The 1

This Saturday we were at Scammonden again, removing old tree guards and stakes. Most of the tubes were off mature trees, or Ash, so were not re-useable. 80 long stakes were brought away for re-use.

We were: myself, Geoff, Dave, Jess, Lee and Hap.

It was a pretty damp and midgy morning, with one notable deluge. But still turned out to be fun!

Me and Jess were quite excited about the new Taylor Swift release, so this week's song is off it. Even if the title isn't relevant. So there.

https://youtu.be/KsZ6tROaVOQ

Meeting

This Saturday morning we held our AGM and Summer meetings, amongst trees we planted.  Due to Covid we didn't feel it was appropriate to cram ourselves into a room for the meeting, and this seemed a good idea. It was a bit damp, but I still managed to take the minutes.

We were: myself, Guy, Cath, Dianne, Peter, Stephen, Duncan and Harvey the dog, Sue, Hap, John, Ben, Lee, Jess, Geoff, Dave and Philip.

The outdoor setting seemed to work, in that we got both meetings done in an unusually short time.

https://youtu.be/Jv0NUZVdIVQ

Blue orchid

Geoff, Tanya and Ben collected 117 shrub guards from Scammonden SC14 on Saturday and probably about 100 stakes (some broke). Dave came along later to 'reconnoitre' and took 30 back to the nursery; the rest are left on site for now. There are a few more there though not many, but most of that site needs de-guarding so could well go back there next Saturday. The weather was fine really - constantly rainy but not at all unpleasant.

 

They speculated that the visit of Jason McCartney to this site must have blessed it since Geoff found this rather fine common spotted orchid specimen (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), maybe even on the very spot that he had stood, proudly posing for a photo of him pretending to plant a tree.

 

Not many songs about orchids...

https://youtu.be/jW8UlrtcEac

Myself and Philip were visiting two prospective sites, the final additions to the Winter's activities.

Do anything you wanna do

The view from Scout

This  morning I was up at Scout talking to a landowner about a planting plan for the coming Season.

Geoff, Tanya, Ben, Lisa, Alexander and Jared were at Scammonden de-guarding.

Dave, Stephen, Peter, Cath and Hap were over the other side of Scammonden, de-balsaming.

https://youtu.be/rK8pAfhC4Rk

There, there, my dear

Another Saturday morning up Wessenden, and another deer/dire situation. This time we were working and heard a godawful screeching racket the other side of the reservoir. Turned out to be a distressing altercation between some deer and a dog. We think a mother deer and a young un, with the young un running off and taking refuge down by the water (pictured) and the mother scrapping with the dog then running off with the dog in pursuit. They put down dogs that worry sheep, probably no such penalty in this case. The picture was taken with a combination of my telescope with Jess' phone, 20x optical magnification achieved, with arty circle effect too.

It seems to be an effect of the epidemic, more people out enjoying the countryside, including more dogs. The deer had probably got used to a quiet life over that side of the reservoir, but now theres a near constant stream of people and their dogs going over there. And, using our tree guards as dog chew toys when there are not deer to chew on.

We were: myself, Geoff, Jess, Peter, Tanya and Ben in one group. Dave Hap and Stephen in another group. And Philip, Cath, Jared, Alastair and John in  the third and furthestmost group.

Lots of bracken got bashed and guards straightened.

And one of my all time favourites for the music.

https://youtu.be/ZjwUX5MKJOo

Animals

The last few weeks we have been putting deer guards back on some young trees at Butterley, because we could see the bark was getting eaten or rubbed by deer. Lo and behold, this morning in the fog we ran into two of the culprits. The irony of tree planting is that the more successful we are the more deer there will be, which will make it more difficult to establish more new woodland. Hey ho.

We also saw a frog, owls (might have been same owl twice), curlew, and a buzzard.

We were: Philip, Jess, Lee, Cath, Guy and John in one group. Dave, Ben, Hap and Stephen in another, and finally myself, Adrian, Geoff, Jared and Alastair.

https://youtu.be/eBiIFhg0Jnc

Out in the fields

This Saturday we were up the Wessenden Valley, knocking down bracken before it shades out any of our growing young trees.

