Hedge laying at Alderley Edge on 17th December 2017

Six of us braved the cold wet weather forecast and met in the NT car park next to the Wizard Inn at 9:30 for a day's hedge laying at Hill Top Farm.  We drove to the worksite in one car and the ranger's 4x4.  The hedge being laid was new to MNTV and had been started last week by Chester NTV and (on a different day) the Sale & Altrincham Volunteers.

Andy S and Martin were hedge laying newbies and ranger Tim gave a helpful five minute intro to the craft.  Hedges are always laid uphill to minimise the strain on the trees' cut joints.  Today's hedge was a mixture of hawthorn and blackthorn.  The latter has wickedly sharp thorns that are to be avoided at all costs!

Throughout the day, Daniel hedge laid with Martin and Christine hedge laid with Andy S.  Andy H and Adrian got the bonfire going after a lot of perseverance and we were able to burn all the brash we cut.  At elevenses and at lunch we all ate slices of Daniel's Christmas Tree cake - topped with green icing and Smarties baubles.

You won't find a cake like this in the shops!

Thankfully the weather was drier than forecast and we worked on the sheltered side of the hedge.  All afternoon we had a robin for company.  We reached a natural stop at 2:30pm when we had finished laying the trees we had cut and the ones that last week's groups had left unlaid, and then turned the fire in.

Today was our 47th workday of 2017.  Thank you to all members of the group for making the year a success, for the fun we've had on workdays and for the valuable work we've done for the Trust.

Happy Christmas and best wishes for 2018.

Daniel Black
MNTV Chairman

Rhodybashing at Thurstaston on 10 December 2017 - cancelled

The forecast of snow/bad weather put paid to today's planned rhodybash at Thurstaston on the Wirral.

It's always disappointing to lose a workday but we have been lucky that this is the first one lost to bad weather in 2017.

See you next week at Alderley Edge for hedge laying.

Daniel

"Season's Greetings" at MADS Little Theatre, Macclesfield

This evening, six of us went to see MADS's production of Sir Alan Ayckbourn's "Season's Greetings".  Jenny Pitcock (one of our members) was Stage Manager and head of set construction.

The play was a hilarious sitcom (a blend of Christmas, family tensions, alcohol, a barmy uncle, Three Little Pigs puppet show and inappropriate presents) and the actors were excellent.  They must have spent hours rehearsing.  The set built by Jenny and her team looked terrific and cleverly showed the four areas in which the play unfolded (sitting room, dining room, hall and stairs).

Thanks to Jenny for bringing the play to our attention.  We all had a great time!

Daniel

MNTV and the Season's Greetings' cast

The tinsel is out, the bakes are baked and Santa is coming too. Yuletide in Yorkshire 2017

Starring:- Matt, Lisa, Geraldine, Madeleine, Tim, Ally, Neil, Pip, Mick and Peter the Ranger

My journey from Edinburgh started with a train trip to Skipton via the very scenic Carlisle to Settle railway travelling through Garsdale station which I am familiar with. There was some snow at Garsdale. I then passed through Dent station which is "The Highest Main Line Station in England".  It is situated 1150 feet above sea level.  It was then all downhill to Skipton, of course, crossing the famous Ribblehead Viaduct and passing Yorkshire's 3 peaks - Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent.

Pen-y-Ghent, the lowest of Yorkshire's 3 peaks

Once at Skipton I was met by Neil. We headed towards the basecamp in Upper Wharfedale but not before checking out the onesies on the market as we drove past.  Once out of Skipton and heading up the dale we stopped in Kettlewell to scout out where we were going to eat dinner later, as the Buck Inn at Buckden is currently closed for refurbishment as it has recently been taken over by new management.  We made our way to Townhead Barn, our base for the next two nights, and made ourselves at home.  (Note to self for next time: take a teabag or two so we can enjoy a hot drink before the stores box arrives later in the evening).  We headed back down the valley to Kettlewell for dinner and crossed paths with Tim on the way so we went back to fetch him and the 3 of us headed to The Bluebell Inn which was quite busy, which didn't surprise us as the Buck Inn was closed as was the Fox and Hounds in Starbotton (next village along).  Once dinner was finished we headed back to base, Tim found himself a bed and we sat and swapped stories whilst we waited for the others to arrive.

