22 FEb 09 Styal

Eight volunteers turned out and spent the day clearing a patch of land between the mill pond and the mill.

Ivy, bramble, and nettles were removed from the area, so that a preliminary survey can be performed.

There is a long term plan to install a fish ladder to allow migration past the weir. No photographs - I didn't manage to take any that were worth publishing.

15 Feb 09 Alderly Edge - Hedge

11 volunteers turned out on a damp morning and spent the day hedge laying. There was also a group of volunters from (I think) BTCV on the same site.

The hedge had been started by a third group on a previous day - leaving a large pile of brash that needed to be burnt.

This hedge needed to be laid "Cheshire style - and so looks quite different from the one we have been doing at Dunham Massey. We were quite suprised to find that we managed to burn all the brash by the end of the day - the fire that was lit on corrugated iron in an area with the turf removed to protect the vegetation from it. It was the most difficult fire lighting I've had for a long time but once it got going it went well.

Speke 8 Feb 08

A quote from Sue - for another day where I've missed
It was quality not quantity on this workday, as only Patrick, Adrian & I travelled over to Speke to do rhody bashing.

Despite the adverse weather predictions, it was a really nice day, cold but dry until 2.30pm, when the snow flakes started to fall.

It didn’t come down heavily, but enough to encourage us to pack up and travel back.

Although numbers were small, Ian the warden seemed pleased with what we achieved.

He’d started a fire for us which Adrian looked after during the day, so we were able to burn most of what we cut.

Thai meal Wilmslow 3 February

The support for the proposed visit to the Green Room Theatre was so great that I was unable to get enough tickets for everyone. Instead we braved the icy conditions for a Thai curry and beer at the Boddington and Dragon in Wilmslow. The curries and fun banter were enjoyed by all in a relaxing evening.

Poynton Ceilidh 31 January 2009

We had an amazing turnout to the ceilidh, with 18 of us skipping, spinnng, clapping and do-si-do-ing around Poynton community centre. The room was packed, so we also had to be careful not to knock anybody over with an over-zealous twirl. Some people were so energetic that they were sporadically enjoying the refreshment of the sub-zero temperatures outside! Since everybody enjoyed themselves so much, I think we may be making a return visit later in the year.

Winter Gardening...at Biddulph Grange 1 Feb 09

An edited quote from "Charlie" to the rest of the group - seeing as I've just missed 2 more events.
Most of you missed a really good day yesterday - only 6 of us made it, but we had a splendid bonfire, cut back some rhodi for the head gardener and ate sultana cake - and all in some lovely winter sunshine. Those few late flakes of the white stuff were certainly a sign of things to come though! Marita was out yesterday and filled us in on the previous night's reveling - it sounded like everyone had a great time at the ceilidh. ... And I gather last Sunday's workday was an equally big success with a good turn out.

Rhodi Bashing in the Peaks

Twelve volunteers including a number of new faces turned out and spent the day "Rhodi Bashing" near Hayfield on the edge of the peak district.