We were: myself, Philip, Dave, Geoff, Adrian, Hap, Alastair, Jared, Peter, Susan, Stephen, John and Cath.

We divided into two groups to try and adhere to the guidelines.

This week's tune, a heavy rock request from Dianne.

https://youtu.be/bbjrAQf8jBQ

Sastanàqqàm

Geoff looking exotic

Myself, Geoff and Steve were again working and being socially distant at Scammonden. Guard and stake removal. I made one trip back to the nursery with our spoils. Geoff had forgotten his sunhat so was going round looking like a member of Tinariwen.

https://youtu.be/vACZA9dGvV4

I got stung

Blog by Tanya this week, including arty fly photo and more representative one of nettles (the stung part).

Steve and Geoff were also on the hillside. Removing guards and tidying. I was busy landscaping Ann's garden.

https://youtu.be/FvmLT1UBOxM

Ant music

So in this slightly relaxed (?) lockdown myself, Geoff and Tanya travelled to Scammonden separately, worked separately (Tanya was 100m away) and then sat at 3m spacing for teabreak.

We did not share tools or snacks.

All deguarding and tidying. 

Tanya got fascinated by an ant's nest.

Ben and friend and dogs were also at Scammonden doing similar, but working on a completely different bit of the hillside. Didn't see them.

https://youtu.be/Rm9drIwmmU4

You've got time

Time consuming, but worth it.

So back at Scammonden for more regulation adherent scrabbling around in the undergrowth.

This time I was perfecting my method for removing almost all guards in a manner making them re-useable.

https://youtu.be/w9_isl1jjHc

Police on my back

There I was, lurking in shrubbery up by the reservoir, when I got collared by the filth! I dun nuffin!

I was up at Scammonden planting 30 of our remaining Hawthorn in the hedge line along Sledge Gate. I was next to the lane and this little silver hatchback pulled up, and a woman starts staring at me. I walked towards the car and then saw she had the vest and radio rig on. So I unzipped my fleece to reveal my anniversary design CVTS t-shirt. and pointed at the tree. She gave me the thumbs up and off she went.

I have taken a few trips up there recently. One of the things I have been doing is putting retaining bars on our piles of old deer tubes. Open topped affairs don't cut it, and there were wind scattered tubes all around the ones we'd done recently. They needed putting behind bars!

https://youtu.be/dMuL0uHJrv4

Lately I've let things slide

I can see my house from here!

So I have also been wandering up to Pasture Wood, Ellen Clough, to tidy things up a bit.  I have brought down several big green bags of guards. All by hand and on foot, and all on my own.

https://youtu.be/7ImrJijeveM

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free

The lucky ones of us with sites nearby are bobbling around doing little bits of solo work. Tidying guards, planting the odd tree, splitting logs.

Hang in there everyone!

At this point in the lockdown there really is no other song.

https://youtu.be/HDqmJEWOJRI

The seed

Hope everybody is staying well and safe. and at home.

One of our members has nearly run out of chia seeds, despite diligent preparation.

https://youtu.be/ojC0mg2hJCc

Don't get around much anymore

Understandably, little to report this week. Here's a photo from Dave, and an appropriate tune from Joe Pass.

https://youtu.be/1a8B5ni9VZQ

Yes we can

Our last group session of this season, and we were sponsored and joined by the Green Building Store.

We planted a heroic 500 oaks at Scammonden, which is outstanding for just a Saturday morning's work.

We were: Bill, Camilla, Luke and Sarah from Green Building Store - myself, Hap , Stephen, Steve, Ben and friend and two dogs, Tanya, Philip, Geoff, Richard, Elliot and Hannah, Alastair and Jared, Jon and Tessie, Adrian, Dave, John, and Bob (I think).

I should probably count myself and Hap twice, as we had been up there on Friday and dug the first 150 holes.

https://youtu.be/H_SuyOLW_f0

Poet Laureate plants misleading idea - CVTS responds

His "Marsden" piece with heady phrase
Contains some "bollocks" Simon says.
"Clean air 's the cause of trees returning".
But there's a hole in t' poet's learning.
In t' main they're back you silly "b"...
By dint of our Society!

Simples!

