Cake, coffee, and kit. Meltham week 3

 

Third week at Meltham, and we finally made it on site, after another discussion about the best way to cross the various fields. We still haven't found the perfect route, this week involved some deep sucking mud, and some gregarious horses. Once work began over 200 more trees got planted. Lots of Birch, some Hazel for understory, and Oak. A nice mornings weather, mild, no rain, and even a spot of blue sky now and then. We have another 2-300 trees to plant at this site, so another two weeks work should do us easily. The cake was coffee cake,with a crunchy top. Very nice.

Planting trees, with trees

Our second week near Meltham, and this week we had trees to plant. So we went at it with a vengence and planted just over 200 trees in a morning. Mostly Hazel, some Rowan, some Birch, and a few Cherry. The mornings cake was a very very decadent coconut and fruit slice. 

Planting trees without trees

First day of the 2008/09 season, and we were on a site outside Meltham. Technically not in the Colne Valley, but still a good project. We will be planting 1050 trees in two sections, near to Folly Dolly Falls (which are, according to Jess the landowner, the 39th highest falls in England). We were expecting the trees, stakes and guards to be delivered while we were on site, but they didn't arrive until packing up time, so we had spent the morning clearing bracken and digging holes. A satisfying morning of manual labour. Next week we can do the creative stuff, deciding which tree to put in which hole.

First photo is of Dave, working his way down the slope. Second is of Philip and Heidi digging away. And third is of Neil and Dave.

Brian's barbecue

This sunday Brian had organised a walk (and refreshments) for local councillors and dignitaries, so that the Society could show its appreciation for their support, and explain what we achieve with that support. The walk took us round phases 1 and 2 of our planting alongside Marsden Golf course, and from there we could also see the planting at Hemplow Wood. Several local councillors joined us for the walk, and more folk joined us at Marsden Cricket club afterwards for drinks and bacon sandwiches. Brian had also organised a display of photographs showing our work on the many sites around Marsden.

It was also the first time that Philip and I had been in the Cricket Club pavillion, and we were impressed.

Top photo is of the walk, bottom photo is of the view from the Cricket Club terrace.