Foggy Monday morning

For a bit of fresh air and exercise I went up to Scammonden and retrieved 64 deer stakes, and 43 deer tubes.

Bare rooted at Butterley

The folks on the hillside.

One of the tags from our TCV trees.

This week we began planting 450 trees that came to us courtesy of the TCV Big Tree Plant initiative. Unlike our usual supplies these came bare rooted, which caused some consternation. Bare rooted require a slightly different planting technique, and care has to be taken that the tree roots don't dry out. We were: myself, Stephen, Peter T, Geoff, Duncan (and Harvey the dog), Remy, Cath, Vashti, Jess, Andrew, Philip, and Ben. We think we planted around 200 trees, but it is harder to keep count of the bare rooted sort, as they come in big sacks, rather than in handy packs of 15. As a note for next week, we left 95 deer stakes, 120 deer guards, and around 45 hare stakes and guards on site.

Once again we could see the Senior Section on a far hillside, removing guards at Marsden Golf course.

Fetching, carrying and de-guarding

Everyone in awe of Philip's knot-tying skills.

While we wait for our next deliveries of trees we occupied ourselves by reclaiming deer guards from Scammonden (Duncan, Harvey the dog, Geoff, Dave) and transporting new stakes and guards onto the Butterley site (myself, Vashti, Hap, Stephen, Philip, Ben, Jess and Andrew). From Butterley we could see Brian, Trevor and Dianne working away on a far hillside removing guards. Butterley is a great site, just so flipping far from any road.

Blogging about logging

Dave and I spent a couple of hours moving the last of the logs from Throstle Green to the Nursery drying shed. We used the moisture meter on them and fresh cut they read 27-30%. I think the white coloured logs are Poplar, and the orange, Alder.

Our logs

Timber and no tantrums

Vashti, Harvey the dog, Duncan, Stephen, Alison, Guy's arse, Ben, headless Steve, 1/3 of Remy.

Today we were at Throstle Green Farm for a morning of woodland management, involving formative pruning and timber extraction. We were: myself, Stephen (with chainsaw), Philip (with Chainsaw), Duncan (with Harvey the dog), Ben, Remy, Alison, Cath, Vashti, Andrew, Steve, Dave, Neil, Julia, Guy, Mandy (and friend). We had mad christmas style cake, and soup warmed up on the fire.

Outlane antics

People eating cake, and pulling a variety of funny faces.

This morning we were planting a classic farmland shelter belt at Outlane. Shelter belts of trees help provide respite from the wind for livestock and crops, and are much appreciated on upland farms.

We were myself, Geoff, Vashti, Brian, Trevor, Peter W, Hap, Ben, Philip, Duncan (and Harvey the dog) Dianne and Jess. For the first hour myself, Geoff, Ben and Vashti went to Scammonden to reclaim 100 deer stakes and guards. Then we joined the others at the planting site, where we helped finish planting the 210 trees, Oak, Italian Alder, Field Maple and Wild Cherry. Cake was lemon drizzle.

Wholestone Moor week 2 - less sunny.

"Coconut Kiss", nicer than last Christmas's choc mint liqueur.

So, our second week at Wholestone Moor. We were: myself, Philip, Peter W, Peter T, Duncan (and Harvey the dog), Remy, Ben, Ramsay, Geoff, Dianne, Vashti, Cath, Steve, Stephen, and Andrew. Cake was Bakewell tart, which everyone loved, except Ramsay who prefers savory snacks, and Remy who won't eat cake that isn't chocolate.The cold was also kept at bay by Peter's liqueur laced coffee, Dave's coconut cocktail drink, and Andrew's bottle of whisky. I'd hate to give the wrong impression, tree planting does not usually involve so much alcohol, I blame Christmas. We planted another 300 Italian Alder and Sessile Oak, in areas where Birch had mysteriously failed. The weather could have been kinder, cool, and rainy. But we were all wrapped up well.

Vashti and Dianne put on brave faces.

First day at Wholestone Moor

Dave and Philip enjoying the winter sun.

Today a squad of us went to Wholestone Moor for a first day of "beating up" at that site. First planted 10 or 12 years ago the site has suffered from some mysterious Birch die back, and generally slow growth of all specimens. We are due to put in 1000 trees here over the next few weeks, using longer tubes to keep those pesky deer at bay. Today we began by planting 90 Italian Alder and 90 Oak. We were: myself, Hap, Steve, Stephen, Peter, Philip, Geoff, Cath, Neil, Julia, and Remy. Lovely winter sun, and not too cold.