Down on the farm

This week we were at Outlane, reinforcing a farmland shelter belt. We planted 510 Hawthorn, 45 Hazel, and 15 Hornbeam.

We were: myself, Elliot, Hannah, Dave, Geoff, Cath, Dianne, Jess, Lee, Adrian, Peter, Richard, Jon, Stephen, Philip, Ben, and Bob.

Cake was a weighty Bakewell tart.

Farms are great, if only they weren't all so muddy.

https://youtu.be/EsBFGHpzDhg

Peace frog

Those trees don't "spring up" by themselves.

Poet laureate Simon Armitage had an article in the Guardian today, in which he said:

"The moors themselves are greener and trees have sprung up even beyond the recognised "tree line" - a consequence of climate change and reductions in chimney smoke and soot".

That sentence appeared in the online version, but was mysteriously absent from the print version of the article.

In any case, while this was being read with the morning croissants, the good folk of Colne Valley Tree Society were out planting 105 hawthorn and 70 oak, aspen and rowan in a shelter belt a the top end of Marsen golf course. Given that he is a Marsden lad, and attended Colne Valley High School, where a number of teachers were members of the Society, and pupils were often roped in to do tree planting, it is a bit of a stretch to believe that the doesn't know we exist, or that he doesn't know that the Society has planted more than 350,000 trees and shrubs in the valley since 1964. Maybe we just don't fit with his mythology.

So the not at all mythological volunteers were: myself, Philip, Dave, Geoff, Adrian, Hap, Richard, Ian, Alison, Paul, Steve, Stephen, Remy, Jon, Bob, Ben, Dianne, Jess and Lee.

Dianne found a plastic frog while digging, so this week's tune is....

https://youtu.be/z7pCD827wB4

Still life with cat skull and plastic frog, and Hap in the middle.

Band à parte

Left leaning photographers, Tanya and Geoff

Circumstances saw us flung to far corners of the valley this week.

Myself, Tanya, Geoff, Alison, Paul, Jess and Dianne went to Scammonden and scavenged 80 stakes and 50 guards, plus did some tidying up as preparation for planting 500 oaks with the Green Building Store people in a couple of weeks.

Dave, Richard, Bob, Steve, Simon, Elliot, Hannah, Polly, Alastair and Jared went to Green Edge and planted 245 Hawthorn. Then they went to Parkwood, planted 2 memorial yew and straightened a load of storm tossed tree guards. It looked very muddy.

Philip, Susan, Stephen and Adrian were at Marsden Golf course, thinning trees and preparing for interplanting with some new oaks.

Cake was carrot.

Not so much a song, as a musical clip this week.

https://youtu.be/O4TYQkkAvk8

Black and white world

This morning Dave, Hap, John and I were at the far end of Marsden Golf course, consolidating some brash piles, and clearing the way for the chainsaw operators to come in and take out some of the larch, which were used as a nurse species in this (previously) exposed spot.

Finally some nice Winter weather, snow and sun, instead of rain and wind.

https://youtu.be/RRDl6YvXhiw

Us

"The Tree Planter"

To quote Regina Spektor "They made a statue of us".

This charming little fella has appeared at Scammonden Reservoir, and according to Yorkshire Water he is there in recognition of Colne Valley Tree Society's work on site (though they also mention some other people might have planted some trees there as well).

And fittingly, its a damn fine tune too.

https://youtu.be/fczPlmz-Vug

Wind up

Me, Peter, Steve, and Philip wondering where the time goes.

A morning divided.

Dave, Jess, Dianne, Adrian, Stephen, Elliot, Ben, Jared and Alastair. This lot planted 345 Hawthorn at Waller Clough, then went and did half next weeks work planting another 150 at Green Edge.

While myself, Philip, Steve, Geoff, Bob, Tanya and Peter wallowed around in the mud and wind at Pike Law. Under much heavier going we planted 255 Hawthorn.

Cake was lemon.

A fittingly demented song to represent the wind this morning, and the title works on a couple of levels.

https://youtu.be/i860U22o3TE

(For those about to rock) we salute you

Well hats off to Dave, Stephen and Cath, who went out in the pelting Marsden rain. And tidied and logged like troopers.

Hey

Dianne braves the wind and rain. Tanya's Fuji X20 is a classic camera.

