All the way from Scotland...

More tubes than we would know what to do with.

Today we received our second delivery of the week. Tuesday 4110 trees arrived, Peter and I dealt with that. Today was a the much larger affair of the corresponding stakes and guards. The truck arrived at 12, and myself, Tanya, Philip, John, Stephen and Dave begun unloading the tubes, while the truck driver Scott used his forklift to take the stakes down the road and into the nursery.

After a while Philip had pause to think, wasn't there a bit too much stuff? Our spec. and the delivery note were compared. And yes, there was a bit too much stuff. 3600 too many stakes and guards! So just about twice what there should have been. A lot of checking, counting, and phone calling then went on. And we put 3600 stakes and guards back on the truck to go back to Scotland. Quite a lot of hard work for us, and for Scott the driver who had set off from Edinburgh at 5am.

But it was all right in the end.

Now we are properly ready for the season.

Counting, and calling.

More Nursery antics

We remain on tenterhooks waiting for our delivery of trees for the season, so distracted ourselves by working at the Nursery. Logs were cut and split for selling, and a cherry tree was felled to placate a neighbour who felt in need of more daylight. The tree felling involved me climbing a tree, and also use of our arborist rope to stop the tree being felled from falling into the neighbours garden. We were: myself, Philip and his chainsaw, Jess and Lizzie the dog, Dave, Peter W., Guy, Mandy, and Amanda. Cake was lemon drizzle.

Current tally for stock at B site. 250 deer stakes, 180 deer guards, 50 hare stakes and 100 hare guards.

Which means we still need to take up 150 deer stakes, 220 deer guards, 100 shrubshelters (not yet in stock) and 100 more hare stakes.

Geoff's birthday treat - a day at the Nursery.

Today we stayed at the Nursery and prepared for the forthcoming planting season. We were: myself, Philip, Jess, Geoff, Steve, Ben, Dave and Guy.

We cleared a patch of ground for healing in the root stock when it arrives, cleared the access path so that we could get in and out of that area, tied reclaimed guards into bundles of 50, tied reclaimed stakes into bundles of 9, sawed logs, sold logs to the Sair, picked apples - and ate Bakewell tart.

All very productive.

No pictures today though, I forgot.

And it was Geoff's birthday.

PS. There are now 250 deer stakes, 130 deer guards, 50 hare stakes and 100 hare guards on site at B.  Which means we need to take another 200 deer stakes and 320 deer guards up there. And either use the hare guards for Scots Pine, or swap those out for shrubshelters.

More Scammonden scrounging

Leaves neatly nibbled.

We popped back to the mega-site at Scammonden reservoir to tidy and reclaim materials. We were myself, Jess, Dianne, Ben, John, Geoff and Hap. Cake was ginger. And we returned to the Nursery with about 50 deer stakes and guards.

Saw some evidence of deer browsing, though it tended to be alongside the little deer trails across the hillside, most of the trees are doing well.

Yorkshire Building Society lend their support

The good folks of YBS

Jess's employer, YBS encourages its employees to do charitable works, so she organised her colleagues to do a day's work at our nursery. They cut hedges, cleared paths, and cut and split logs for us to sell to raise money.

Hats off to Jess and the YBS.

Guard straightening in the rain

A pensive Ben and John look on as Tania is amused and Hap enjoys his cake. Do the alders heavy with berries suggest a harsh winter ahead?

These trees planted about four years ago are doing well, especially the Italian alder and some of the birch with a few oak also showing good growth. However they have been battered by the wind in places and as the deer are quite a problem here we need to try and keep the trees straight and as protected as possible, so spent a rainy but not unpleasant morning straightening up guards and banging in stakes. Quite few trees were big enough to remove stake and guard completely so we accumulated a store of useful spare materials where they were not too damaged. Quite a few stakes were reused on other trees with broken stakes and the rest were taken back to the nursery. There is more to do here. We were, Hap, Philip, Tania, Ben, John and myself. Cake was a delicious fruit cake. Philip was particularly proud of a new tool belt and I was excited about using my new camera only to find after taking one group photo it had run out of memory so had to resort back to my phone for 'the belt'.

Geoff

'The belt'

Scammonden scamps

Jess' cropped trousers were discussed.

