Delight Farm may have been misnamed.

Andrew and Peter W. struggle on.

We returned to Delight Farm, to finish off planting there. A further 180 trees went in, to very stony, rubbishy ground. Birch and Willow were in the mix though so it should be fine. We were: myself, Andrew, Philip, Geoff, Lesley, Robert, Dave, Cath, Brian, Peter W., Adrian, Hap, Ros, and Stephen. Cake was Bakewell tart, with the jam missing, but still lovely. Weather was wild and mixed, with episodes of driving hail sweeping through. Some nesh sorts insisted on sheltering behind the farmhouse for tea break. Toughen up.

There were some sunny spells, honest.

Wham, bam, thank you mam. (a tribute to Dave. Bowie, not Carter)

Mr Moriarty, enjoying fine Whiskey and fine women.

Today we were at Wham, up behind Cop Hill. We we planted 330 trees, as shelter belt and hedging. We were: myself, Geoff, Dave, Tanya, Steve, Stephen K., John, Julie, Seth, Jake, Ben the elder, Ben the younger, Chris, Brian, Dianne and Lizzie the Dog, Jess, Hap, Philip and Cath.

Cake was chocolate. Weather was mild. Job got done. Photos by Geoff.

It was a Delight... for it not to rain.

Philip's scheme of work, Chris in the background.

This morning we were rejuvenating a small patch of ground above Scammonden Reservoir, near to Delight Farm. It was a glorious sunny cold morning, such a contrast to last week. We were: myself, Tanya, Philip, Stephen, John, Steve, Ben, Cath, Hap, Jess, Dianne, Brian, Chris, Dave, Geoff, Peter, and special Duke of Edinburgh guests, Joanne, Seth and Jake.

We planted 195 trees. And ate home made flapjack.

Geoff frames a photo nicely again.

VIP guests

Spent a pleasant but chilly morning on a walking tour of Butterley and the Wessenden valley with John Tucker, director of woodland creation for the Woodland Trust, and Doug Edmondson, woodland creation advisor for the Woodland Trust. Our planting this year has been made possible by their support, and they were keen to see our past and present efforts. They were particularly impressed by the care we put into the management of mature planting sites.