Planting trees and chasing sheep

Dave's strange animal hat has been with us for many years.

First, lets get the statistics out of the way.
Friday, Dave took 140 stakes and 120 deer guards to Parkwood.
Saturday, Richard took 270 stakes and 180 deer guards to Parkwood.
Saturday, Brian took 120 stakes and 120 deer guards to Parkwood. And 150 Lime trees.
After Saturday's planting there were 185 Alder and 365 Scots Pine left at Pasture Wood.

We were in two crews again. Brian, Trevor, Duncan (and dog), Ramsay, Dianne and Jess went to Parkwood. And planted 100 Lime, guarded another 60 Lime.

Myself, Philip, Dave, Cath, Geoff, Remy and Stephen went to Pasture Wood, where we planted an unknown number of Scots Pine. The reason we were not sure how many we got planted was we spent some time removing 9 sheep from the site. Dave acted as shepherd, the rest of us as the dogs. And it worked pretty well. The sheep needed removing, they had been eating some planted but unguarded Scots Pine, and even nibbling Alder which were still in their boxes. Philip thought the sheep had been deliberately put on site after our appearance in the paper two weeks ago, but that may be a little paranoid.

After planting Philip and I went to meet Julie from Friends of Slaithwaite Station to talk about planting for them. We agreed that we would plant around 25 trees, a mix of Hawthorn, Rowan, Oak, Blackthorn and Whitebeam on the grass verge of the car park.

Dianne, Ramsay, Brian, Jess and Trevor at Parkwood

All in all a productive and very enjoyable morning in bright cold sunshine.

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