Today we popped up to Scammonden reservoir to feast our eyes upon our works of the last few years. All looking pretty good. We were there primarily to fix overblown tree guards and trees, but Philip and Duncan were also taking an academic interest in the whole "when is best to take guards off altogether" situation. Conclusion seemed to be that where guards had been taken off, deer were having a bit of a nibble. So best to leave them on? We did retrieve a few from out and out failures though (not many).

We were: myself, Jess and Lizzie the Dog, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Peter W., Philip, and Ben. Cake was blueberry muffins, freshly made with blueberries out of mum's garden.

Before

After

A big push for Wessenden valley

Hap grabs some Chocolate cake

A three line whip got a good turn out: myself, Hap, Tanya, Geoff, John, Philip, Ben, Dave and Steve. We think we finished it all today, both the Butterley bit and the far end up by Blakeley. After Thursday nights session as well I am now officially knackered. But all those thousands of trees are now seeing a good bit of daylight, and should get a couple of months good growth in before the darker months.

And we begin the planning for those darker months now, site visits, and sourcing of trees and materials.

In the photo below, in the distance you can see tree guards that we have exposed in the bracken on the hillside.

Steve, Tanya (hiding), Geoff and Hap.

Yet more bracken bashing

Steve and Cath

Tonight there was more slashing and killing than a whole season of Game of Thrones. We were: myself, Steve, Cath, Philip and Steven. Bracken is getting quite high, as you can see, and is completely shading many of the small tubes of Hawthorn and Hazel. Good night for it though, as there was a brisk wind, and the midges were cowering in their underground hovels.

We found a pack of new hare guards hidden in the undergrowth, so added them to the stash for next season.

Four men and a psychotic Jack Russell

Bracken now as high as the tree guards.

This evening myself, Philip and Geoff went up to Butterley and spent a couple of hours knocking back bracken from around the trees planted last season. Yorkshire Water made a generous contribution to our funds on the basis that we weed this planting for the next 3 years. Weeding will help maximise the success rate, and the young trees do seem to be doing well. It was a lovely evening, though we did need our insect repellant and midge nets. As we were leaving we met Dave who had been working on his wildflower meadow nearby. Dave had his small dog with him though. The dog is somewhat unfriendly, and had to be restrained from attacking us. We also saw a dead stoat.

Marsden Mechanics volunteer recruitment event

This evening Ann, Dianne and I attended the volunteer recruitment event at the Mechanics. We stood proudly beside our roller banner for a couple of hours, and did manage to get two names and make one useful contact with another group. I kept the anniversary film on loop on my tablet for punters to get a look at, but didn't manage to sell any DVDs.

Blakeley Reservoir Bracken Bashing

Geoff, Ben, Stephen, Dave and Hap.

This morning we walked up the Wessenden Valley for a bracken bashing session beside Blakeley Reservoir. We were: myself, Geoff, Ben, Stephen, John, Dave, Hap and Steve. A nice breeze kept the midges off, so all we had to worry about was the hard work involved on the steep slope. Clearing the bracken from around the newly planted trees will allow them to receive light and more nutrients. A couple more weeks of bracken growth and these 1.2 metre tree guards would have been completely engulfed, and the trees inside left in the dark for the whole Summer.

I was asked to include some of the break time conversation topics in the blog, which were, for the record, Mark E. Smith, incontinence, and the fact that Mallard ducks are inconsiderate lovers.

Before

After

In the distance, on the right hand hillside beyond the reservoir, you can see several areas planted by the CVTS in past years.

Old guard remove guards

Transfixed by the view.

It sounds like a Guardian cryptic crossword clue, but describes what happened. Trevor, Brian, Duncan and a fellow that I don't recognise from the photo were up at Scout Top, Marsden, removing stakes and guards from trees that no longer needed them. Looks like it was a very pleasant morning.

The view they were transfixed by.

Butterley Bracken Bashing

First day of our assault on the Wessenden Valley's bracken infestation. We were: Philip, Guy, Mandy, Mandy's two sons and their dad, Dave, Peter T, Geoff, Jess, Ben and John. Cake was Bakewell tart. As usual, the debate raged about the best way to discourage bracken from growing back - breaking VS cutting basically.

First day of bracken bashing

Gallant little little oaks surrounded ominously by demon bracken

This morning we were over Meltham way. Knocking back the bracken for a load of oak and rowan planted a couple of years ago. This should be the last Summer that we have to do this, as most of the trees are out of the tops of the guards. We were: myself, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Ben, Dave, John, Geoff and Philip. Cake was Eccles cakes, and v.nice they were too.

