A motley crew bash the bracken

Jess, Ben, Geoff, Hap, Simon, and Dave.

A rather warm Saturday morning, out on a hillside overlooking Meltham Mills. We were knocking back the Bracken which grows up and stops the sunlight reaching our precious little Oaks. A job well worth doing, but very sweaty, and quite a lot of flies/midges (hence the headwear). We were myself, Geoff, Dave, Ben, Jess, Hap and Philip. Duncan and Harvey the dog did try to find us, but failed. Cake was crunchy topped coconut cake.

Wholestone moor: guarding in the mist

The weather was promised as awful, but considering we were in thick mist or cloud, and experienced fairly heavy rain at noon, we had a good time. We were myself, Dianne, Jess, Cath, Duncan and Harvey the Dog, Ben, Geoff and Philip. We were putting deer guards onto Oaks that had failed to thrive from planting several years ago. A worthy cause. We were also removing guards from trees that had thrived. Home made oat and chocolate biscuits were the snack, plus some slightly out of date Minstrels!

Small Oak, new big tube.

Some Oak leaves looked suspiciously nibbled, but this likely looking culprit may not have been to blame, despite being called the Oak Eggar caterpillar/moth. Apparently it eats Heather and Bilberry.

Nursery work

We trimmed the perimeter hedge, weeded around the fruit trees and bushes and generally tidied up. It was damp. Jess brought 2 varieties of biscuits. We were Jess, Dave, Steve and Philip. We repaired to the Sair promptly.

Philip

Field House and High Wood

Dave, and path before

Path after

Gorgeous morning, too nice to stay indoors. So myself, Philip, Geoff, Dave, Steve, Remy, Duncan, and Harvey the Dog met at Fieldhouse.

Philip, Geoff and Dave worked to clear the stone flagged path that runs up the centre of the site. Myself, Remy and Steve removed plastic guards and some vicious brambles from Hazel planted 7 or 8 years ago. Duncan and Harvey took the guards off some Larch.

Cake was a classic Jam Sponge, and they were big pieces.

Steve removes tree guard.