White Hall Farm

A quickie today, a site done and dusted in half a morning. 120 trees planted, without stakes or guards in a well fenced field in front of a farmhouse. Quite an exposed site, so a windbreak of Larch and hardy Rowan, with some Oak and Hazel on the sheltered side. We got brought tea and coffee by the landowner, another plus, though Brian insisted on throwing a tot of whiskey into each cup. Cherry cake to accompany.

We finished there quite quickly and went off to remove some sheep from one of our old sites beside Marsden Golf course. We repaired a bit of wall where we think they got in. Photo is of Guy and Dave.

Then we retired to the Sair Inn to discuss our plans for the next few weeks.

I am giving up on my old Pentax Optio S30 camera. It really hates the cold weather, saying that the batteries are depleted no matter how fully charged they are. Shame, since its a handy little camera. I'll have to find some other junker off ebay, something that can stand a bit of mud and abuse.

Wholestone Moor. Week 2

No photos and no details this week, as I was off with flu. By all accounts it was cold and wet up there, but most of the trees got planted. There are maybe 30 left to do, and we will have to go back on a a day when they are not frozen solid!

Three unwise men. Wholestone Moor week 1

The day after boxing day, and a turnout of 5 not that surprising. Still, we worked hard and planted almost 200 trees. Pretty amazing giving we were all suffering from Christmas after effects. Site was quite wet, and there was a chill wind (though it has since got a helluva lot colder and the trees we left up there will be frozen solid). We mostly planted Alder, Birch and Hawthorn, because this hillside is spill from when the M62 was built, and the soil of poor shale-y quality. Cake was freshy made and especially brandy laden mince pies.

Highwood. Finishing off

Last week at Highwood, and we finished planting the planned 1000 trees for this part of the site. Again, we were on the perilous slope. Quite a lot of volunteers this morning including one Scout. Not a bad turnout for the saturday immediately before Christmas Home made jam sponge was the cake. Spirits were higher than the second photo would suggest, Philip was full of cold, and full of beard.