Flipping windy

Hap self harms to ensure his photo gets in blog.

This week, myself, Philip, Hap, Geoff, Steve and Stephen went up to Wholestone Moor to sort previous planting out. There were guards that needed making upright, and guards that needed removing. It was insanely windy, so while sunny, was quite cold. Hapless Hap (first time he's heard that one I'm sure) managed to cut himself, but was restored by the first aid kit. Some of the guards that needed straightening were due to somewhat less than thorough original installation. See pics. Bang 'em in harder folks. Also, folks, I found a full pack of 10 stakes abandoned on the hillside, and Steve found a set of 5 guards. Tsk tsk.

Way too much stick showing above top tie.

One or two inches above top tie is enough.

Stephen looks askance.

Manure encore!

Jess, aided by Lizzie

Another shipment of poo for the nursery. This week myself and Jessica stayed at the nursery, and barrowed up insane amounts of stone from the nearby building plot being cleared. Around 11am Ben, Guy and Mandy arrived, shortly followed by another tractor load of manure.

Meanwhile, Philip, Steve, Geoff and John went off to Wholestone Moor to straighten guards up that had been blown over in the recent winds. Though there was heated debate about the triage process for deciding what needed doing to which trees.

Chainsaws and wheelbarrows

I always forget to take the before pics.

A day of two halves.

Myself, Philip, Stephen, Steve and Geoff went to Butterley to clear the path through the pine plantation. The plantation is towards the end of it's life, trees are dying and falling each winter blocking the footpath.  A count of rings on one of the larger fallen trees suggests they about 40 years old. Philip and Stephen were cutting these up with chainsaws, while I was moving logs and snedding with my favourite forester's axe. A lone walker with her dogs did express gratitude. Steve and Geoff were roaming about on nearby hillside removing guards and checking last season's planting.

Meanwhile, back at the nursery... Guy, Dave, Ben and Jess were eagerly anticipating the arrival of a trailerload of cowsh*t. Though given that it then took til 5pm to wheelbarrow it all into place maybe they shouldn't have been so keen. There was a lot. We were v.tired by the end. Guy's heroic efforts not to gloat about the election result were appreciated, even if he couldn't entirely contain himself.

Steve, with Geoff a tiny spec on horizon.

Photo opportunity with Yorkshire Water

Lisa documents, while Guy and Kathryn strategise.

We had a photo op with Yorkshire Water. We were met by Kathryn and Sarah from Yorkshire Water, with their photographer Lisa. Guy was there with his White Rose Forest hat on (in reality a Chelsea FC woolly hat), and Ian Butterfield from Forest of Bradford. We were there to discuss and take pictures of all the planting that CVTS and Forest of Bradford have completed up the Wessenden Valley. Hopefully they will send us some of the pro standard photos.

Woodland management at Throstle Green Farm

Alder logs, orangey when wet, white when dried. Go figure.

Clearly I get a bit slack about the blog towards the end of the Season. So here, belatedly is an account of last Saturday.

We went to Throstle Green Farm at the request of the owners, to manage some planting done there around 15 years ago. We cleared Willow and Blackthorn regrowth, while Philip and Stephen felled Alder and Willow with their chainsaws.

We were: Philip, Stephen, Mandy, Guy, myself, Dave, Tanya, Geoff, Duncan and Harvey the Dog, Neil, Sarah, Trevor, Dianne, Jess, and Hap.

Cake was homemade scones with butter and jam.

And it flippin' well lashed it down nearly all morning. So we got quite wet. Still, was last day, and all my kit got its annual wash afterwards.

Philip and myself will now take a short break from organising these shenanigans. Doesn't mean folk can't still go out and about on Saturdays.

Green Building Store tree planting at Scammonden

11am official flapjack and shortbread break

This week we were joined by the good folks of the Green Building Store, who sponsored this planting session at Scammonden Reservoir.

We were adding to some woodland that the Society planted over 15 years ago, enhancing the new reservoir path that Yorkshire Water have spent much time and money creating.

We were: myself, Jess, Tanya, Vashti, Cath, Ben, John, Peter T., Stephen, Steve, Dave, and Philip. Plus all the Green Building Store folk.

We planted 270 Sessile Oak, and enjoyed homemade flapjack and shortbread.

This was the last day of actual planting of the season, and the sun shone and everyone had a good time!

Next week, woodland management begins.

