Lovely larch, just too many

Up above Marsden thinning a small area planted 30 years ago. Trees removed were mostly larch, which were intended as a nurse species while other trees got established.

We were; myself, Jess, Dianne , Philip, Stephen, Dan, Cath, Geoff, Dave, and Jon.

Jess made parkin.

Everyone looking lovely in hi vis

The woods

More woodland management. This time there were 6 of us in the woods themselves. Myself, Dave, Stephen, Jon, Peter and Philip. Lots of carrying - and more good wood on site that we didn't have the time or energy to move. Be some sore backs on Sunday. 

Back at the nursery receiving all the bounty were Geoff, Cath, Hap, Ben, Dianne, Adam, Jess, and Chayley. And they had flapjack. And deckchairs.

https://youtu.be/CFjw5gJ3xv8?si=wcxUehY1fZ6F2Krz

Wood

Two groups working this morning. 

Philip, Stephen, Dan, Dave, myself, and Peter were in Marsden - thinning out some trees planted 20+ years ago. Carefully selecting the nurse species, and the weaker of the main species -  allow light and shade, and strong growth of the remaining trees.  Some significant squirrel damage was noted to some trees.

Mick was kindly using his large trailer to take the felled material back to the Nursery....

...where, Jess, Dianne, Adam, Ben, Geoff, and Hap were merrily piling it all up, and cutting some of it into logs, or loglets.

In/appropriate Taylor Swift tune.

Rattlesnakes!

Geoff, Dan, Dave, Philip H., Ben, Steve G., Sam, Tol and Jim cleared all remaining the guards from High Wood on Saturday (leaving just a few on some more spindly of the newest trees). This covered quite a wide area across different eras of planting. About six bags of guards were taken by Dave straight to the tip. The whole site is a lovely, quiet, green oasis now though the himalayan balsam needs some serious tackling.

As a significant update to this, Philip H got stung on his leg this morning. Later, seeing as his foot was starting to swell he went to hospital. They told him he'd been bitten by an Adder. Needless to say this has never happened before. And assuming Philip ever comes out to play with us again he will be given some sort of award like volunteer of the year. I hope he is feeling better.

https://youtu.be/gSc46sEZdl4?si=g6HToU1zdP8PfuTz