Hey

Geoff defrosting  trees - or a garden water feature with gnome?

In attendance: Adam, Adrian, Ben, David, Diane, Geoff, Harriet, John, Jon, Philip, Simon, Stephen, Steve, Tanya.

Adrian arrived with pastries to celebrate his 60th. As Simon was away, anarchy ruled with an early break to let the trees defrost. 

Photo of Geoff de-frosting trees in a small brook, taking care not to let all the soil wash downstream.

The shelter belt was finished by planting the Hazel and Wild Service Trees in the dryer areas. Guelder Rose were planted as a woodland edge back from the fence-line as requested. The few remaining trees were used to fill up two of the field corners planted the previous week.

Cake was curranty sponge.

I was away this Saturday, so music is Philip's choice...

https://youtu.be/eNu0EKnrv8U

Pocket knife

Jess politely offers the knife to Geoff.

Today we were at Hey, looking down on Slaithwaite. We were planting some shelter corners and shelter belt on farmland. There were furry cattle, pet sheep, a really big horse, and a dog that loved to walk on walls.

We were: Geoff, Jess, Dianne, Tanya, Cristina, Dave, Philip, Ben, Sue, Stephen, Steve, Jon, Peter and Hap.

240 plants went in. With potentially another 225 to go in? If there is space.

Nice PJ Harvey tune this week.

https://youtu.be/OSOkO3Vg8Ns

Something on the side

This week were on Marsden recreation trust land, creating a shelter belt, of sorts. In this case it won't be livestock that will be getting relief, but golfers?

We were: myself, Stephen, Adrian, John, Jon, Lee, Philip, Geoff, Peter, Dianne, Adam, Tanya, Dave, Steve and Hap.

We planted 285 trees, with a similar number still to do.

Cake was Nutella sponge.

Not an entirely appropriate song, but funny. Well it was either this or Toby Keith's "Shitty golfer".

https://youtu.be/_J1jIZD4vCk

Click clack - I like trains

"Toot toot" went Granville the TransPennine engine.

Today there was cake, sweets, biscuits and we all waved at a train and it tooted at us.

No, it wasn't a trip out for the local infants school, we were planting trees at Standedge.

We were: myself, Philip, Steve, Stephen, Peter, Jon, Janette, Simon, Ben, Sue, Cristina, Dianne, Tanya, John, Hap, Adrian, Dave, Cath and Geoff.

We planted 105 Oak, 45 Aspen, 45 Rowan, 30 Guelder Rose, 30 Dogwood and 30 Crab apple.

Cake was Pineapple upside down cake, plus Hap had brought a selection of Indian sweets, which were hugely popular, and Dianne brought Jaffa cakes. I am not sure we earned all those calories.

Lots of train songs so two today, one from me and one from Steve, can you guess...

https://youtu.be/7QBkD1Xub3k

https://youtu.be/l-7WkdAdMgU

Paisley Park

Larks in the park (not a park, or Paisley)

On a relatively warm day we finished off planting at Ainsley/Paisley Barn.

We inter-planted the Oak and Scots Pine we planted last week with Aspen, Hornbeam and Rowan and also used them to make a woodland edge to those Oak areas. A three-tree-deep hedge of Blackthorn, Guelder Rose and Holly ensured that the fantastic view of Marsden was maintained. Nearer the house a banking adjacent to the A62 was planted with Guelder Rose, Dogwood and few Holly.

We numbered 16 volunteers today. We were: Adrian, Dave, Steve, Geoff, John, Ben, Hap, Jess, Harriet, Stephen, Lee, Chris, Simon, Jonathan, Peter and Philip.

A total of 255 trees were planted.

Cake was chocolate-y.

https://youtu.be/1mhL5ynXzB0

The Ladykillers

With the railway tracks behind and below, Cath considers throwing Philip over.

This week we were above the Tunnel ends in Marsden, literally. Planting in a field and garden.

We were: myself, Ben, Philip, Dave, Steve, Stephen O., Hap, John, Peter, Cath and Geoff.

Cake was a light jam sponge, a relief after Christmas richness.

Being above the railway tunnel entrances made me think of the film the Ladykillers, and with the look Cath appears to be giving Philip it should probably read Lady killer.

https://youtu.be/vzGpUdKB3gQ

Christmas must be something more

A volunteer getting beamed up to the Enterprise?

A number of selfless and intrepid souls braved the rain today for the last planting session before Christmas.

They were: Mel, Philip, Jess, Lee, Ben, Sue, Dave, Geoff, Adrian, Stephen, Simon, John, Cath, Hap and Peter. John had been and collected the Sticky cranberry gingerbread from Ann's, and Dianne provided food back at the Sair.

These people earned their Christmas. Lighweights like myself and Tanya just turned up at the pub.

As I understand it they planted the 22 scraps from the last session plus 90 more oak, 30 Scots pine and 30 Holly. Finishing Wholestone for this season.

https://youtu.be/iXrRaw4md-E

Double trouble

Trees as far as the eye can see, along the track.

This week we were back at Wessenden attempting to finish the 500 trees for United Bank of Carbon/Safestyle.

We were: Susan and her twin Jenny(!), Philip, Dave, Geoff, Hap, John, Simon, other Simon (me), Steve, Stephen, Jess, Harriet, Ben and Adrian.

We planted 126 Oak, 45 Scots Pine, 30 Holly and 30 Aspen. Which by my calculations leaves 30 Scots pine and 15 Aspen still to do. A Thursday group project?

Weather was cold and dry, cake was Bakewell.

https://youtu.be/h3biycmcex4