Saturday, 22 February 2025

Dig a pony (or donkey)

Enjoying the view.

This week to Pymroyd to begin tree planting on this site.

We were 21, comprising; Sam, Ptol, Jon, Tess, Paul, Alfie, Ben, Cath, myself, Geoff, Sophie, Philip B., Philip H., Peter, Alastair, Dave, Steve, Dan, Matthew, Jim and Chayley.

390 trees and shrubs got planted, in good time.

The donkeys were watching us.

https://youtu.be/uT-gDIEcrP0?si=Mvsj7kRfOolep2TO

Saturday, 15 February 2025

I've got a feeling

Ali waved to us from far away, and took this photo.

Back to Meal Hill for a last (?) push. We were; myself, Philip B., Philip H., Dianne, Alastair, Dan, Jim, Jess, Geoff, Dave, Chayley, Ben, and Hap. 

500 more plants got put in. It took a lot of work though.

And just because I'm on a Beatles rooftop jag at the mo.


Saturday, 8 February 2025

Helpers, appropriately dressed.

Another team session managing woodland in Linthwaite.

Led by Philip B., and including Stephen, Paul, Alfie, Hap, Dan, Davy, Chayley, and Andreas.

Stephen, anchoring winch


To Slaithwaite Gate, to plant a mixed hedgerow in a very wet and muddy field. We planted 150 hawthorn, 45 dog rose, and 100 guelder rose.

We were myself, Geoff, Tanya, Dianne, Jim, Matthew, Philip H., and Jon - joined at the end by Dave, Chayley and Andreas.

Saturday, 1 February 2025

Something's gone wrong again

On Pule Hill, replacing failed trees for the National Trust.

Based on my previous visit to the site, and discussions I had with National Trust,  we were supposed to be working in a particular area, but contractors beat us to it, and we ended up having to work across hundreds of metres of hillside to try and find the few failed trees that remained. Between us we managed to replant about 360 trees. But it took a long time.

Not my favourite morning.

We were: myself, Philip B., Dave, Dave's german friend, Geoff, Jon, Tess, Paul, Alfie, Cath, Peter, Alastair, Paul, Tanya, Jim, Stephen, Dan, and Matthew.

https://youtu.be/tWbrAWmhDwY?si=XkeA9QCk7KB9pbZo

Saturday, 25 January 2025

Sunny

Diseased ash removed 

Woodland management in Linthwaite. Thinning some public woodland for better tree health and growth. A hand picked team of; Philip, Stephen, Paul, Alfie, Peter, Dave, Dan, and Hap.

https://youtu.be/ZltheEJSDyI?si=jiATQT0hFosIKbEx

Rocks off

 

A select team went back to Meal Hill to fill in some gaps. 240 plants. We were; myself, Matthew, Cath, Dianne, Philip H., Ben, Sam and Ptol, Jon, Tess, and Geoff.

It was hard work getting those rocks out/off, so...

https://youtu.be/_lNP-x94-SE?si=H-lo35uM8qbTbGXU

Saturday, 18 January 2025

She's gone

Back to Meal Hill, for possibly the final full session, though there are still gaps that need plugging.

We were; myself, Philip B., Tanya, Ben, Stephen, Geoff, Dave, Dan, Cath, Dianne, Philip H., Alastair, Hap, Peter, Jim, and Matthew,

Another 500 plants got done.

Come back soon!




Saturday, 11 January 2025

Half way tree pressure

Dan leads the climb

In one sense this morning was less than optimal, in another it was glorious.

Ice and snow had us down to a team of 9, and it was a long slog up snowy fields to get where we needed to be, but we got 250 plants in, and the view (though very, very, bright) was stunning. All things considered, highly satisfactory.

We were; myself, Philip B., Dave, Geoff, Hap, Stephen, Paul, Alfie, and Dan.

A Rupie Edwards version



Saturday, 4 January 2025

It all went down the drain


 Another 500 plants went in at Meal Hill. We were; myself, Philip B., Dave, Geoff, Cath, Stephen, Philip H., Ben, Dan, Dianne, Jess, Lee, Jim, Tanya, Paul, Alfie, Sam and Ptol.

https://youtu.be/seTPc8pJIJg?si=ispy3sDLTi6qYauD

Dave's pride and joy


Saturday, 28 December 2024

Misty mountain hop

Lovely pic by Tanya

Back to Meal Hill. Despite a slightly reduced crew we managed another 500 plants easily.

We were; myself, Dave, Philip B., Jess, Cath, Ben, Tanya, Hap, Geoff, Stephen and Jon.

Weather was foggy, but dry.

https://youtu.be/y6M3YQ_EF2E?si=cR52IrFY9X9ZJs_T

Saturday, 21 December 2024

Kling, Glöckchen, Klingelingeling

Philip, Stephen and Hap.

Back to Meal Hill. And another 500 plants went in on a morning of variable weather. Better than expected for a while, then hellish, then not so bad again. Hap brought extremely nice homemade bakewell tart and mince pies.

We were; myself, Sarah A., Cath, Jess, Dianne, Tanya, Hap, Dan, Ben, Stephen, Philip B., Philip H., Geoff, Jim, Tess, and Jon.

After work we retired to the Sair and were joined by John, Neil, and Peter. We ate Handmade bakery pasties and had a very nice time.

Happy holidays everyone!


The most Christmassy of (German) Christmas music


Saturday, 14 December 2024

Elephant stone

Future burger licks new hedge.

Back to Meal Hill to do more hedging.

