The phantom tree strangler of Butterley

So, I went up to Butterley to replace some failed trees this morning, putting in 15 Scots Pine and 15 Rowan on a patch we planted with Emma and John Gray. I looked over in the next clough to see how our trees were doing there and discovered a dozen or so trees had had their tubes "strangled". The tubes had been bent, twisted and scrunched, presumably to stop the trees growing out. It is quite a remote spot, and mostly hidden from public view. So someone has deliberately and surreptitiously gone in there and done this. A Twite loving twitcher? Fighting back against the dreaded trees?

Last day of the Season

Stephen, Dave, and a box of scones.

Today was the last day of the planting Season. Myself, Geoff, Philip, Dave, Remy, Duncan (+dog), Peter, Stephen, Hap, Guy and Mandy all went to Pasture Wood above Marsden. Planting the last of the Scots Pine and Alder, plus some Hawthorn. And put taller tubes on some Oaks that had been struggling due to sheep nibbling . Cake was fresh homemade scones with butter and raspberry jam. And it was a fittingly nice and warm sunny morning to end the Season on.

The Senior Section, Ramsay, Brian, Trevor, Peter (and Ben?) went to Meltham Cop to finish up there.

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.