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.

Unknown brother

Weeded, matted.

Today we were in Marsden trialling a new form of weed suppression. Cardboard mulch mats. The field we had planted in contains a tank and pipe supplying water to a nearby terrace, so spraying wasn't an option. We were: Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Dianne's brother Jim (who we had not met before hence this weeks song title), Jess, John, Steve, Ann and myself. Cake was jam sponge, plus Mint flavour kit kats that Dianne had brought. Very pleasant morning, lets hope it has some beneficial effect and one day this is an impenetrable hawthorn hedge worthy of a fairy tale.

Steve's feet, Ann, Jim, Jess, Dianne and John.

(B)ramble on.

Geoff and Dave, both cutting a dash in their differently styled shirts.

So we went to Fieldhouse to clear brambles from the young trees there. Fieldhouse is coming along nicely, and this will probably be the last time we need to do this. We were: myself, Peter W., Steve, Geoff and Dave. Dave was wearing a frilly shirt, that looked somewhat incongruous when wielding his petrol strimmer. Cakes were rock.

Ben and new dog Solo stayed at the Nursery. Duncan and Harvey the dog went to Merrydale.

Some woodland, improved and expanded by us.

Fruit tree

Geoff labours, Cath casts a critical eye.

This week we were at Rotcher community orchard, helping them to tame their weeds. We were: myself, Philip, Geoff, Cath, Adrian, Steve, Duncan and Harvey the dog, and Dianne. There were also a number of Rotcher folk. Cake was chocolate.

(Song title: Nick Drake).

Knock on wood

 

Me, Dave, Adrian and Ben spent a few hours cutting and splitting logs today at the nursery. It was a fairly pleasant morning though the promised nicer weather did not appear, the chilly drizzle making up for that. Hopefully this batch of wood will now be seasoned in time for next winter. Lots more to do still! 

Geoff

Hit, git and split.

John and I had an effective morning checking the Merrydale trees. The points of note were:- loads of hazel nuts, lots of germinating balsam especially in the areas were water was running, a couple of split trees and exceptionally muddy footway. There is a another two man morning to finish the guards, some formative pruning and I would coppice one in three of the hazels.

John gave blood for the cause as evidenced in the photos (editor's note: not sure an extreme close up of a bloody volunteer is the right image for the blog).

Duncan

Wild is the wind

Today on possibly the windiest Colne Valley site Dave, Chris, Dianne, Ben, Steve, Hap, myself and the two dogs beat the elements planting about 75  Viburnum lantana, Wayfaring tree and 160 willow (editors note: some of these may have been Spindle)

We did well in making use of the bare root trees from Stirley farm  and used a lot of recycled stakes and guards.

Cake was provided by Mrs Haps.

All planters will be sleeping very well after  working out in heavy windy conditions.. Thanks to all.

Duncan.

Every rose has it's thorn (except the Guelder Rose?)

Canes and spirals for the Guelder Rose.

Today were were back at Outlane, for the official last day of the planting season. We were; myself, Philip, Dave, Hap, Adrian, Jenny, Makun, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Cath, Peter W., Steve, Stephen, Jess, Lesley, Robert, and young Ben.

We planted 107 Guelder Rose, 120 Alder and 75 Goat Willow.

Cake was sticky ginger. V.good.

There are, in fact, a few trees left to plant this season. Stirley Farm donated quite a few trees to us last week, and so I will be planting 25 Whitebeam above Dirker in Marsden, Adrian will be planting 30 Hawthorn at Pole Moor, and Duncan will be planting 100 Wayfaring, Spindle and Dogwood at Goat Hill Farm. Duncan's planting will take place next Saturday, and he will need some help!

2,4,6,8 Motorway

Today we were at Scammonden, almost within punk rock spitting distance of the M62. We were joined by the good folk of the Green Building Store, who sponsored today with 220 Sessile Oak, stakes and guards. We also planted 100 Downy Birch, which were a last minute donation from Stirley Community Farm.

CVTS folk were; myself, Geoff, Cath, Lesley and Robert, Jess, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Peter W., Peter T., Stephen O., Stephen K., Ben, Hap, Philip, Guy, Mandy, Machan, Dave, Brian, Ros and Steve. Plus as many Green Building Store people.

Cake was another new one, carrot and orange, again very successful.

Weather was mild and dry.

Are you all keeping up with the songs titles for post headlines?

And I nearly forgot to mention the lost baby rabbit we encountered. It was ushered back into the brambles to keep it away from the dogs.

