Can't stop

So, really was the last day of the Season today, next weekend being Easter 'n all.

This morning we were on last go round, and spread across the valley trying to finish various bits and bobs.

Steve, Peter, Adrian, Diane, Ben and new boy Dick were at Butterley. Some dispute over how many trees taken but it was quite a few- 160 maybe- and despite a heroically late clock-off, they returned with around 20. All infilling, there was no need to go into the triangle bit. Diane took some photos. Steve says he seemed to end up in charge by default and nearly cracked under the responsibility. There were accusations that he was making a covert attempt to take over from myself & Philip.

I was in Ing Head in Marsden on my own, planting 5 Holly, 15 Bird Cherry and 12 Crab apple. At one point I was harrassed by some sheep + farmer and sheep dog. No wonder some of the trees in that field are struggling.

Philip and Stephen O. were at Fieldhouse planting 30 Crab Apple, some will be visible (on a clear day) from the Sair.

Dave, Stephen K. and John were chainsawing a logging back at the Nursery.

So we traditionally take a break of a week or three now. But people just love this stuff so much there may well still be little groups doing this and that now and then.

https://youtu.be/BfOdWSiyWoc

Six pack

Myself and the President were away in that London this weekend, and weather was not good so there were just six hardy souls. Philip says they planted 90 trees at the Butterley Hill Top slope. The full pack of six comprised: Philip, Geoff, Cath, Stephen, Dave and Steve.

A Reed Bunting was spotted!

https://youtu.be/6zFK6hdKRd8

The Fog

Steve,Stephen, Peter and John

As we stagger towards the end of the planting season we were again in two teams.

Myself, Steve, Stephen, Peter and John were at White Hall Barn planting 60 Hazel and 15 Willow.

Philip, Dave, Adrian, Sue, Ben, Jess and Geoff were at Butterley planting 75 Birch 25 Oak, and 50 Rowan.

Cake was Eccles, and a wierd mist rolled in off the reservoir late in the morning.

The Fog

https://youtu.be/yNSLaYJboPE

Footprints in the snow

Another split day.

Some of us were playing in the snow at Upper Clough, planting 50 Oak, 50 Rowan and 50 Birch. We were: myself, Philip, Jess, Lee, Hap, Cath, Dave, Tanya and Stephen.

Others stayed at the nursery and cut and split logs. They were: Geoff, Ben, Adrian and Sue. They also found time to make art with found objects? This one is apparently entitled "Hungry owl".

Later it was our Winter meal out, organised by Jess. Good food, a lot of fun, and quite a few drinks. 

https://youtu.be/rfR_PJGf4B0

Twin freaks

Bit of a rock and roll selfie there.

Today we were split in two again.

Jess, Philip, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Hap, Geoff and Ben were at Bolster Moor. They planted 150 trees -  50 Alder, 25 Downy Birch, 25 Goat Willow, 25 Hawthorn and 25 Rowan.

Myself, Tanya, Stephen and Dave were at Hill Top Marsden. We planted 150 trees - 75 Hawthorn and 75 Hazel.

Stephen and myself, and the shelter belt.

Cake was chocolate, and the weather was dry and bright, and cold. A nice break from the last few weeks of relentless rain and greyness.

And hats off to a West Yorkshire band, the Orielles.

https://youtu.be/Q2Aeooy0l4k

3 is the magic number

Today's blog entry courtesy of Hap.

Stephen is very proud of his piles.

Today was a rare "Thursday irrregular's session for this year. However we were a model of efficiency: Dave prepared the logs, Stephen chopped them up and Hap did a moon walk...and all this while you lot were probably enjoying a nice lie in !!!

https://youtu.be/dLBx3g8cowY

You've got my number (why don't you use it?)

Everyone wishing there'd be a dry Saturday.

This week we were at Bolster Moor, planting 50 Hazel, 50 Sweet Chestnut, 50 Goat Willow, 25 Beech, 25 Oak, 100 Blackthorn and 25 Dog Rose.

We were: myself, Stephen O., Stephen K., Steve, Tanya, Dianne, Jess, Lee, Dave, Philip, Hap, Peter, Ben, Adrian and Sue.

After that we had our formal mid-season meeting in one of the side rooms at the pub. Where we were forced to face the coming of the 2018 General Data Protection Regulations.

Fantastically ironic tune this week. 

https://youtu.be/dVVYfeMmZG0

Little angel with a dirty face

My dirty face, and some cold wet folk eating cake.

This week we were back at the head of the valley, planting 25 Silver Birch, 75 Hazel, 50 Hawthorn, 50 Sessile Oak, and 60 exotic Willows.

We were: myself, Dave, Geoff, Philip and friend John, Cath, Steve, Stephen, Adrian, Peter and Audrey.

Cake was by Audrey and was lovely.

Weather was decidedly unlovely.

