A man walked into a bar...

Before

After (and Bob)

A misty morning at Slaithwaite Cricket Club, planting 250 Field Maple, Bird Cherry, Crab Apple, Hazel and Dogwood on the embankment behind the stand. This was done in collaboration with the landowner, following plans drawn up from when the housing development was done behind the ground. Not great ground, there being a lot of spoil from the housebuilding. And a bit of a perilous slope. But we finished on time, and then went to the Sair for our mid season meeting.

We were: Philip, Bob, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Ben, Stephen, Dave, Neil, myself, Peter W., Trevor, Dianne and Cath. Jess sent her apologies, as did Prince Edward (who Jess met this week at her gold DofE award presentation). Geoff also sent his apologies, he was going to see Stewart Lee in Manchester. ??? Is the surreal and mordant wit of the CVTS not enough for Geoff?

After the planting and mid season, while a few of us were trying to enjoy a drink in the Sair, we were harassed by some nutter at the bar. He appeared to have been drinking since breakfast (or maybe since 1970).He took exception to our tree planting activities, maintaining that the type of trees were planting did not sustain native insects or birds. Not that he knew what type of trees we plant. He didn't seem to want to stop ranting, calling us liars, or pointing at us. But we were leaving anyway.

Wholestone Moor - week 1

We had a good day on Saturday, though didn't get all 250 trees planted. We planted 125 Oaks and 25 British Alder in Wholestone Moor phase 3 (the long strip parallel to the motorway). Beating-up seems to be more time consuming than straight planting. I always forget how noisy the M-way is when you are right next to it.

A combination of 2 trailer trips for Dave, one for Brian with stakes, and guards in various cars we got all the stakes and guards up there. People had there back seats down in readiness! Raymond couldn't get his tractor going initially, but came back at 10.30 in his tractor with trailer. We loaded up the trailer with 500 stakes and Guy's 500 standard plus guards, which is now parked at the top near to the planting area. Guy appeared and drew a map of where the trees are to be planted.

The 100 stakes and thin guards are on site in Wholestone Moor phase 2 ready for the 100 Alder which I took back to the nursery and heeled-in.

We were: Dave, Geoff, Jess, Diane (and Lizzy the noisy dog), Peter T, Peter W, Stephen, Hap, Duncan (and Harvey the quieter dog), Philip, Steve G. and Ben. Brian helped to trailer and then disappeared. Cake was ginger.

Philip

Linthwaite WW1 planting

Everyone eating cake (bar Philip who took the picture, and Harvey who wasn't allowed cake).

This was our fourth week of commemorative planting at Butterley dam. We planted 106 Oak, to represent the casualties from Linthwaite, together with a similar total of nurse species, Scots Pine, Rowan and Alder.

We were: Hap (who I missed off last weeks roll-call so apologies), Cath, Dianne, Jess, Steve, Stephen, Peter, Geoff, Dave, Philip, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Ben and myself.

Cake was the ever popular coconut crunch top.

There was a lengthy on site discussion about my persistent capitalisation of the varieties of trees that we plant. 

Golcar WW1 planting

Today we were back above Butterley dam, planting the third of our groups representing WW1 casulaties. This morning we planted 156 Oaks for Golcar, along with a similar number of Rowan and Scots Pine to act as nurse species while the Oaks get established. At least 300 trees got planted in all.

We were: myself, Hap, Geoff, Stephen, Jess, Dave, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Brian, Trevor, Peter T, Steve, Ben, and Cath.

Cake was Apricot and Pecan.

The weather was disappointingly variable, with some fairly substantial winter-y showers blowing through.