Saturday dawned cool and the cloud was hanging low over the valley.  Ranger Peter met us at base and told us that our worksite was across the valley so there was no need for us to drive.  We were to be working in Redmire Wood clearing cherry laurel.  We set off for the short walk to the worksite. Redmire Wood was created for Buckden House (now an outdoor adventure centre) which was the residence of Sir John Charles Ramsden and his wife during 1831-1879.  It was then lived in and cared for by the Stansfield Family until 1938.  The woods themselves were used as a pleasure park and so had lots of interesting and occasionally rare trees.  There are many carriage tracks going up the side of the hill for the residents and guests of the house to enjoy views of the valley.  The laurel had been left and is out of control, so we are carrying on the task of getting rid of it, a task we have been doing for our past visits to Buckden.  There is a lot of laurel to get rid of.

We spent our time lopping, dragging, chopping and burning the cherry laurel.  Neil put in sterling work as the fire master and before long we had a superb fire.  At break time we enjoyed my chocolate brownies and Lisa's son's ginger loaf.  Both were a big hit.  After first break, Matt and Lisa headed back to the base camp to start cooking our evening meal.  More on that later.  The rest of us carried on working, clearing a considerable amount which was actually only a small area compared to the vast amount on the hillside.  This is our third year doing this task and those of us who had been on other weekends here can certainly see a difference.  After lunch, which included rolls made by Lisa's son Ben, who is a keen baker and cake maker - he is looking to get a job in that field - Madeline and Geraldine took over looking after the fire.  We finished work at 3pm so whilst Peter took some of the group to see four very tall Giant Redwood trees higher up in the forest, three of us stayed behind as we had seen them before, and tended the fire and tidied up.  Once the 7 of us were reunited at the worksite we grabbed our things and made our way back to base.

Upon arrival back at base Matt and Lisa were busy in the kitchen - they had all the timings of what should be in the oven when, planned to perfection.  We showered and changed into nice clean clothes, some people put their onesies on and others put their pyjamas on.  Dinner was served about 7pm and the table groaned with pain as it was laden with food.  There were 2 types of potatoes, 4 types of vegetables, of course turkey, pigs in blankets, gravy and stuffing!  Thank you and well done to Lisa and Matt for cooking it for us all.  After our first course we then all felt stuffed and decided it was probably sensible to not have pudding quite yet so we did some washing up and then opened our Secret Santa presents all of which were gratefully received.  Pudding time came and it was sticky toffee pudding - we all felt even more stuffed than we had after the first course.

We took a closer look at some of the Secret Santa gifts (Pip was particularly happy with hers) and stack the chairs without knocking them over.  We had had quite a long day so some people headed to bed sooner than others, some played Cards against Humanity (hilarious) and others chatted before we all went to bed.

Sunday was bright but cloudy and it was decided we would go for a short walk.  We breakfasted and Tim headed off home while the rest of us headed for a walk in the direction of Hubberholme and back.  Once back at base we made some lunch, some headed off for a picnic and others ate at base and then departed for home.

To sum up the weekend I will leave you with these words: lots of work done, too much food eaten and not enough sleep had!  I ache all over!  See you next time, MNTV

Have a very Merry Christmas and I will see you in 2018

Ally

Working in the wood yard at Styal on Sunday 26th November 2017

Just 5 of us went to Styal, on a day that was cold and rainy, but we still managed to get quite a bit done though.

The tasks included digging in a wooden frame to make a bed for heeling in saplings which are awaiting transplanting to their permanent home.

Tidying up the yard and finishing off a fence which had been started by Chester group in the week, the fence is to make the yard more secure and to prevent children playing in it.

We also raised the height of the access gate to the yard and a secondary gate which is to give access to the wood at the rear.

Text & photo's by Adrian.

Rhody bash at Hayfield on Sunday 19th November 2017

Nine of us gathered in the Sett Valley Trail car park at 9.30am to meet up with Shane, Miles and Mark, the Kinder, Edale and Dark Peak Rangers. Also we met with David, a free-lance reporter and photographer, who stayed with us for our workday to find out about MNTV, what we do and why we do it!
From the car park, we moved our vehicles to Park Hall to find out what we would be doing during the day.
The morning was to be spent walking through the moors, spread out to cover as large an area as we could between us, trying to spot re-growth of rhody that could be pulled up with their roots. These were then shaken to get most of the 'soil' off and left to dry out so they couldn't re-root.

Walking the moors, trying to spot rhody re-growth

After we all had met back at the cars, it was very late for our morning break but too early for lunch. We had a debate and decided to just have our break so I got out the (shop bought!!) cakes to share around. Once finished, we went to find Shane so we'd know what we would be doing next, but he was being interviewed by David, so we decided to have our lunch as well:-)
By the time we'd finished eating, Shane was able to tell us that we'd be cutting down the established rhody close to where the cars were - so we set to it!