Poor weather, but a cast of stalwarts and old favourites were present: myself, Philip, Dave, Geoff, Tanya, Cath, Dianne, Ben, Stephen, Steve, Adrian, Hap, Richard, Bob, Alastair, Jared, and Peter.

175 Hawthorn were planted plus willow whips.

https://youtu.be/tVCUAXOBF7w

Bob, pursued by some wet zombies.

Shadowplay

Philip casts a shadow

I was away at a training event with Treesponsibility in Hebden, so the following was provided by Philip.

We filled in the gaps from last week with Hawthorn. That side of the field is now complete. The other side of the field was a lot wetter so gaps were left where it was sodden. The same planting mix of Hawthorn with other shrubby species was used. At the bottom of the field adjacent to the existing woodland we planted 30 Beech and 15 Spindle. Brambles sprouting from the wall and encroaching into the field were grubbed out so the hedge could follow the line of the wall.

Total number for the day consisted of 300 Hawthorn, 15 Blackthorn, 15 dog Rose, 15 Elder, 30 Hazel plus the Beech and Spindle. Total 420 plants.

We were: Richard, Dianne, Jess, Stephen, Bob, Geoff, Adrian, Dave, Jared and Alastair, Sophie, Jon and Tess, John F, Cath, Elliot, Steve, Philip.

https://youtu.be/yPt3-lB5Lsc

David Wainwright's feet

Peter's trench foot is assessed by Jess.

Another mixed hedgerow, this time at Hey above Slaithwaite.

We were: myself, Tanya, Philip, Dave, Hap, Stephen, Ian, Jon, Bob, Peter, Jess, Adrian, Ben, and Simon.

Mud was very sticky. Some bits of the field were very wet. Nevertheless we planted 15 spindle, 15 field maple, 30 hornbeam, 15 holly, 60 Elder, 45 dog rose, 30 Blackthorn, 120 hazel, and 255 hawthorn.

Song is apropos of nothing other than a conversation me, Philip and Geoff had.



https://youtu.be/rkrr_F6vtlc

Rocks

Elliot hits rock bottom, and keeps going.

Back to finish off this mammoth hedgerow with 585 more hawthorn.

We were: myself, Geoff, Philip, Sophie, Remy, Dave, Stephen, Steve, Elliot, Nelson, Hannah, John, Jon and Tess, Cath, Richard, Jess, Dianne, Adrian, Hap, Alison, Paul, and Bob.

Some real work done this week, with tough grass to dig through, and then tough rocks underneath.

Cake was two variants of crunchy top coconut, one with cherries, and one with lemon?

https://youtu.be/Z3ZCZjhjguA

The sound of the crowd

Ben and Bob confer

A cast of thousands today, so I had better get all these names down before I forget.

We were: myself, Dave, Geoff, Philip, Steve, Remy, Alison, Dominic, Elliot, Adrian, Bob, Jon, John, Katie, Martin, Cath, Ben, Alastair, Jared, Jess, Lee, Dianne, Susan, Chris, and Hap.

In addition we had special guests from Sant Jagjit Singh Lopon, a Sikh organisation whose members are committed to charity and community work.

This mighty team managed to plant 885 trees and shrubs as a mixed hedgerow on the farm. This total consisted of: 15 bird cherry, 15 blackthorn, 30 dog rose, 45 elder, 15 field maple, 60 hazel, 15 holly, 15 hornbeam, 45 oak, 15 spindle, 15 whitebeam, and 600 hawthorn.

This leaves 810 hawthorn allocated for this site but not yet planted.

Cake was apple flapjack, and it all got eaten, as did all Hap's buttered panettone, all Dianne's jaffa cakes, and some random chocolates that did the rounds.

Break time

https://youtu.be/9CJFk7LZa5A

Black Flag - Nervous breakdown

Who knew silage bales could be so photogenic?

This week we were at a farm overlooking Meltham Mills, beginning a long mixed hedgerow.

It was stupidly windy, which didn't help communications, and we were spread out across the site.

