Scammonden and Meltham Cop

Lovely sunny morning with snow still on the ground (and piled up alongside roads). Myself, Philip, Dave, Neil, Jess and Andrew went to Scammonden and planted 120 Oak and Rowan. Had fruit cake, and looked at the Heron's meeting in the trees on the opposite side of the reservoir like they did last year. Trevor, Peter, Dianne and Ben went to Meltham Cop and staked and guarded 200 trees.  Just one more Saturday of planting left? Then a nice rest.

Dave, Andrew, Jess and Neil

Last round at Parkwood

This week we all stuck together and went to Parkwood to plant some Woodland Trust trees. This had been planned for last weekend with Lindley Infant school,  but the big blizzard put the kibosh on that. And the fact that it was Easter Weekend meant we had far fewer participants from Lindley School than usual. They missed a lovely morning, and homemade Easter nest chocolate cakes. We were myself, Philip, Dave, Rob, Richard, Geoff, Dianne, Jess, Trevor, Peter, Andrew, Yolande and friend (sorry, didn't get name). We planted approx. 400 trees.

Plenty of cakes left to eat in the pub, where the conversation ranged widely from Quidditch rules to lost woolly hats and electrocution.

Hedges, Pines, and Shelter belts

Eating cake and admiring our handiwork. Remy, me, Hap and Cath.

A three team effort today. One set - myself, Geoff, Cath, Remy and Hap- went to West Slaithwaite and planted a 200 tree hedge, plus 60 other assorted trees. Philip, Dave, Andrew, Peter and Guy were at Pasture Wood and planted 150 Scots Pine. And the Senior Section were again at Meltham Cop. So all in all a lot got done. A select but grateful few made it back to the Sair for 1pm. Two or three more weeks and we will be done for the season. Cake was the ever popular flapjack with fruity filling.

And thanks again to Tara and family for a very generous donation to Society funds.

Cath, hedge, trees.

Replanting at Scammonden

Ben, and Jess

Today we were at Scammonden Reservoir replanting some trees for Yorkshire Water. We were also able to retrieve some stakes and guards for use at other sites. It wasn't a terribly nice morning, cold and sleeting, but the group spirit stayed mostly buoyant. Especially when the cake was brought out. We were: Jess, Philip, Dave, Geoff, Hap, Stephen, Peter, Ben, Duncan (and Harvey the dog). The Senior Section, Brian, Trevor, Peter and honorary member Neil, went to Meltham Cop to begin planting the trees bought with Granville Shaw's legacy.

Finishing up at Parkwood

Packing up, job done. 2500 trees in total.

Not strictly true that, we will back at Parkwood in a couple of weeks with some Woodland Trust trees and Lindley Owls, but today we planted the last of the Kirklees Environment Unit funded trees, 500 Hazel. Glorious sunny morning, enjoyed by: myself, Philip, Geoff, Ben, Cath, Remy, Duncan, Sophie (and Harvey the dog), Pierre-Alexandre, Claudine, Maxime, Edouard, Jess, Peter, Peter, Ramsay, Trevor and Neil. We were also joined by Richard, Mel and their family. Cake was a very nice chocolate sponge, enjoyed by adults and children alike.

Another 500+ trees planted at Parkwood

Ropey photo I know, but you can see the nascent hedge, and all the trees planted in the field in the distance.

Today we we planted 300 Hawthorn and 200 Ossier Willow at Parkwood, plus some Oak. The Hawthorn will formed a hedge along the top edge of one of the fields. This hedge can later be used for hedge laying practice. The Ossier Willow has been planted for a source of basket making materials, and filled a small area next to the Hawthorn hedge, and also made up what will be a Willow hut next to the Golcar food co-ops allotments. The Willow hut was planted by Richard and Rob, and the other members of the Golcar co-op.
Tree Society folk were: Ben, Philip, myself, Stephen, Peter, Hap, Geoff, Remy, Duncan (and Harvey the dog) and Dave. Planting some oaks in the adjoining field were Brian, Peter, Ramsay, Trevor and Dianne. Cake was a very nice coconut and lime sponge.

Then we retired to the Sair in Linthwaite for our mid-season meeting. Dianne provided us all with soup and bread. And the meeting went quickly as several present wished to get home to watch the rugby.

Parkwood and Pasture Wood, again.

Philip, Guy, Dave, Andrew, Hap and Stephen

Today we split into two groups again, the senior team going to Parkwood, Golcar and rest visiting Pasture Wood, Marsden. The day started frosty and a little cloudy but gradually warmed up and by eleven o'clock it felt warm and sunny, even Spring-like. We planted in excess of 150 Scots pine and Italian alder at Pasture Wood. As with all the work here this season, these quick-growing, hardy species are being planted amongst the existing trees to try and improve their slow growth rate on this exposed site by providing more shelter from the elements. It's slow going here as the terrain is so steep and uneven and much time is spent getting about the site and trying not to fall over. It's hard work. Also, the nature of the work does not help as infilling with trees ranging over a wide area makes the  ergonomics of the process hard to optimise. Despite Simon's absence we had cake courtesy of Simon's Mum and Philip who picked it up from Marsden on the way to the site. It was a delicious light fruit cake. At Pasture Wood we were, Geoff, Philip, Andrew, Stephen, Hap, Ben, Dave, Remy and Guy. Not sure of the exact turnout at Parkwood (or what trees were planted) but definitely present were, Brian, Trevor and Peter, and with a rare guest appearance from Bob. Afterwards Philip and Guy went off to a pruning event at Old Ground organised by Duncan.

Geoff

Cop Hill with Scouts

The Cop Hill plantation was planted some 16 years ago. A very difficult site, very high up and a former tip area. Initial planting struggled but subsequent planting of Italian alder has resulted in a decent copse. Last Saturday Huddersfield North Scout leaders were on a training weekend camping in the nearby Scout wood at the top of Merrydale. Guy and Phillip gave an introduction and trained on the maintenance / mangement of the copse which included planting an additional 15 Italian Alder. Tree guards and stakes were removed, the oaks were formatively pruned  and any larch that were shading the oaks had the shading branches removed. About 16 workers including Guy, Phillip and myself completed the maintenance. It would be great to plant an under storey of holly within the copse to secure the site. Duncan.