A windy day on Wholestone Moor

Hap and Stephen

This morning we began planting another 500 Sessile Oak and Italian Alder on Wholestone Moor, supplementing, or "beating-up" the slow growth on that site. We were: myself, Peter, Trevor, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Hap, Cath, Vashti, Remy, Dave, Andrew, Stephen, Philip, Steve, Ben and Geoff. Guy was also there early on to give project guidance. The weather was bright and clear, and you could see the cooling towers of Drax which is about 30 miles away, but there was a fierce cold wind, and it did get a bit sleety at the end. Cake was the ever popular lemon drizzle. We did wonder about the whereabouts of Mr Moriarty.

How to identify Ash dieback

The noble few soldier on at Butterley

Jess, Remy and Vashti

We were somewhat diminished today, but basically all the best people were there! Myself, Vashti, Remy, Stephen, Cath and Jess. Duncan and Harvey were working, but we think they headed off to Scammonden in the end. The weather was kind to us, only turning squally as we left the pub later on. We finished off planting at Butterley, which means this year we have so far planted 870 trees up there. Cake was chocolate chip sponge. Remy had 2 pieces.

Where birds go to die - Butterley

Guy (in Zombie apocalypse snood), Stephen, Ben,Vashti, Peter, Remy, Steve(just visible behind) Andrew

Another morning at Butterley. At the spot the that we like to call "Where birds go to die". We were: myself, Guy, Vashti, Andrew, Ben, Stephen, Peter T, Steve and Remy.  We carried on planting the TCV bare-rooted stock, and ended up leaving 75 Oak healed in below Schofields Barn, and around 75 deer guards on site. 50 are in the barn, and some scraps are concealed up where we were planting. Could possibly do with taking another 20 deer stakes up when we go to finish these off. Reclaiming stakes and guards seems to inevitably lead to some stakes breaking, so we have more recycled guards than stakes.

If we get more trees for this site then Guy's suggestion is that we continue planting up behind, and to the right of this spot, in the Molinia grass, joining up with previous planting in the clough.

We encountered the Bradford Ramblers group while we were up there. I did my best to recruit some, but I don't think I was successful.

Spoke to Ron in the Sair and confirmed the mid season meeting for Saturday 15th Feb. And gave him his invite to the 50th anniversary party.

Again we could see the Senior Section off in the distance, Brian, Trevor, Dianne and Peter.

And we had apologies from Philip (bad back), Cath (bad cat), Geoff (bad sleep) and Dave (bad bike).
No word from Jess (so, bad girl).