Nevertheless we got 390 plants in the ground easily, 15 beech, 15 bird cherry, 30 blackthorn, 60 dog rose, 45 elder, 15 field maple, 150 hazel, 15 holly, 15 oak, 15 spindle and 15 whitebeam. We need to return to fill in the gaps with about 700 Hawthorn. Then complete the next 150m or so, in a similar manner.

We were: Philip, Geoff, Dave, Adrian, myself, John, Jon, Hap, Tanya, Sophie, Jess, Dianne, Steve, Stephen, Ben, Alastair, Jared, Alison and Paul.

Cake was parkin.

Tea break time!

A tune for Philip this week.

https://youtu.be/302oEzSPCqE

Bag to black (sic)

Hap pulling up black plastic mulch mats.

A bit of weekday crew tidying up at Throstle. which we will now leave alone for a while.

We were: Adrian, Stephen, myself, Dave, John and Hap, and Geoff back at the nursery.

The fruits of several weeks labours.

https://youtu.be/TJAfLE39ZZ8

Never going back again (?)

Before

After

The final woodland management session for a while. At the nursery we were: Adrian, myself, Geoff, Remy, Dianne, Jess, and Lee.
In the woods were: Philip, Stephen, Susan, Peter, Hap, John, Dave, Cath and Ben.

Cake was a non-Christmassy jam sponge.

https://youtu.be/0E7rUemfC-A

Stay free

Sophie, Adrian, Sue, Cath, John, Stephen, Peter and Philip

Another day of feverish chopping and sawing, as a remedy to Christmas indulgence.

We were: myself, Geoff, Tanya and Ben at the nursery. And: Philip, Susan, Stephen, Hap, Adrian, Dave, Sophie, Peter and John in the woods at Throstle.

Cake was a mix of Christmas leftovers, both homemade and shop bought.

And the songs a tribute to revelations of one member's chequered past.

https://youtu.be/NHDm4oHee5A

Christmas is coming

Dianne and Cath full of cheer (or Dave's Baileys)

A very convivial pre-Christmas session at Blakeley Reservoir. We planted 2 Yew, 15 Alder, 60 Bird Cherry, 90 Sessile Oak, 30 Birch, and 15 Aspen. We were 20 strong: myself, Tanya, Philip, Dave, Geoff, Steve, Sylvie and Elliot, Kate and Martin, Jon and Tessie, Cath, Jess and Lee, Adrian, Hap, Ben, Kirstie and Dianne. Cake was the brilliant and seasonal sticky cranberry gingerbread.

Plus we also transplanted some trees which had previously been put too close to the dam.

Kirstie and Cath, and lots of others.

https://youtu.be/ICKRJ-ZL7Cs

Hit, git and split!

Dianne and Jessica keep swinging.

Another productive day of woodland management and wood fuel. All of which benefits local woodlands, and goes towards our sustainability as a tree planting group.

At the nursery we were: Stephen on chainsaw, myself, Dianne, Sophie and Adrian. Later joined by Jess and Tanya.

In the woods were: Susan and Philip on chainsaws, Ben, Hap, Dave, Duncan and Harvey the dog on lead, and Chris. A comprehensive risk assessment was shared with the group before work began, and everyone was safe and happy.

Ben communes with a tree, or maybe just saw a squirrel.

And a song by "Young Jessie" https://youtu.be/g2W_YWsQ2qU

Fall on me

Another Hogarthian scene of cake eating.

A woodland management morning at Throstle, thinning, pruning and tidying an area of planting done 19 years ago.

We were: Philip and Susan on chainsaws, Ben, Peter, Remy, Chris, Adrian, Hap, Duncan (and Harvey), myself, Geoff, Dave, Katie, Lee, Dianne and Jess.

Cake was date slice.

Safety talk was given. Lots of hard work was done. Lots of hi-vis was worn. Nothing fell on anyone.

https://youtu.be/I-nC25QQ3_w

Neon lights

Sundry hi-vis folk framed by birches.

A morning of woodland management. Hap and Adrian had been very busy marking trees up with their neon paint. And we all worked very hard felling, snedding, cutting and carrying.

We were: Susan and Stephen on chainsaws, Hap and Adrian exercising their woodland management theories, and myself, John, and Dave labouring.

Hap had made a very delicious sticky fruit cake.

https://youtu.be/KqmGZ_6LaUw