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City of Trees – the Firs Plantation

May 2, 2018 by Julian

On Sunday 22nd April we volunteered for the City of Trees project.

City of Trees is an innovative and exciting movement set to re-invigorate Greater Manchester’s landscape by transforming underused, unloved woodland and planting a tree for every man, woman and child who lives in the region – within a generation.  City of Trees is part of the Northern Forest project: a 25-year vision to plant 50 million trees across the North of England, stretching from Liverpool to Hull.

Working in the Firs Plantation, a community woodland in Sale, we helped with planting oak, hazel and cherry saplings.  A job well done!

Before starting work
Planting in progress
Volunteers at work
Sapling in guard
Planting complete

 

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Posted in Woodland management | Tagged |

Wintry coppicing at Spud Wood

March 21, 2018 by Julian

This past Sunday saw our final visit for this season to the Woodland Trust’s Spud Wood.  Wintry conditions had returned and although snow wasn’t exactly thick on the ground it was very chilly – good reason to keep moving!  The Friends’ usual excellent home-made parkin pulled us through and we finished the planned area of hazel coppicing.  And of course a local robin gave some encouragement too.

Volunteers at work
Wheelbarrow
Log pile
Feeding a robin

 

Posted in Coppicing, Woodland management | Tagged , |

Hedgelaying on the Middlewood Way

March 5, 2018 by Julian

The last Sunday of February saw our first hedgelaying of 2018 (after our abandoned plan for hedgelaying at Spud Wood earlier in the month).  We had a very cold but bright day on the Middlewood Way and worked on a good section of hedge with Ed from the Cheshire East Rangers.

We’re back at Spud Wood on Sunday 18th March so might yet get some more hedgelaying this season!

Volunteers at work
Laid stem
Laid hedge

Posted in Hedgelaying | Tagged , |

Return to Spud Wood

February 11, 2018 by Julian

Today we were back at the Woodland Trust’s Spud Wood.  The weather wasn’t as kind as during our visit in January, shifting from hail to bright sunshine and back again, but nonetheless we made some good progress with the coppicing of hazel and some other woodland thinning.  We put the possible hedgelaying on hold for today, although we might yet make a start on it when back on 18th March.  Thanks again to the Friends of Spud Wood for the welcome and for fortifying us with home-made cake!

Log pile
Coppiced hazel

Posted in Coppicing, Woodland management | Tagged , | 1 Comment »

Elusive snow in the Peaks

January 24, 2018 by Julian

This past weekend was our first residential weekend of the year.  We were working as usual with the Peak Park Conservation Volunteers, but the weekend was a little disrupted – not so much by snow as by the constant forecast of possible heavy snow!

Plans for our activities therefore had to be altered but nonetheless we were able to work on Saturday on the removal of a fence which had previously been part of a project to protect an important habitat for water shrews.  The land is no longer grazed by livestock so the need for the fence has gone and access to the brook’s bank has been restored.

By Sunday morning the snow was starting to fall so, with our other activities having been cancelled, we had the chance of a walk to enjoy it!

The water shrew – information sign
Volunteers – working on removing fence
Volunteer – working on removing fence
Dog exploring
Volunteers – working on removing fence
Volunteers – working on removing fence
Unloading the vehicle
Sign to Hathersage and Grindleford
Snow

Posted in Fencing, Residential weekends | Tagged |

Spud Wood – great start to 2018!

January 7, 2018 by Julian

Thanks to all who came out today to help with coppicing work at Spud Wood, a Woodland Trust site.  A great start to 2018 – a good turn-out from SACV, a warm welcome from Friends of Spud Wood, lovely sunshine, an excellent site – and homemade cake!  Here’s to more days like this for the rest of the year.

 

Volunteers in action
Log pile
Canine volunteer with sawdust

Posted in Coppicing, Woodland management | Tagged , | 1 Comment »

Hedgelaying in the snow

December 10, 2017 by Julian

An appropriately wintry day for our last activity of 2017 today: hedgelaying with the National Trust at Alderley Edge.  Under the leaden skies and the light snowfall, the curious robins kept us company – and we kept warm with the thought of our annual seasonal get-together to follow.  So, plenty of mince pies, jacket potatoes, mulled wine and the rest – thanks to Elaine for the excellent catering and hospitality!

Here’s to 2018!

SACV hedgelaying at Alderley Edge

SACV hedgelaying at Alderley Edge

Posted in Hedgelaying | Tagged , |

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