Far Owlers

A new site this morning, at the very top end of the Colne Valley, planting up a couple of fields on unused farmland. We were planting bare-rooted trees also. Usually we plant trees which have a small root ball and soil, and we protect those small trees with a stake and a guard. Todays trees were bigger than usual, and were planted with no stakes and guards. Its much quicker planting and the trees are much cheaper to buy - there has been some debate as to whether this is the future. It is fine if the trees are planted on land where they will be safe from grazing animals, but where there is any chance of nibbling then stakes and guards at least let the trees get established. The weather was poor, but maybe not quite as bad as the weather forecast made out. Driving sleety rain all morning, but it didn't become torrential. This morning's cakes were Raspberry buns, but to be honest it was too cold and wet to really enjoy them. Last year we were blessed with a load of sunny saturdays, this year its been pretty poor so far. And here's a picture of me, looking cold and wet. Today we were also joined by a small group of local young people, Enviroyouth, who helped with the planting. While we were planting, part of the field was being fenced off to protect the trees from grazing, the last picture is of the fencing contractors tractor.

Holme Bank Wood and Butterley, again.

A very productive morning. We returned first of all to Holme Bank Wood, which we have grown to dislike because of its steepness and rockiness. This morning, though, we finished there for this year, planting around 60 more trees in amongst the established Birch. The site is in the photo, above our cars parked on the Butterley reservoir track. The weather was variable, but had its good moments. When we'd finished at Holme Bank Wood we had our break, including a very nice sticky ginger cake, and then took another 45 trees over to the far side of Butterley Reservoir. These were Mountain Ash, and we planted them further up the slopes, in clumps, where the Bracken ends and the moor grass begins. Picture below is of David, Dave and Cath, gazing heroically into the distance... or looking at a van on the other side of the valley.

Holme Bank Wood

For a bit of variety this week we were planting on the other side of Butterley reservoir, at Holme Bank Wood. The weather was appalling, cold and windy, with drifting rain and low cloud. The site was also challenging, being steep and very, very, rocky. We have planted here before, so had some idea what to expect, but it is still dispiriting to spend 10 minutes digging a hole and only have a pile or rocks to show for it. Birch thrive on this hillside, and are even self-seeding from established trees. Today we were planting some Hazel and Oak amongst those Birch, on the upper slopes of the wood. As I say, the weather was truly awful, but somehow it wasn't as bad a morning as it might of been, the good company helps. I'd estimate we planted 60 trees (but I'm prepared to alter that estimate if anyone thinks different). Thankyou to Geoff for promptly emailing me his mobile phone photos. My camera stayed at home today because of the weather. This week's home made cake was oaty biscuits. Oh, and I broke my flask, that 'll teach me to take a cheapo thermos along instead of my stainless steel one. As a memo to myself, we did leave approx 60 trees on site, including about 30 Hawthorn. Photos are of Philip, Dave, and Cath (with me in my yellow jacket just in shot).

Return to Butterley

So, yesterday was the second saturday of the season, and we returned to our Butterley reservoir site to continue planting. The weather was better, we even managed to have our tea break in the sunshine. We were again planting next to the old conifer plantation. We started planting this site last year, and we had intended to blend our planting with the conifers by planting some Scots Pine amongst our usual trees. Sadly the ground has proved too wet for quite a few of our little Scots pine and they have died off. So we have replaced the dead ones with more Alder. On the drier parts of the site we have planted Oak, and some Mountain Ash. As we get further away from the conifer plantation we will also plant some Rowan. We try to plant in the grassier parts of the hillside, avoiding the beds of Heather, Bilberry, and Bracken where we can, since these give vital food and shelter to local birdlife like the Twite. We got quite a lot done, considering the steepness and wetness of the site. Our homemade cake today was Bakewell tart. The day was also notable for Dave having a new flask. Geoff was very impressed, as you can see from the photo.