Working hard

As we were working and chatting, we saw the ducks that lived on the pond at Park Hall, a couple of peacocks, heard about the swimming pool (no longer in use!) towards the back of the patch we were cutting and about how it was hoped to create bat highways soon by cutting back the tree's and branches that were too close to the power lines. Such a great way to spend an afternoon.

In the thick of it!

Six of us then went back on the moors with Mark to find more rhody, so we could 'pose' for a photo for David, to accompany his article for the Trust. He hopes it will be accepted by local newspapers and will also help to advertise the great times we have whilst volunteering with MNTV!!!!!

'Posing!!'

Photo's by Adrian

Rhody bash at Lyme Park on Sunday 12th November 2017

Blue skies and a fresh, chill wind, accompanied the group working in Lantern Wood today.

As is usual with rhodybashing, a satisfactory amount was cleared and burnt by the 10 enthusiastic volunteers, fuelled by some very nice cake.

Although there is still a fair bit of rhododendron left in Lantern Wood and a few other spots around the park, the Rangers are starting to think of a time when Lyme Park no longer had a rhody problem!

Text provided by Mick. Photo's by Karin and Adrian.

Fencing work at Hardcastle Crags on 5 November 2017

Today, a select group of three made the hour's journey from Styal to Hardcastle Crags for our third visit of the year.  Harry, one of the three, was a newbie and we assured him that turnouts are usually higher (5 to 10) and sometimes a lot higher (15 last week).

We met Natalie Pownall, Academy Ranger, in the car park at the end of Midgehole Road then drove in her estate vehicle up to the top of Pecket Well.  Today's task was preparatory work ahead of a group upgrading stock fencing around a field.  In all, we carried 60 fence posts approximately 200 metres down to the fence line, set most of them beside the rotten fence posts they will replace and cut back branches overhanging the fence line.

The sun shone down all and we enjoyed a splendid view at lunchtime from a bench beside the Pecket Well war memorial across the Gibson Mill valley to the tiny village of Heptonstall with Hebden Bridge and Stoodley Pike beyond.

Daniel

MNTV walk with Stockport Ramblers visiting Coldwell Clough, Hayfield on Tuesday 31st October 2017

Tricia, Jean, Madeleine and Sue B from MNTV met with 20 or so Stockport Ramblers, led by Sue D (who is also a member of MNTV), in the Sett Valley Trail carpark at Hayfield at 10am.
Sue D had organised this walk as a celebration of the life of Susan Tarr, a hard-working member of MNTV, who was also a keen walker and rambler. Sadly Susan lost her battle with cancer a year ago and, in her memory, MNTV planted 3 Alder trees at Coldwell Clough, Hayfield, because this was one of Susan's favourite National Trust properties to volunteer at.

Follow this link to see the Blog of the tree planting last March:  http://mntv.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/planting-3-alders-in-memory-of-susan.html

Today's walk was to be a celebration of Susan's achievements, her friendship, her fantastic work ethic - always the first to get going on one of our workdays and the last to stop for lunch, her love of cake!, the walks she used to enjoy with Stockport and Marple Ramblers, and the 100 mile walks that she liked to do.
We were light-weights by comparison as todays walk was only about 11 miles (and some of us couldn't even manage all of that!) but would include 2,012ft of ascent!
We set off from the car park, up Chapel Street, left at the top taking a foot path contouring along the hillside via Phoside Farm to Peep O Day, across the main Chapel to Hayfield Road to follow the Pennine Bridleway right to South Head. We went up South Head to the top & had coffee on the other side, this was a welcome break.

We then descended Dimpus Clough to cross the River Sett, ascending around to Coldwell Clough.

Once there, Sue D said a few words in memory of Susan, and the 5 of us from MNTV went down the bank to the trees and had our photo taken in front of the plaque.

After our lunch break, Tricia and Sue B left the rest of the group and walked with one of the Ramblers down towards Hayfield, through the camp site.

The rest of the group carried on across fields to Ashes Farm, Tunstead Clough Farm & eventually Hill Houses, then on towards Farlands to walk anti-clockwise around Kinder Reservoir. From the bottom of William Clough they doubled back along White Brow to the shooting cabin & turned left down the snake path to return to Hayfield via Twenty Trees.

It was a lovely day, it stayed dry mainly and the sun shone a little in parts.

Many thanks to Sue D for organising the walk and making it so special.

Text regarding the route of the walk provided by Sue D.

