Growing trees from seed

Today put 288 more Rowan into some root trainer trays we had lying around. At a grand cost of £6.98 for the compost. That works out at 2.5p per tree. Compared to buying them for 39p. Should be ready to plant in Winter 2013/14.

We also have 144 Rowan that were planted last year, and will be ready for 2012/13.

Chainsaws a go go!

Before

After

Back to Throstle Green farm this week, and at one stage we had three chainsaws on the go. Proper forestry sorts us. Present were Ben, Dan, Philip, Geoff, Dave, me, Guy, Mandy, and for the second half, Andy. It was outrageously hot, too hot for this kind of work really. And Co-op doughnuts in place of home made cake. But we can't complain. Not after some refreshing shandys in the pub afterwards.

Throstle Green Farm

Before all the work, a view of Dave.


After all the work, a view of Slaithwaite viaduct.

More work at Throstle Green Farm this week, though we had Philip and his chainsaw to speed things along. Otherwise we were myself, Ben, Dan, Dave, Neil, Stephen, Guy and Mandy. We worked hard all morning cutting down Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Willow and Hazel which had begun to obscure the landowners view. And we got a bit of firewood out of it too. Cake was Apple Turnovers. Very nice. Back to the Sair afterwards for beer, though we are still waiting for them to start brewing their own again.

Throstle Green Farm

Formatively pruned, creating a lovely promenade through the Ash and Oak trees.

A good green gym workout this morning, with an hours formative pruning and then another hour cutting back some blackthorn and hazel.

The site was planted around 10 years ago and the owner has asked us to cut back some of the trees planted in front of the houses - to preserve the view of the valley. It will take a couple of days in October with chainsaws to do it properly, but myself, Ann, Ben and Dave made a tentative start with some handsaws. For the trees at the sides of the houses some serious pruning was needed. Homemade oat biscuits at break.

Ben hard at work destroying Blackthorn.