519 plants went in. We were; myself, Philip B., Philip H., Jess, Geoff, Dan, Hap, Dave, Stephen, Jim, Ben, Dianne, and Alastair.

For some of us the morning ended with the struggle to remove a henge worthy stone. Hence...

https://youtu.be/picVsVudTkQ?si=l9jhAD4TDqs0XOp3

Commanding presence.




Saturday, 7 December 2024

Dig that crazy Santa Claus

Mulch mats galore.

Back to HD4 for some out of valley planting in collaboration with Kirklees

We were: myself, Philip H., Philip B., Geoff, Alastair, Dan, Stephen, Ben, Jon, Tess, Dave, plus 8 members of the public signed up by Kirklees.

We planted another 350 trees. Job done.

https://youtu.be/5HgHvnHoFXY?si=Q-fVnpatdDVJo4g4

Saturday, 30 November 2024

Live wire

Philip briefs the group about the live wires.

This week were in HD4! Outside of our literal comfort zone, but working with Kirklees on this project.

We planted 45 birch, 30 hawthorn, 20 blackthorn, 45 rowan, 60 hazel, 45 oak, and 5 elder. 250 total.

We were; myself, Philip B., Ben, Stephen, Alastair, Matthew, Geoff, Dave, Jon, Tess, Sam, Ptol, Cath, Jess, Philip H., Dan, and Hap.

This is so great!



Saturday, 23 November 2024

Harder than the rest

 

Philip and Jess
In a fit of unquestionable bloodymindedness we planted 481 hedge plants this morning. In truly atrocious weather. We were all wet cold and tired by the end, and there moments of mild temper frayedness. But also triumph! We are truly "harder than the rest".

We were; myself, Philip, Jess, Dianne, Peter, Ben, Geoff, Dan, Dave, Stephen and Matthew.

https://youtu.be/5Ro96tZ1Hr0?si=Fva9epe5AJmpjRG5


Saturday, 16 November 2024

Girls on film

Dan and Philip in the weeds

First day of planting of the season, and it was a day of proper old school tree planting at Rochdale Road, above Slawit. 

We were: Dave, Geoff, Peter, Hap, Stephen, Alastair, Dan, Jess, Dianne, Tanya, Sam, Tol, and Matthew. I was there very briefly, but had a family gathering to attend.

45 eared willow, 105 downy birch, and 100 sessile oak were planted.

Geoff and his monstrous rig.

Geoff did some filming for a training video. So cue some nostalgia.

Girls on film (was going to use the original video, but it looked a bit dodgy to modern eyes)

Saturday, 19 October 2024

Sunshine after the rain

No autographs!

Up to Scammonden for guard removal and retrieval.We were; Geoff (see above), Tanya, Jim, Dave, Cath, Dan, Jess, Dianne, Hap, Philip H. and myself. Hap brought cake! It rained, then the sun shone.

Saturday, 12 October 2024

For the record, Geoff, Cath, Jess, Dianne, Dave, Jim, Dan, Hap, Philip H. and Stephen went to Scammonden yesterday for guard clearing. We did quite a bit and finished off that top area including bringing some old guard piles off site, and some stake recovery.

Saturday, 14 September 2024

The flowers of (b)romance

 

Dan, Jim and me.

High up above West Slaithwaite this morning, at Slacks, and Deep Gate. Straightening trees and collecting old guards again. We were; myself, Philip, Tanya, Dave (briefly), Geoff, Steve, Dan, Jim, Catherine, Tom, Hap, Matthew, and Paul.

https://youtu.be/jBaQOdsTAKo?si=nubSyEvXmilchXW9


Saturday, 31 August 2024

 

Matthew!

I was unavailable this week, but some stalwart souls were at Butterley collecting old tree guards for re-use or disposal. These people included, Matthew, Geoff, Tanya, Dave, Philip H., Dianne, Jess, Paul and Dan.


Saturday, 24 August 2024

Peace

 Second week above Marsden, no alarms and no surprises, just lots of old plastic tubes removed, and few straightened. We were; myself, Jim, Catherine, Tanya, Geoff, Paul, Hap, Philip H, Dianne, and Dan.

https://youtu.be/jZeKT0UctOQ?si=5o-JR8IknMof8B2y

Saturday, 17 August 2024

Tee se itse


Up above Marsden today removing old tree guards and tidying those that still need to be on. We were; myself, Geoff, Philip H., Philip B., Jess, Dianne, Paul, Jim, Ben, Dan, and Steve. 

https://youtu.be/Bv3MG-3gjks?si=EGRhrZjY251cjSEP

Saturday, 10 August 2024

Say goodbye

Why do women carry things on their heads?

Our final day at Wholestone. We were; Ben, Geoff, Dave, Hap, Dan, Jess, Dianne, Tanya, and myself. Dave brought cheese, cake and whisky.

We celebrate finishing




Saturday, 3 August 2024

Back at Wholestone for more guard removal. We were; Geoff, Steve,Dave, Jess, Dianne, Jim, Cath, Dan, Philip H., Ben, and myself.

Saturday, 27 July 2024

Another Wholestone session. Details to be confirmed. Geoff, Dave, Ben, Steve, Philip H.,

Thursday, 11 July 2024

Root down

 

Before

After

To Scammonden! To do some weeding of some White Rose Forest planted trees. 

We were: myself, Philip, Dave, Geoff, Hap, and Tanya.

Tunnocks tea cakes were our reward, courtesy of Tanya.

Blindin' tune for this event

https://youtu.be/HkD1EhuTPxI?si=43ZWpJ3qNLhjbNf5