Thanks to Jess for photos.

Me lurking on far left, while Tanya looks askance at Ben's Ian Brown impersonation.

Last stand at Wholestone Moor

Guy, myself, Dave, and Cath.

Back to Wholestone Moor for a last bash at planting here. I forgot to post this earlier, so I think we planted 100 Italian Alder and a similar number of Oak.

We were: myself, John, Philip, Geoff, Dave, Steve, Guy, Mandy, Cath... and then my memory gets fuzzy. Someone will correct me. I am sure...

Feast your eyes upon our works, ye mighty, and despair!

Three men and a baby scots pine

Philip, Dave and Hap apply remedial straightening

Back to Butterley for the last Saturday this season, and it was a lovely day, with good folk and good cake. We planted 200 assorted trees above the Clough, and 50 Oaks down on the fringe of the golf course.

We were; myself, Vashti, Hap, Philip, Dave, Stephen, Peter T., Cath, Geoff, Ben, Tanya, Guy, Isabel and Mandy. Brian, Trevor, Duncan and Harvey the dog were over the golf course side.

Cake was a very popular and successful pineapple upside down cake.

The only down of the day was that we lost a further 30 Oaks to critter attack. They were healed in on site, and something ate all the roots.

200 deer stakes, 90 deer guards, and 50 hare stakes and guards are stored for next season.

ps on 16th July we added another 100 hare guards to the stash, found them on another part of the hill while bracken bashing.

Wholestone Moor Week 3

Back to Wholestone Moor, to plant another 150 Sessile Oak and 100 Italian Alder to augment the trees that are already (slowly) growing up there. We managed this with relative ease, and had time to reclaim a bunch of 75cm guards and stakes for re-use, plus a shedload of cable ties. We were: Jess, Emma, John, Hap, myself, Philip, Geoff, Ben, Cath, Peter T., Peter W., Steve, Duncan, and Harvey the Dog. Cake was fruit sponge. Weather was passable, bit damp at first but dried up.

In the evening Geoff screened the tree people trailer at Marsden film club, before the main feature. We also took the tree Society banner along. We only sold one DVD, but all publicity is good publicity.

Wessenden Valley Eco Walk

Today I attended a kind of outdoor conference, organised by Guy Thompson of White Rose Forest. Representatives of a range of interested parties (Natural England, RSPB, National Trust, Woodland Trust, Moors for the Future, and the CVTS) walked up the Wessenden Valley and discussed habitat restoration, habitat protection, and planting of clough woodland. It was a very positive and educational affair.

Wholestone Moor week 2

Geoff, glistening with melted snow.

Back to Wholestone Moor, for more "beating up", that is extra planting to supplement trees already there. We planted 250 Italian Alder and Sessile Oak. We were: myself, Hap, Philip, Geoff, Trevor, Peter W., Peter T. Stephen, Steve, Cath, Dave and John. Cake was chocolate brownies. Weather was extremely variable, sunshine and snow, though bitterly cold throughout.

A man walked into a bar...

Before

After (and Bob)

A misty morning at Slaithwaite Cricket Club, planting 250 Field Maple, Bird Cherry, Crab Apple, Hazel and Dogwood on the embankment behind the stand. This was done in collaboration with the landowner, following plans drawn up from when the housing development was done behind the ground. Not great ground, there being a lot of spoil from the housebuilding. And a bit of a perilous slope. But we finished on time, and then went to the Sair for our mid season meeting.

We were: Philip, Bob, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Ben, Stephen, Dave, Neil, myself, Peter W., Trevor, Dianne and Cath. Jess sent her apologies, as did Prince Edward (who Jess met this week at her gold DofE award presentation). Geoff also sent his apologies, he was going to see Stewart Lee in Manchester. ??? Is the surreal and mordant wit of the CVTS not enough for Geoff?

After the planting and mid season, while a few of us were trying to enjoy a drink in the Sair, we were harassed by some nutter at the bar. He appeared to have been drinking since breakfast (or maybe since 1970).He took exception to our tree planting activities, maintaining that the type of trees were planting did not sustain native insects or birds. Not that he knew what type of trees we plant. He didn't seem to want to stop ranting, calling us liars, or pointing at us. But we were leaving anyway.

Wholestone Moor - week 1

We had a good day on Saturday, though didn't get all 250 trees planted. We planted 125 Oaks and 25 British Alder in Wholestone Moor phase 3 (the long strip parallel to the motorway). Beating-up seems to be more time consuming than straight planting. I always forget how noisy the M-way is when you are right next to it.

