Saturday 17 September 2011

Throstle Green Farm

Before all the work, a view of Dave.


After all the work, a view of Slaithwaite viaduct.

More work at Throstle Green Farm this week, though we had Philip and his chainsaw to speed things along. Otherwise we were myself, Ben, Dan, Dave, Neil, Stephen, Guy and Mandy. We worked hard all morning cutting down Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Willow and Hazel which had begun to obscure the landowners view. And we got a bit of firewood out of it too. Cake was Apple Turnovers. Very nice. Back to the Sair afterwards for beer, though we are still waiting for them to start brewing their own again.


Saturday 3 September 2011

Throstle Green Farm


Formatively pruned, creating a lovely promenade through the Ash and Oak trees.

A good green gym workout this morning, with an hours formative pruning and then another hour cutting back some blackthorn and hazel.

The site was planted around 10 years ago and the owner has asked us to cut back some of the trees planted in front of the houses - to preserve the view of the valley. It will take a couple of days in October with chainsaws to do it properly, but myself, Ann, Ben and Dave made a tentative start with some handsaws. For the trees at the sides of the houses some serious pruning was needed. Homemade oat biscuits at break.


Ben hard at work destroying Blackthorn.

Saturday 20 August 2011

Summer survey walk

Today's mission was to boldly go where we had gone before, and take a look to see what difference we had made. We took a walking tour of sites planted in the last few years up the western end of the Colne Valley. Myself, Dan, Ben, Geoff, Neil, Julia and Heidi - and we were joined latterly by Dave and Guy. Cake was a lovely blackcurrant jam slice. And we ended at the Riverhead Pub in Marsden.

First stop was Glen View, Marsden, where we peered over the wall to admire 2 years growth of the 1000 odd trees planted in those fields.


Second stop was Huck Hill, Standedge. Planting took place across several winters here, and the early stuff overlooking the Tunnel End is doing well. Stuff further back and higher up is growing more slowly, but growing.


Then further west to the area around Green Owlers. Spanswicks field is doing rather better than we expected, with strong growth down the damp bottom, slower growth on the dryer upward slopes.


On up round the path to what was Andrassi's, which again is growing well. We had feared goats or pigs had been put in there.



Last, and sadly least, we walked down through Green Owlers Clough. The top end is looking quite good, but there have been lots of Birch die off lower down, and it looks a bit threadbare.




Saturday 9 July 2011

Helme and Hey Laithe

Trees we planted 7 years ago at Hey Laithe.

Quite a good turnout for a Summer Saturday, Guy, Philip, Andrew, Stephen, Geoff and Dan. I was there too, but was on light duties due to hacking cough, and stayed at the nursery to potter about. The chaps went up to Helme, Meltham, for bracken bashing, and Guy did some White Rose Forest networking with the landowner. Then all back down to Hey Laithe to retrieve another 100 stakes for re-use, and collect old guards for disposal. Tidy types us. Cake was banana and walnut, with biscuits provided for the nut-allergic. Then back to the Sair for a pint, or four.

Geoff and Andrew wrestle with a rafia bag in the rain.