High House Edge. Myself, Dave, Cath and Hap did a couple of hours sterling work laying out all the materials and doing some pre-digging.

To a new field today, up near the local scrapyard. 

We were: myself, Tanya, Philip B., Philip H., Dianne, Jess, Matthew, Geoff, Paul, Jim, Steve, Stephen, Cath, Dave, and Maron, 

We planted 350 hawthorn, 50 blackthorn, 25 dog rose, 50 field maple, 25 hazel.

Weather was bright but cool. Very satisfactory.

Everything is one big Christmas tree

Cath contemplates her Christmas tree

Myself, Cath, Geoff, Dave and Stephen spent the morning planting 75 hawthorn and 50 blackthorn. 

We also planted 7 Christmas tree that the landowner had acquired. Not our usual thing, but fun.

No problem

As a dry but breezy alternative to a predicted windy and rainy Saturday myself, Geoff, Dave and Stephen did some work at Linfit - lots of other people being unavailable due to seasonal commitments.

We planted 145 hawthorn, 25 field maple and 25 dog rose.

Geoff noted the recent passing of Benjamin Zephaniah, so named this stretch of hedge after him.

https://youtu.be/ZhaXDfIGGzA?si=fVYwyJJVyfVbMV09

Remember (Christmas)

 In the holiday hubbub I forgot to post the Christmas eve eve planting. 

To the best of my recollection there was; myself, Stephen,Tanya, Geoff, Dave, Dianne, Peter, Matthew, Jon and Tess. But feel free to let me know if I have left you off.

https://youtu.be/gEcMzIIm_kM?si=zQxh18082SSpAylS

Oh tannenbaum!

Another trip to Linfit. Less animal petting this week though.

We were: myself, Geoff, Dave, Michael T., Philip, Dianne, Stephen, Cath, Hap, Ben, and Paul.

500 more plants went in.

The weather was pretty good, though we are on the wrong side of the valley to enjoy full sunshine.

Tekkno Christmas!

 Dave and I did 2 and half hours setting up for Saturday, and taking down the hazard fence from last week.

 Cath and Hap did 2 hours of excellent work pre-screefing for Saturday.

Dave and I spent 2 hours covering the top line of barbed wire, and doing 30m worth of screefing.

505

Breaktime in the barn. Geoff explains demonic possession in cattle.

Back to the Linfit petting zoo. 

Today we were: myself, Ben, Paul, Philip B., Stephen, Geoff, Dave, Tanya, Dianne, Jon, Tess, and Matthew, with special guests Sophie and Alex.

We planted another 500 today, remarkable result given the weather and terrain, which was rainy, windy, rocky and roadside rather than cold lush field.

Philip wanted a Shane McGowan song, but couldn't find one with a suitable title. One can be added at a later date?

https://youtu.be/qU9mHegkTc4?si=gIjsbyVLknqQEcKs

For the record, another couple of hours spent prepping for Saturday morning. Myself Dave and Stephen

Cold cold ground

The last few plants going in.

Back to Linfit, and another 500 plant week mixed hedging.

We were; myself, Philip B., Geoff, special guest Maron, Tanya, Dave, Philip H., Dianne, Hap, Peter, Michael T., Jon, and Tess. 

Pretty cold, -3, but sunny. Previously dug ground had to be dug again due to it being frozen.

https://youtu.be/g0x62pa7ChI?si=LU3CzfSQLB-OacFN

 Today Hap and Dave did a couple of ours of recreational screefing at Linfit.

Another sunny day

Back to the Linfit hedge project, and another 500 plants put in. Which we need to do, to keep to schedule.

We were; myself, Philip B., Dave, Stephen, Jess, Dianne, Philip H., Hap, Michael T., Sophie, Arthur, and Matthew. 

https://youtu.be/rx08E0b0Rs0?si=eM-yXQ0VBnSfoGLA

Myself, Tanya, Dave, and Stephen spent a couple of hours on site preparing the plant mix, setting out materials, and digging.

I could be happy

 

Matthew took some great photos, so nicked one of his.

Up Linfit way today beginning a mixed hedgerow project. We were; myself, Matthew, Philip, Stephen, Steve, Geoff, Dave, Tanya, Jess, Peter, Michael, Dianne, Jack, Jon, Tess, and Cath.

500 plants went in. 350 hawthorn, 50 blackthorn, 25 field maple, 25 crab apple, 25 hazel, and 25 dog rose. This was a very good start indeed.

The morning ended with a short but very popular petting zoo experience with the farms many animals. 

Following a conversation about great 80's pop 12 inch singles

Two and a half hours spent unbagging, counting, sorting, and healing in plants at the Linthwaite site. Myself, Dave, Tanya and Cath. Very muddy.

https://youtu.be/WfhFunPO4bQ?si=_Ab0805vPrOQVs85

No more tears (enough is enough)

 

To Outlane. Where we planted approx 200 oaks to improve a previously planted area. Most of these plants were self grown by Stephen and Jess, with some leftover nursery stock of white oak.

We were: myself, Philip, Steve, Matthew, Jess, Cath, Sophie, Dave, Jack, Michael T., Hap, Dianne, Philip H. and Geoff.

As we walked back across the fields afterwards we were all struck by the spiders webs across the wet grass, in the low winter sun. Nice.

https://youtu.be/7ZUmzVTVbYY?si=aPPhBTsIGT6KTR-B

2 hours of solo digging to make way for this winters trees.

Nursery work for myself, Geoff, Matthew, Dianne, Philip H., and Jack. 

