Click clack - I like trains

"Toot toot" went Granville the TransPennine engine.

Today there was cake, sweets, biscuits and we all waved at a train and it tooted at us.

No, it wasn't a trip out for the local infants school, we were planting trees at Standedge.

We were: myself, Philip, Steve, Stephen, Peter, Jon, Janette, Simon, Ben, Sue, Cristina, Dianne, Tanya, John, Hap, Adrian, Dave, Cath and Geoff.

We planted 105 Oak, 45 Aspen, 45 Rowan, 30 Guelder Rose, 30 Dogwood and 30 Crab apple.

Cake was Pineapple upside down cake, plus Hap had brought a selection of Indian sweets, which were hugely popular, and Dianne brought Jaffa cakes. I am not sure we earned all those calories.

Lots of train songs so two today, one from me and one from Steve, can you guess...

https://youtu.be/7QBkD1Xub3k

https://youtu.be/l-7WkdAdMgU

Paisley Park

Larks in the park (not a park, or Paisley)

On a relatively warm day we finished off planting at Ainsley/Paisley Barn.

We inter-planted the Oak and Scots Pine we planted last week with Aspen, Hornbeam and Rowan and also used them to make a woodland edge to those Oak areas. A three-tree-deep hedge of Blackthorn, Guelder Rose and Holly ensured that the fantastic view of Marsden was maintained. Nearer the house a banking adjacent to the A62 was planted with Guelder Rose, Dogwood and few Holly.

We numbered 16 volunteers today. We were: Adrian, Dave, Steve, Geoff, John, Ben, Hap, Jess, Harriet, Stephen, Lee, Chris, Simon, Jonathan, Peter and Philip.

A total of 255 trees were planted.

Cake was chocolate-y.

https://youtu.be/1mhL5ynXzB0

The Ladykillers

With the railway tracks behind and below, Cath considers throwing Philip over.

This week we were above the Tunnel ends in Marsden, literally. Planting in a field and garden.

We were: myself, Ben, Philip, Dave, Steve, Stephen O., Hap, John, Peter, Cath and Geoff.

Cake was a light jam sponge, a relief after Christmas richness.

Being above the railway tunnel entrances made me think of the film the Ladykillers, and with the look Cath appears to be giving Philip it should probably read Lady killer.

https://youtu.be/vzGpUdKB3gQ

Christmas must be something more

A volunteer getting beamed up to the Enterprise?

A number of selfless and intrepid souls braved the rain today for the last planting session before Christmas.

They were: Mel, Philip, Jess, Lee, Ben, Sue, Dave, Geoff, Adrian, Stephen, Simon, John, Cath, Hap and Peter. John had been and collected the Sticky cranberry gingerbread from Ann's, and Dianne provided food back at the Sair.

These people earned their Christmas. Lighweights like myself and Tanya just turned up at the pub.

As I understand it they planted the 22 scraps from the last session plus 90 more oak, 30 Scots pine and 30 Holly. Finishing Wholestone for this season.

https://youtu.be/iXrRaw4md-E