Pennine Prospects Annual Conference

Today I attended the 2012 Pennine Prospects annual conference, hard not to as it was being held right on my doorstep in Marsden Mechanics. Theme of the event was "Natural capital" how to increase and exploit it. I took our new CVTS roller banner, but was annoyed that the RSPB Twite banner was larger. I did manage to speak to Pam Warhurst, chair of the Forestry Commission.

Chipping Saturday

Duncan demonstrates how not to stick ones arm down inside the chipper.

We were Dave, myself, Ben, Duncan and Dan. We spent this sunny morning at the Nursery trimming hedges and trees and feeding the results in to a hired wood chipper. We did this till about 12 when Duncan and Dan went away. Myself Dave and Ben then went and had a shandy (truly, and only one) in the Sair. We went back to the Nursery to do more chipping, but found that the chipper was no longer chipper. The metal bracket holding the belt tensioner had sheared off, metal fatigue. This mean the chipper no longer had the power it had had. So we called it a day. The Nursery did look tidier for our efforts. Due to the failure of the chipper we did not get to attack the brash pile at the bottom of the Nursery.

Dave collects more scratches on his arms gathering Hawthorn.

Wholestone Moor and Nursery work

Philip and Ben at Wholestone Moor

We all met at the Nursery first thing. Philip, Ben and Geoff went off to Wholestone Moor to check on planting there from 3 years ago, and reclaimed some stakes and guards while there. Dave took some rubbish to the tip in his trailer. Myself and Ann did some Nursery weeding and then went up to Golcar to fetch some trees kindly grown for us from seed by Mr Bamforth at Town End. We all went back at the Nursery for homemade bakewell tart, and then some more tidying up and weeding. And of course finished at the Sair, where they were preparing for Ron's birthday celebrations.

Three wise monkeys at the Sair.

Ragwort removal at Fieldhouse 2

Tidying up the entrance

Geoff, Philip and Duncan spent the morning at Fieldhouse removing the last of the ragwort and also clearing round a few of the more swamped perimeter saplings. It was hot and humid but satisfying to get it finished. Ben and Dave stayed at the nursery doing various maintenance jobs there. Cake was kindly baked and delivered by Ann -  a very tasty fruit / oat type of affair.

Philip prunes.