A combination of 2 trailer trips for Dave, one for Brian with stakes, and guards in various cars we got all the stakes and guards up there. People had there back seats down in readiness! Raymond couldn't get his tractor going initially, but came back at 10.30 in his tractor with trailer. We loaded up the trailer with 500 stakes and Guy's 500 standard plus guards, which is now parked at the top near to the planting area. Guy appeared and drew a map of where the trees are to be planted.

The 100 stakes and thin guards are on site in Wholestone Moor phase 2 ready for the 100 Alder which I took back to the nursery and heeled-in.

We were: Dave, Geoff, Jess, Diane (and Lizzy the noisy dog), Peter T, Peter W, Stephen, Hap, Duncan (and Harvey the quieter dog), Philip, Steve G. and Ben. Brian helped to trailer and then disappeared. Cake was ginger.

Philip

Linthwaite WW1 planting

Everyone eating cake (bar Philip who took the picture, and Harvey who wasn't allowed cake).

This was our fourth week of commemorative planting at Butterley dam. We planted 106 Oak, to represent the casualties from Linthwaite, together with a similar total of nurse species, Scots Pine, Rowan and Alder.

We were: Hap (who I missed off last weeks roll-call so apologies), Cath, Dianne, Jess, Steve, Stephen, Peter, Geoff, Dave, Philip, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Ben and myself.

Cake was the ever popular coconut crunch top.

There was a lengthy on site discussion about my persistent capitalisation of the varieties of trees that we plant. 

Golcar WW1 planting

Today we were back above Butterley dam, planting the third of our groups representing WW1 casulaties. This morning we planted 156 Oaks for Golcar, along with a similar number of Rowan and Scots Pine to act as nurse species while the Oaks get established. At least 300 trees got planted in all.

We were: myself, Hap, Geoff, Stephen, Jess, Dave, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Brian, Trevor, Peter T, Steve, Ben, and Cath.

Cake was Apricot and Pecan.

The weather was disappointingly variable, with some fairly substantial winter-y showers blowing through.

Slaithwaite WW1 planting

Someone is looking jaunty there in the middle.

The second week of our commemorative planting for the Colne Valley. This week we planted 118 Oaks to represent those lost from Slaithwaite. We also planted 25 Scots Pine and 75 Alder to act as nurse species for the Oaks.

We were: myself, Philip, Dave, Ben, Cath, Trevor, Peter W., Peter T., Stephen, Steve, Geoff, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Duncan and Harvey the Dog, Jess, Neil and Vashti.

Cake was Cherry rock cakes.

It snowed. Quite a lot.

Dave, on the right, clearly isn't letting the weather get him down.

First day of World War 1 memorial planting

 

Today was the first day of our memorial planting to mark the anniversary of the start of World War 1. The intention is to plant an Oak tree for every person from the Colne Valley who was killed during the conflict. The site is above Butterley dam, looking down on Marsden, and we intend to plant groups representing the villages of the Valley. So today we planted 147 Oaks, representing the casualties from Marsden, together with 150 nurse species of Alder, Rowan and Scots Pine. We were: Hap, Philip, Vashti, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Jess, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Geoff, Dave, Ben, myself, Trevor, Peter W., and Stephen. Over the next few weeks we will return to the site, and plant groups representing the other villages.

Who ate all the Willow?

Philip, Peter T., Steve, Cath, Simon, Stephen, Hap and Dave.

So here we were again at Butterley. The weather wasn't as nice as it was supposed to be, it kept on sleeting when it was meant to stop. But we kept busy and planted another 200 trees. We were: myself, Philip, Steve, Stephen, Peter T. Hap, Dave, Geoff and Cath. Cake was jam sponge.

Some critter had eaten some of the trees we had left on site, despite them being very well covered with stakes and guards. Only ate the Willow, and devoured the whole stems. A hare? So we lost 45 of our Woodland Trust Willow. But we still had lots of TCV trees.

There are 30 Oak still on site, together with just over 200 deer stakes and guards, and 50 hare stakes and guards. There are another 60 or so trees still at the nursery for here. And a further 250 trees for here due with the next Woodland Trust delivery.

Snow show

Stephen, Vashti, Steve.