Woodland work in Chapel Woods, Styal on Sunday 29th Oct 2017

Fifteen of us turned up on a cold, crisp Autumnal morning to meet Craig the Ranger.

We walked from the main carpark to the Cross near the Chapel, where Craig had taken our tools in his vehicle. We then unloaded the tools and carried them to the woods behind the Chapel, where there was already a previous fire site cordoned off by orange netting. Some of our volunteers were keen to get the netting down and get the fire started!

We had various tasks to do which would tidy up the area behind the Chapel and at the start of the woods.

These included removing the ivy from gate posts, fence posts, trees and even an electricity pole where the wire had been completely encased by ivy; cutting down the hedging and tree's along the perimeters to tidy it up for Winter; collecting the hedge clippings after Craig had used his petrol hedgecutters on the top of the hedge that runs the width of the Chapel, then cutting the front of the hedge, then a final cut (once the clippings were clear) to cut anything that had been missed and to go down as low as he could to the base of the hedge; dragging and burning as much of the clippings, ivy, brush and tree's that we could; blowing the leaves off the path with the leaf blower; scraping the mud and grass off the path and from the drainage gully's etc etc

As we were leaving and the fire was dying down, we replaced the orange mesh to keep inquisitive dogs away and ensure passers were aware of the danger.
It was certainly a lovely dry day, with plenty of chat and banter amongst the volunteers, and plenty of different tasks to keep us busy. Ranger Craig was delighted by all that we managed to achieve:-)

Photo's by Karin and Adrian

A varied workday at South Head Farm - 22nd October 2017

Variety is said to be the spice of life, and it was certainly the case for the tasks today.  The (very) windy weather put paid to the planned rhodybashing on Kinder and so the group headed up to the former ranger's house at South Head Farm.  The National Trust is still not sure what use the buildings will be put to eventually, but for now they are being turned into a base for the rangers.  So, we were helping with:

Sanding down some wooden furniture

Stripping wallpaper

Whitewashing a barn

Clearing another barn of accumulated straw flooring

By the end of the workday the weather had cleared sufficiently for most of the group to head back down to the cars on foot.

Mick

Splitting logs in the wood yard, Quarry Bank, Styal on Sunday 15th Oct 2017

Ten of us met at Quarry Bank today to find that we were working in the wood yard splitting logs to make firewood which would eventually be sold, mainly to the tenants on the Styal estate.

Before......

We were also cutting down hazel rods to be used a bean poles as well as for hedge laying.

Hard at work!

The wood was split manually with axes and with a tractor mounted hydraulic log splitter with such a good turnout that we soon made quite a large pile in the wood store. This wood will be left to dry out and season for a year or two, before it is sold.

...... a job well done:-)

The weather was nice, warm and sunny, which certainly helped the day go so well.

Group shot

 Text and photo's from Adrian.

Stock fence removal at Hare Hill on 8th October 2017

Six of us turned out today to meet the ranger in the car park at ten o’clock.  The task was the removal of a stock proof fence surrounding a heap of spoil left over from the construction of the car park.  We really cracked on and had the job finished by lunchtime despite having to wade through deep viscous mud in places.

Before...

... and after

After lunch, we set to digging up the thistles spoiling the look of the boundary fence.  Having completed this task we were then led to a patch of reeds that needed removal to allow for the establishment of a wild flower meadow, however the weather looked set to rain so we decided to call it a day after about half an hour.

Tim

Rhodybashing at Lyme Park on 1st October 2017

Ten of us spent today rhodybashing in Lantern Wood at Lyme Park, continuing from where last week's mid-week group had left off.  The site was on the north edge of the wood and gave excellent views over the Cage to Manchester city centre.

We worked with range Dan in the morning and with ranger Trevor in the afternoon.  Dan, Neil and Andy got the fire going.  This proved a little difficult because the wood was wet but firelighters, newspaper and stacking the cuttings in parallel to the wind direction did the trick.

Chocolate & walnut brownies were served at elevenses and afterwards the Chairman presented Adrian Potts with a badge to recognise 25 years' service with MNTV.  Adrian joined the group way back in 1991 and year in year out has been one of the members who works the most hours.  At last week's committee meeting Daniel given Adrian a certificate and letter of thanks signed by Dame Helen Ghosh (Director General of the National Trust).

25 years' service and counting... congratulations Adrian!

We stopped feeding the fire at 2:30, packed up and left at 3 but not before asking Trevor to take a photo of the group beside the embers of the fire.  Unusually, today we didn't see any members of the public, presumably because the Lantern is closed for repairs and word has got out.

Daniel