Life in the Outlane

Kit and caboodle.

Here we were today in Outlane, planting 105 Oak, 75 Alder and 75 Goat Willow. We were; myself, Adrian, Hap, Philip, Dave, Geoff, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Ben, Peter W., Stephen, Steve, Chris, Brian, Diane and Jenny, Seth Luke and Joanne. Jess stayed the nursery and sorted logs.

Cake was a new one, date and pineapple loaf, and was a resounding success.

Jenny (and noise cancelling headphones?!) and Diane.

Wood, 'n it be luverley.

As Mr Carter has pointed out, we are doing quite well with stocking our drying shed. While we don't aspire to being a fully fledged social enterprise, these logs do help pay the rent.

Big log

Guy, how long is that log? Is it a "Dave"?

More thinning and formative pruning at Netherwood. Dave was snedding trees that Philip felled today that were not done last week in the lower part of the site (M10b). Guy and Mandy were formative pruning and manual felling at the top of the site (M12c). They met with the landowner to explain why we were thinning and formative pruning -  and then took some of the logs back to the nursery, leaving some for the landowner.

Mulch matting in Marsden

Dianne mulch matting, dogs watching.

This week we were up above Marsden, planting a further 90 Alder and 90 Goat Willow in Neil and Sarah's field. There was a special aspect to this as Neil and Sarah are such diligent landowners that they mulch mat all their trees. This takes a quite a lot more work, but helps ensure vigorous growth from the get go.

We were: myself, Hap, Geoff, Lesley, Robert, Ben the younger, Ben the elder, Jess, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Neil and Sarah, Peter W., and Stephen O., Andrew and John. Plus special guests, Chloe and Julian, who were there in order to write an article about us for the Huddersfield Examiner.

Cake was apricot and walnut.

We also left 105 Beech and 105 Dogwood for Sarah and Neil to plant, at their leisure!

The Tree Amigos - manage some woodland.

Contrary to scurrilous rumour, Philip, Stephen and Guy were hard at work today. The first photo shows a formative pruned/semi-managed tree in foreground along with 2 Oaks still in guards that now have more light.

The second photo shows a couple of Stephen's log piles and his well stacked brash. All these trees were planted by CVTS about 18 years ago. The small glade created by felling the Alder will allow light to reach to woodland floor and allow biodiversity to do its worst.

The Magnificent Seven

I wonder why they don't let me in front of the camera more often?

Here we were back at Butterly. I say we, but our numbers were significantly down on last week. That said 7 of us did the same work as 23 last week. Old school, rainy day, hard scrabble tree planting.

We were: myself, Geoff, Adrian, Peter W., Dave, Steve and Andrew. We planted 105 Oak, 30 Scots Pine, 30 Bird Cherry, and 30 Birch.

There was another sub-group, the glamorous chainsaw boys were out and about. Stephen K, Philip and Guy may have spent the morning admiring each others chaps and oiling their chains, or doing some well needed thinning and felling. Evidence to follow.

Dampened but unbowed.

There's gonna be a Butterley breakout!

Here we were at Butterley again. Today planting 30 Scots Pine, 105 Sessile Oak, 30 Downy Birch, 15 Bird Cherry, 30 Hazel, and a couple of rogue Alder.

We were: myself, Hap, Philip, John, Adrian, Ros, Tanya, Jess, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Ben, Steve, Dave, Lesley, Robert, Makun, and Jenny, plus special guests Marsden Thieving Magpie Morris folk Angie, Penny, Alan, Sarah, and Paddy and his dog.

Cake was ginger, and it didn't rain or snow, well, almost.

We were back at the Sair in plenty of time for our mid-season meeting. 

Beginning Butterley

Apols for slight blurriness, twas raining.

Our first Saturday at Butterley for this year, and we planted 45 Scots Pine and 105 Sessile Oak, in the pouring rain. We were: myself, Philip, Dave, Jess, Dan, Dianne and Lizzie the Dog, Duncan and Harvey the Dog, Hap, Stephen K., Ros, Adrian, Lesley and Robert, Ben, and special guests Diane G., Jenny and Makun (all the way from Japan). Cake was pineapple and cherry sponge. Nice. We all had a pretty good time considering the weather, but we were fairly damp by the end.

Back at the Nursery, Geoff, John and Guy were busy producing saleable logs.

There was a third party planting on the other side of the reservoir: Brian, Chris and Ramsay.

All today's trees stakes and guards were acquired through our affiliation with the White Rose Forest and the Woodland Trust.

Duncan happily hammering.