came to look at and discuss clough woodland planting schemes in general, and with reference to the large Wessenden project that will happen next year.

I was there to represent the Society and the way our local work has  (some might say) inspired the larger project. I spoke for a few minutes through the portable PA that had been brought along. I was somewhat underprepared, as I had no idea there would be 50 people there. Most folks were either from the Woodland Trust or the Forestry Commission, but there were also representatives of Natural England, Yorkshire Water and the National Trust - and other groups.

https://youtu.be/J-_30HA7rec

Brown mushrooms

Not what we usually gather

We were back at Naze top gathering more plastic, and mushrooms. We were: Sue, Ben, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Jess, Dave, Geoff, Steve, myself, Cath and Hap. Cake was crunchy cocunut topped sponge with cherries - devoured.

Foreground, what we usually gather - plastic.

https://youtu.be/IRDjY5N4PQU

Red

Jess gets arty with her phone.

A week collecting old plastic tree guards from Naze Top above Butterley. Leaving the new woodland nice and tidy.  We were: Stephen, Mel, Steve, myself, Dave, Jess, Lee, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, and Ben. Cake was a very fine lemon drizzle.

https://youtu.be/gW_LaqKudLY

Woman power

Tanya, Dianne and Harriet. Resting.

Once again we were gender balanced, this could bring a whole new vibe to the group if it continues. We were: Tanya, Dianne, Jess, Harriet, Dave, Philip, Stephen and myself.

We finished cutting and clearing at Throstle, it was a long and tough morning but we got it done.

Cake was cherry rock buns.

https://youtu.be/GtvdYy7tZL0

He-man: and the Masters of the Universe

Well it was either He-man, or So Macho.

The fun never stops. We were back at Throstle wrestling with the Blackthorn roots. Myself, Dave, Tanya and Hap. Cake was Co-Op doughnuts.


https://youtu.be/6MVoFIc-bIM

I am woman - Chain of fools

Me and Harriet compete for best dressed volunteer.

A first for CVTS, we had gender parity today, in terms of numbers. We were: Dianne, Jess, Harriet and Tanya, plus Dave, myself, Steve and Lee.

The location of this historic event was Throstle. Where we were removing Blackthorn roots and cutting back Willow. Got a good bit done but yet still more to do.

After deciding on a woman theme there were a lot of tune suggestions. So a 70's feminist anthem, and a tune for Aretha.

https://youtu.be/xwMOC5i2eRk

https://youtu.be/hrcUNChhOP0

Look what you made me do.

It didn't see Dave coming.

A heroic/foolhardy one man effort from Dave this week to grub out Blackthorn roots at Throstle. Probably better to share the pain with some equally misguided friends?

https://youtu.be/Q0oIoR9mLwc

Back in black(thorn)

Hap looking momentarily disconsulate. John and Adrian not quite at that point, yet.

This week we were back at Throstle Green. We need to cut back some undergrowth, hopefully for the final time. And we started on the worst bit, a thicket of blackthorn. It was not easy or pleasant, in fact it was hellish, but we got it done. We were: myself, Hap, John, Adrian, Stephen, Steve and Dave. Geoff decided to stay a the nursery. Cake was an excellent flapjack with fresh raspberry filling.

https://youtu.be/pAgnJDJN4VA

Fun for all the family

This week week we were up the far side of Scammonden, knocking back Himalayan balsam, and collecting old guards off grown trees. Lots of families and dog walkers kept passing us as they used the major path that Yorkshire Water have built around the reservoir, only one lot stopped and asked what we were doing. The weather was kind, breezy, but dry. Cake was homemade jam sponge. We were: myself, Adrian, John, Ben and Geoff. We must have collected 100+ guards, and a lot of cable ties.

I know I have shoehorned this tune title in somewhat, but was listening to it in the car that morning. I imagine the Academic Hamiltons were a bit like this.

https://youtu.be/6228-Jl1NW8

Everything's gone green

Me, rumbling in the jungle.

Back up to Butterley for the final bashing of the bracken. We were: myself, Adrian, Geoff, Dave, Philip, Ben, John, Hap and Stephen.


https://youtu.be/q5LqrBgEslM

Winter Hill

Back we were, back up Wessenden, knocking back more Bracken. Near the end now, but encountering some of the first go head high primeval stuff.

We were: myself, Philip, Geoff, Dave, John, Hap, Peter and Stephen.

On talking about the moor fires, this track by A certain ratio came up.

https://youtu.be/isMh1itIiuU

Sign of the times

Today we were working beside the Pennine Way sign up Wessenden, bashing more bracken. We were also removing stakes and guards from the unusual number of failures of trees planted. We suspect this was because the trees planted here were stock that had been held over from a previous season. It still wasn't catastrophic though, with less than 10% failing. And we did retrieve over 100 stakes and guards that can be re-used.

We were: myself, Philip, Stephen, Peter, Hap, Ben and John. Oat biscuits and freshly picked strawberries at break time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOKJfQpbsL0

It ain't easy

More bracken destruction, takes a while on this scale. But vital if the trees are to thrive.

This time we were: myself, Philip, Geoff, Hap, John, Steve and Peter.

Hap, lavishing tlc on the little trees.

https://youtu.be/OnI_ko3_r_c

I forgot to remember to forget

Another bracken bashing session. To my recollection we were: myself, Philip, Adrian, John, Hap, Steve and Dave. But I neglected the blog for 7 days and can't remember!

https://youtu.be/HaqjSCx_3uw

By a waterfall

Geoff and Steve, by a waterfall.

We were up near the far end of the Wessenden Valley, bashing bracken to allow light to the wannabe trees. We were: myself, Lee, Jess, Diane and Lizzie the dog, Steve, Dick, Ben, Geoff and Dave.

Cake was bakewell tart.

It was warm, but lots of good work got done.

https://youtu.be/loKznDGqTcw

Little green bag

Adrian, me, Lee, Jess, Dave and Steve. With our tightly packed green bags.

Today we were back at Butterley, removing guards from grown trees and bagging them up for taking to the tip. We are nothing if not tidy.

We were: myself, Geoff, Adrian, Steve, Lee, Jess, Dave and Hap.

Cake was flapjack. Weather was good.

https://youtu.be/6kWHalsbZLk

Changing of the guard

Hap hard at it.

This morning we were literally changing the guard(s). We were at the WW1 memorial planting, re-purposing some deer guards to better protect the Scots Pine, which had been nibbled by sheep.
We took long guards off trees that were already established, cut them to 3/4 length, and put them on the Scots Pine. We also collected a whole bunch of stakes and guards for re-use on other sites. short ones were returned to the nursery by Dave, long ones left on site, for the time being.

We were: myself, Dave, Hap and Stephen. We had Co-Op mini jam doughnuts at break.

Great (and properly appropriate) tune this week.

https://youtu.be/zL-4CH0eJBc

Take me to the river

Philip bottom right, in Carr Clough, previous planting shows top left.

Today there was a work party, and a research party.

Philip and I sat and looked at maps of all the sites planned so far, then walked up the length of Carr Clough, to work out whether and where we could plant there. Of course it looked very lovely, and viable, in the sunshine.

Dave, Hap, Stephen, Geoff and Ben were back down at the Butterley Reservoir end of things, removing stakes and guards from old planting there.

Ben, Hap, Dave and Stephen, with their bags of swag.

https://youtu.be/vGD8aQ2GKr0

Today we were at Marsden golf course removing more old guards. We were: myself, Dave, Hap, Geoff and Ben. Cake was chocolate. Weather was passable. Dave and Hap then took lots of old guards to the tip, and retreived some more archery bosses from Meltham.