Nice bit of lap steel on the tune.

https://youtu.be/W0e3CVkMXKM

Industrial estate

Dave and Philip in a perilous position.

This morning we were divided. Some folks stayed at the nursery to saw and split logs, and the rest of us were in a rather un-glamorous spot down the hill behind some industrial sheds. Retrieving some very nice wood that had been felled when the sheds got newly roofed and guttered. We also rescued some great cherry that had been felled  nearby where someone had cut down trees to improve the view from their conservatory. The cherry trees were on council land, so that would be criminal damage. And a criminal waste of good wood, having left it on the ground.

We were: Philip, Dave, Steve, Lee, Jess, Dianne, Cath, Peter, John, Hap, Geoff, Adrian, Sue, Duncan, Tanya and myself.

https://youtu.be/_ViEzjcc6sE

Lucifer over Lancashire

Hap (with bucket) Philip, Peter and a bit of Geoff (I think).

I don't know why, but Hap holding that bucket is hilarious. He just found it in the field. And we were all very, very wet at the end of a windy and wet morning. Lancashire sent us this evil weather from the West. So that and the sad demise of bandleader Mark Smith explains this week's song title.

We were: Hap and his bucket, myself, Philip, Peter, Geoff, Dave, Tanya, Stephen, Ben, and our host, Audrey.

We were right up the head of the valley, hence our exposure to the worst weather Lancashire could provide.

Cake was provided by Audrey, and it was lovely.

We planted 100 Common Alder, 50 Aspen, 50 Downy Birch and 30 Goat Willow.

https://youtu.be/5cwdSIvWpo0

Fox on the run

There was a fox in the Nursery when I got there this morning. Bold as brass.

Anyway this morning we were at Lower Green Owlers, way up at the head of the valley. We planted 50 Hazel, 25 Dog Rose, 50 Oak, 25 Aspen, 25 Rowan.

We were: myself, Hap, Lee, Jess, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Geoff, Philip, Dave, Adrian, Stephen, Cath, Steve and Ben.

Cake was ginger (like the fox).

https://youtu.be/VP2umy6TdEU

Pale shelter

Very rare instance of proper before and after photo's today.

We were planting a classic farmland shelter belt up above Butterley reservoir, Marsden. When grown these trees and shrubs will give livestock some respite from the cruel winds and rains coming from Lancashire.

We were: myself, Hap, Neil, John, Steve, Philip, Dave, Stephen O., Geoff, Susan, Cath, Stephen K., Ben, Dave. Peter, Jess, and Steve.

I was spoilt for choice for the shelter theme'd tune. But went for classic 80's.

https://youtu.be/l_kN_DJQJ3U

Heaven

Dean, Lee, Steve, Adrian, Ben and Sue. And Marsden

Today we were back in the clough above Crowther Laithe Farm, Marsden. We added 100 Scots Pine, 50 Oak, and 30 Gorse to the older (and struggling) trees already there. Thanks to Dave's efforts we used almost entirely recycled tree protection for today's planting. And retrieved more for future re-use.

We were: myself, Philip, Adrian, Dave, Geoff, Dean, Sue, Tanya, Ben, Lee, Guy, Ros, Stephen, and Steve.

Cake was coffee walnut.

This week's tune is here partly because I was playing it in the car on the way there. I had another one of those Proustian moments where a tune moved me unexpectedly, reminding me of being much younger. That happens a fair bit these days. Sheesh, being 56. But lyrically the song might also be taken to describe the Colne Valley!

https://youtu.be/9bKW7JkHKm8

Myself and Philip hatch a cunning planting plan.

Two tribes

Stephen, and another larch down.

A day of two tribes.

Tribe one comprised: Philip, Susan, Dave, Adrian, Steve, Hap, Jess, Lee, Cath and Ben. They went to Royd House Wood to reclaim some trees that look to have been felled without permission and left lying there. Someone improving their view? Some other thinning may have taken place.

Tribe two comprised: myself, Stephen and John. We went to Throstle Green Farm and took down 4 large Larch nurse species, two dead Alder, a Pine of some sort, two small Ash trees, and a small Oak that was collateral damage when one of the Larch fell on it. There is still scope to remove more of the tall nurse species at Throstle Green Farm.

A cold and damp but productive morning.

https://youtu.be/r8DFDCEJ0co

They're red hot (hot tamales)

Logs, including felled dead stuff.

Today was the now traditional pre-Christmas woodland management session followed by food (delicious hot chilli made by Jess).

We were: myself, Philip, Susan, Stephen, Hap, Cath, Neil, Stephen O., Geoff, John, Dave, Duncan and Harvey, Jess and Dianne.

Half time cake was a new recipe, sticky cranberry gingerbread. Very good.

We were working at Throstle Green Farm, where we felled a number of dead Alder, a similar number of tall Larch nurse species, and a small number of Oak, Ash and Birch prunings or thinnings.

https://youtu.be/TOXXh24HnmY

This must be the place

Our break time view - photo by Jess.

