Pale shelter

Very rare instance of proper before and after photo's today.

We were planting a classic farmland shelter belt up above Butterley reservoir, Marsden. When grown these trees and shrubs will give livestock some respite from the cruel winds and rains coming from Lancashire.

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

I was spoilt for choice for the shelter theme'd tune. But went for classic 80's.

https://youtu.be/l_kN_DJQJ3U

Heaven

Dean, Lee, Steve, Adrian, Ben and Sue. And Marsden

Today we were back in the clough above Crowther Laithe Farm, Marsden. We added 100 Scots Pine, 50 Oak, and 30 Gorse to the older (and struggling) trees already there. Thanks to Dave's efforts we used almost entirely recycled tree protection for today's planting. And retrieved more for future re-use.

We were: myself, Philip, Adrian, Dave, Geoff, Dean, Sue, Tanya, Ben, Lee, Guy, Ros, Stephen, and Steve.

Cake was coffee walnut.

This week's tune is here partly because I was playing it in the car on the way there. I had another one of those Proustian moments where a tune moved me unexpectedly, reminding me of being much younger. That happens a fair bit these days. Sheesh, being 56. But lyrically the song might also be taken to describe the Colne Valley!

https://youtu.be/9bKW7JkHKm8

Myself and Philip hatch a cunning planting plan.

Two tribes

Stephen, and another larch down.

A day of two tribes.

Tribe one comprised: Philip, Susan, Dave, Adrian, Steve, Hap, Jess, Lee, Cath and Ben. They went to Royd House Wood to reclaim some trees that look to have been felled without permission and left lying there. Someone improving their view? Some other thinning may have taken place.

Tribe two comprised: myself, Stephen and John. We went to Throstle Green Farm and took down 4 large Larch nurse species, two dead Alder, a Pine of some sort, two small Ash trees, and a small Oak that was collateral damage when one of the Larch fell on it. There is still scope to remove more of the tall nurse species at Throstle Green Farm.

A cold and damp but productive morning.

https://youtu.be/r8DFDCEJ0co

They're red hot (hot tamales)

Logs, including felled dead stuff.

Today was the now traditional pre-Christmas woodland management session followed by food (delicious hot chilli made by Jess).

We were: myself, Philip, Susan, Stephen, Hap, Cath, Neil, Stephen O., Geoff, John, Dave, Duncan and Harvey, Jess and Dianne.

Half time cake was a new recipe, sticky cranberry gingerbread. Very good.

We were working at Throstle Green Farm, where we felled a number of dead Alder, a similar number of tall Larch nurse species, and a small number of Oak, Ash and Birch prunings or thinnings.

https://youtu.be/TOXXh24HnmY