Cold irons bound

 

This week we were removing guards, mainly from some Scot's pine, from a spot below Sledge Gate, to the east of last week's Scammonden session that stretches east all the way across to the track leading down from road. We also did some remedial work on a stand of oak (and rowan) immediately below the pine. These oak trees have suffered a bit in the prominent but exposed position, and relatively poor soil, and are quite small for their age compared to those sheltered by the Italian alder of last week. They are growing steadily, if very slowly, but some have fallen over and the stakes (and guards) needed replacing for quite a few: a bit of young tree tlc basically. More to do at this site next time. Weather was fine, chilly at first but warming up later.

 

We were: Geoff, Cath, Hap, Dave, Ben, Steve, and arriving later, Dianne, Adam, Susan and Susan's sister (?)

Apropos of nowt, a bit of Bob.

https://youtu.be/9hO-83CIVKM

Knives out

 

Well a game of two halves today, though the first half was very short, for me.

Within the first half hour I managed to gash my leg with a hook-bladed craft knife. A really stupid bit of behaviour, but "accidents" are inevitable, and this was the worst cut we (!) have dealt with. Several of us had first aid kits, and I was securely strapped up by Hap and taken to A&E by Jessica. 8 stitches and a tetanus booster. A cautionary tale for all. I am going to go back to using my much more blunt fixed short blade Mora knife. I won't be able to do myself the same degree of damage with that, hopefully.

We were at Scammonden again removing stakes and guards.

Those remaining carried on working. They were: Geoff, Sue, Adrian, Sophie, Tanya, Hap, and Jess.

Sue loves a wild mushroom, and found a special birch tree mushroom.

https://youtu.be/2Lpw3yMCWro

Gigantic!

Scammonden, again, again. More guard removal and reclamation. This week we were; myself, Tanya, Jess, Sophie, Dave, Ben, Kati, Adrian and Steve. That pile of trash guards is getting big.

https://youtu.be/2B6qerZlczw

We moved along Sledgegate and took a few remaining guards off in an area next to the road just above Baker's Stonecote, then moved to the far end of the road and entered the plantings next to the mature conifer plantation. This area, planted around 2010, along with the birch that stretch down from it on a small exposed ridge, is the last site on this side of Scammonden that requires significant guard removal. It is not so easy to get onto the site as it is overgrown, steep and chock-a-block with nettles, but once there it is a secluded and lovely young woodland with quite a special feel: the much larger Italian alder are doing a great job at providing a shelter belt for the oak. Weather was fine and pleasant, if a little cold for the time of year. We were: Geoff, Jess, Lee, Sophie, Ben, Kati, Hap, Adrian, Jonathan and Tessie.