Today we were high above Marsden, planting 100 Scots Pine, 10 Crab Apple and 5 Holly. We were: myself, Philip, Tanya, Jess, Hap, Geoff, Stephen, Peter, Adrian, and Ben. Cake was the ever popular crunchy coconut topped sponge. The weather was relatively kind, and we had a lovely view.

https://youtu.be/N7zluBxv2Z0

Ice Ice baby

Stephen and ice ice baby.

Today we were adjacent to Butterley Reservoir, planting in a bed of bracken. We planted 100 Sessile Oak, 100 Scots Pine, 50 Aspen, 5 Holly, and 15 Crab apple. Not bad considering there were only 7 and a half of us. We were: myself, Stephen, Steve, Philip, Dave, Geoff, Hap - joined by Ben at half time. It was cold, and snowy, but all worked out well.

And today's tune, come on! A truly guilty pleasure.

https://youtu.be/rog8ou-ZepE

Blackroc - Hard times

So we were back for our second and thankfully final week at Black Rock Mills. The ground remained very hard and hard going, with little topsoil for most of the planting area. We also had some problems applying the landscape architects planting plan in terms of the areas to be planted. But in the end, after some unnecessary stress and disagreements amongst ourselves, we think we got it done.

We were: Hap, Stephen, Adrian, Jess, Dave, Geoff, Philip, myself, Rob, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, and Ben. Plus two very willing and able Scouts.

Today we planted: 75 Dogwood, 75 Dog Rose, 75 Elder, 75 Hazel, 50 Rowan, 25 Bird Cherry, 25 Hawthorn, 45 Holly, 50 Sessile Oak.  495 plants total. Most of these were protected with canes and spirals. The larger tree varieties received 75cm stakes and guards.

Nice tune this week, both artist name and title appropriate:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY-T_-Az_z4

Looks benign, but was actually a thin coat of soil on shale rock.

Today was first day of planting at Black Rock Mill site. We were: Stephen, myself, Philip, Dave, Geoff, Adrian, John, Peter, Susan, Ben, Cath, Steve, and Hap. We were joined by local councillors Rob and Nicola, and by a small but effective number of Scouts, and one member of the local Linthwaite volunteers.

We planted a total of 625 trees and shrubs. made up of: 25 Rowan, 25 Silver Birch, 25 Bird Cherry, 125 Elder, 100 Dogwood, 100 Dog Rose, 75 Field Maple, 25 Hawthorn, 100 Hazel, and 25 Holly.

Several of us were hard at work today, Thursday. Hap and Stephen went to Wessenden to try and finish off up there. Myself and Dave were at the Nursery to receive, count, sort and heal in the annual tree delivery. 3500 odd trees stakes and guards. There were some shenanigans over the order, but we got what we got given, rather than what we had really hoped for.

So macho!

Hap broke his mattock. Like it was a twig.

Back to the far end of Wessenden to attempt to finish there (didn't quite).

We were: myself, Hap, Philip, Adrian, Geoff, Jess, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Stephen, Tanya, Steve and Dave.

We did take 30 Hazel, 90 Oak, 15 Willow, 15 Birch, 30 Rowan and 15 Birch Cherry. Unfortunately, due to rocky ground (and Hap's cavalier approach to tool care) we did bring back  11 Bird Cherry, 9 Willow, 20 Hazel and 26 Oak.

https://youtu.be/s7DqwRKqyMk

For the record, there are 350 deer guards, 400 deer stakes, 50 short guards and 50 short stakes stashed near the cliff.

Happy Birthday!

Enjoying sunshine and parkin.

Almost forgot, but this is the 10th Anniversary of the start of this blog!

Back to Wessenden to plant 150 Oak, 30 Hazel, and 15 Birch.

We were: myself, Ben, Geoff, Philip, new person Neil, Cath, Lee, Jess and Lizzie the dog, Tanya, Stephen, Peter, Dave and Susan.

Cake was parkin. Weather was unseasonably mild and sunny.


https://youtu.be/6t1vaF50Ks0

Little people making a big difference.

This morning we were at Wessenden again, and as you can see, from the photo, there is good reason for us to be there week after week. A monumental task for a small but dedicated crew.

We planted a further 150 Oak and 30 Hazel

We were: myself, Philip, Dave, Geoff, Adrian, Cath, Tanya, Hap, Peter, Stephen, Andrew, Adam, Ben and Solo the dog.

Unfortunately the morning was overshadowed by Solo being taken suddenly very ill at the end of the session. Ben and I had to leave abruptly to get him to a vet. Very sadly, there was nothing that could be done for him.

Solo will be sorely missed by everyone.

Fashion

Just a mock up - not a real thing, yet.

https://youtu.be/GA27aQZCQMk

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