'Twas the day after Boxing day, and the snow lay round about. Mainly on the ungritted roads, so that hardly anyone could get to Marsden. Vashti, Steve and I had walked up, Stephen intrepidly drove. We managed to plant a further 31 Oaks, which wasn't bad going given the conditions. Leftover mince pies were shared.

Yule logging

Hap, Steve, Jess, Mandy, Harvey, Geoff, Dave and Dianne.

Today we had our now traditional pre-Christmas woodland management session. Weather was a bit grizzly and damp. But we soldiered on. We were: myself, Guy, Mandy, Dave, Geoff, Ben, Dianne and Lizzie the Dog, Duncan and Harvey the Dog, Jess, Steve, Hap, Philip and Stephen.

Guy and Mandy provided hearty chilli stew for break time. This was accompanied by Dave's Aldi knock off Bailey's, and Geoff's purportedly more sophisticated blackcurrant liqueur. And home made oat biscuits. Plus cheese and crackers. And a roaring camp fire.

Before and after we made pigs of ourselves Philip and Steven were doing their chainsaw work, and the rest of us were felling smaller trees and logging. We were thinning out some woodland that was planted by us 15 years ago. Removing some nurse species and shorter lived trees such as Larch, Birch and Alder, to allow more light to the Oaks.

Oh, and we also carried a further 150 deer stakes and 200 deer guards on site.

The Few plant the first of many

Trevor, Geoff and Duncan, amongst the frost and fog.

Here we were back at Butterley, a little depleted in numbers due to the proximity of Christmas. We were: Trevor, Peter W., Duncan and Harvey the dog, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Geoff, Dave, Philip and myself. We planted 120 Oaks, courtesy of the Trust for Conservation Volunteers. Cake was big chunks of Bakewell tart.

As an aide memoire: we have 100 hare guards and stakes, 220 deer stakes, 100 deer guards, 40 cell grown Goat Willow, 50 bare root Goat Willow, 50 bare root Downy Birch, 50 bare root Hawthorn, and 130 bare root Oak. There are, I think 60 odd trees left at the nursery too for this site. Total still to plant 380. Two Saturday's work?

Deep Gate

Hap, Geoff, Jess and Dianne resplendent in CVTS branded casual wear.
Peter is still irked that the hats sold out before he got one.

This Saturday we were planting along a local bridleway called, Deep Gate. There is older CVTS planting at both the bottom and top ends. So we were attempting to link this woodland with a new "wildlife corridor". We planted 210 trees, in several small clumps along the edges of the bridleway, taking care not to impede the progress of folks on their giant pets (horses). We were: myself, Philip, Jess, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Cath, Jolly, Trevor, Peter W., Brian, Peter T., Hap, Geoff, Ben and Steve. Dave went off solo to Butterley. Cake was Apple and Walnut. And the sun shone for at least some of the time.

Butterley once more

Vashti and Jess, and some Birch.

This morning we were back at Butterley. Planting another 205 Woodland Trust/Co-Op/ Cuckoo's nest trees.

We were: myself, Cath, Philip, Dave, Jess, Vashti, Ben, Dianne and Lizzie the dog, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Geoff, Steve, Stephen, Peter W., and Hap.

Cake was monumental slabs of home made millionaires shortbread. Wow, was said a lot. Even the greedy sorts could only manage single pieces.

Left on site are 40 Willow, 100 Hare stakes and guards, and, I think, 70 deer guards and 150 deer stakes.

Stephen and Peter, and misty Marsden.

Per ardua ad Butterley

Geoff strikes a blow for treedom

This week we returned once again to the fringes of Butterley Reservoir. Trees were provided by the Woodland Trust, stakes and guards by the Cuckoo's Nest and the Co-op. There are lots of plans for Butterley this year, with Yorkshire Water themselves getting involved in some planting. Above us, higher up on the moorland we could hear the National Trust up to something, motorised, probably planting heather.

We were; myself, Geoff, Dave, Philip, Jess, Lizzie the dog, Dianne, Steve, Ben, Trevor, Peter T., and Hap. We spent the first hour lugging materials onto site. Though we did get some welcome help from the groundsman at Marsden Golf Club, who ferried the heavy stuff some of the way in his Kawasaki Mule buggy. We want one.

So far we have taken up 360 deer stakes and guards, and 100 hare stakes and guards.

In the second hour we managed to plant 85 trees. 125 trees were left on site healed in.

Cake was ginger.