Sunday morning

Myself, Philip B. Philip H., Dianne, Paul, Dave did a token amount of work up old Mount Road, then went in the Cot,with Geoff joining, to enjoy some hospitality (pints) provided by a very generous landowner. 

No Doubt - with added Terry Hall

Wrong way round

Dave, Geoff, Dianne and Jess did yet more work at the nursery today. For some reason Jess's pic is the wrong way round.

https://youtu.be/lEJ_07SB7pc?si=cykch58ZxManBHTB

 More chopping and tidying at the nursery. We were: myself, Dave, Matthew, Dianne, Michael, Hap and Philip H.

 Some felling and cross cutting at the nursery. Myself, Stephen, Dave, and Tanya.

 More chopping and tidying at the nursery. We were: myself, Jess, Geoff, Dave, Philip H., Matthew, and Peter.

Tree of life

A morning at the nursery, cogitating its upkeep. And then cutting some stuff down. Tools were also audited, and gloves sorted. We were; myself, Steve, Dianne, Jess, Dave and Philip.

https://youtu.be/wKZzYEjwva4?si=ouPKPZaOx-_fNEFN

 Another couple of hours up Old Mount Road replacing spirals with actual guards and stakes.

Madly hot for September, and we were out on a hillside re-staking and guarding at Old Mount Road, Marsden. We were: myself, Geoff, Matthew, Paul, Philip and Dianne.

 Geoff, Dave, Jack, Tol, Dianne, Philip, Jess and Hap. Clearing more stakes and guards from Wholestone.

 Another session of solo work taming the undergrowth at the Nursery.

 Another couple of solo hours hacking through the jungle at the nursery. Dave has obviously been there doing some too.

 Solo work at Nursery, pruning and weeding. 2 hours.

Geoff, Dave and Jess were at Wholestone.

I spent 2 hours weeding and pruning at the Nursery.

 Solo work at Old Mount Road replacing canes and spirals - 1 hour.

Got to be some changes made

Stayed at the nursery this week. To tidy up and rediscover some parts of the nursery that haven't been seen for a while due to extensive under/overgrowth.There were some stupidly overgrown blackcurrant bushes (10cm diameter trunks!) and decent apple trees lost amongst the wilderness. 

We were; myself, Dave, Ben, Michael, Dianne and Jess.

I'd say there there is plenty more to be done. Including possible chainsaw work.

https://youtu.be/AMp9YmeSi_Q?si=J2PEKZzbICFgkpa7

Cellphone's dead

 Up to Wholestone moor for more, stake and guard removal. We were; Ben, myself, Geoff, Dave, Philip, Steve and Cath.

Geoff gave me a Nokia phone found in the undergrowth up Wessenden. I charged it up. Surprisingly it had no sim card, no sd card, and not security set. I was able to update it and get it running, but the battery doesn't hold charge for long. New battery would be easy enough to get. Its a pretty basic Android phone, but it works. So not dead.

https://youtu.be/DGCwUoKWcxs?si=9SUPj_lvjIsB3miK

Jump

To Spring St. Slaithwaite to do some weeding. We were; Geoff, Paul, Dave, Jess, Dianne, Tanya, Ben and myself. Cake was raspberry muffins.

https://youtu.be/SwYN7mTi6HM?si=U-mtyeA4J58toRis

To Wessenden for bracken bashing in the rain. We were: Geoff, Philip, Ben, Paul, myself, Dianne, Philip H.

Let's get lost

Lost, and found.

 A twofer today. Philip and I went to Slaithwaite Gate to do some weeding and straightening. Geoff, Dave, Tanya and Dianne were at Wholestone Moor recovering stakes and tubes.

I found a second lost mattock (other one was at Butterley). Not ideal.

https://youtu.be/2coQYvn72cA

I wish I never saw the sunshine

A mysterious hooded figure (Kayleigh)

To Wessenden, to do some weeding and reclamation of materials. We were; myself, Kayleigh, Geoff, Dave, Philip, Dianne, Sam, Jack, Ptol, Peter, Paul, and Stephen. Cake was fruit and walnut sponge. Weather was decidedly mixed, but the wind and rain kept the midges away.

https://youtu.be/AtEmjwI2a7Q

Hornets! Hornets!

 Another solo morning maintaining the recently planted hedge along Old Mount Road. Almost stood in a ground wasp nest (quite like regular wasps, but smaller and live in a nest i the ground).

https://youtu.be/QFx5tP8JdPI

Fifteen

Up to Scammonden to weed some trees planted 2 seasons ago. We were; myself, Dave, Philip, Dianne, Stephen, Hap, Baljit's daughter (sorry Hap, you'll have to remind me of name and spelling). Cake was vegan malt loaf made by Ann.

https://youtu.be/Pb-K2tXWK4w

Alone and I

Did a couple of hours solo work weeding and tidying hedge planting on Old Mount Road.

https://youtu.be/qbd0oDkSqVQ

Junior's farm

Team led by Philip did some weeding at Meal Hill.

More info. to follow.

Harry being junior?

https://youtu.be/5Jpc9oZynyw

Butterfly

Geoff, hungry caterpillar

 Back to Wholestone for more stick and guard removal/retrieval.

Attendees were Geoff, Tanya, Ben, Steve G., Jack, Dave, and Dianne.

Geoff and Tanya took photos, but seemed very obsessed with flora and fauna this week.

https://youtu.be/knbmKDUYDXc

I am on a bit of a Herbie Hancock jag lately, so that's what you are getting to listen to. Technically the oak eggar (above) becomes a moth. But there isn't a Herbie Hancock tune about moths.