Parkwood - more snowy frolics

Planting folk silhouetted against dramatic winter sky.

This week we all went to Parkwood, Golcar, and took 180 deer stakes and guards, and 315 Willow, Alder and Lime with us. It was a lovely morning, once we had negotiated the icy, slushy, roads to get there. We were: myself, Geoff, Philip, Dave, Cath, Remy, Hap, Jess and Stephen. We were joined by landowner Richard and his family. Geoff did some more taping and interviewing for his Tree Society film. Cake was a "superb" ginger cake, which again, in a worrying trend, we finished off in the pub afterwards.

There's snow business, like show business.

Cath, she's laughing, honest.

Today, a few hardy souls (myself, Philip, Geoff, Dave and Cath) ventured up to Pasture Wood and planted just over 100 trees. As you can see, it was a tad snowy, but we were moving around so we didn't get cold. While were up there a man from the Huddersfield Examiner came to visit us, interviewed Philip, took some photos. Famous at last. Then back to the Sair, where we finished off what was left of this week's cake, vegan apple flapjack (vegan apples?), and discussed Geoff's Tree Society film.

Philip, Dave, me and Cath, trying to get ice off tools.

Another tale of two woods

Jess at Pasture Wood

Today we were again at Pasture Wood, Marsden, and Parkwood, Golcar. Similar crews to last week. Myself, Philip, Dave, Chris, Geoff, Ben, Cath, Remy, Jess, Stephen and Peter at Pasture Wood, where we planted another 200 Scots Pine. And Brian, Trevor, Peter and Dianne at Parkwood, where with the help of the landowner and friends they planted 90 Willow and 90 Alder. Cake was the ever popular coconut and cherry "failure cake" (as my mother calls it). A good morning, that again saw the sun come out later on, despite the dire weather warnings. Julia joined us in the Sair, having worked at the Nursery all morning. Both pictures courtesy of Geoff.

The assembled throng in the Sair afterwards

Pasture Wood, Marsden, week 1

Geoff is undoubtedly a much, much, better photographer than me.

Today we returned to Pasture Wood, which is getting 1000 Scots Pine added to it. This site was planted 9 years ago, part funded by the Forestry Commission, and they didn't deem Scots Pine an acceptable tree for the site back then. Since that time, they have revised their guidelines, and it is now ok to plant Scots Pine on the site. The Scots Pine should thrive here, and will act as a nurse species for the existing slow growing trees on site, the Oak and Holly particularly. The trees and materials were delivered yesterday and myself, Guy, Mandy and Julian helped unload and carry all the gear across a field to the planting site. Today we were myself, Geoff, Philip, Dave, Remy, Hap, Chris, Mandy, Guy, Stephen, Peter and Ben. It is a tough, steep site, and we planted around 200 trees. Very windy up there, but the sun came out at the end. Cake was date and walnut. Very nice.

Those who also served: Brian, Peter, Trevor, Dianne and Jess went to Parkwood Golcar, with 75 trees, Common Alder and White Willow. A much flatter site, though very wet underfoot.