Birch sapling removal at Alderley Edge on Sunday 26th November 2023

Nine volunteers met up with ranger Duncan for a day of vegetation removal, namely self-seeded birch.

We were working in the same field across the road from the car park that we worked in at the beginning of the year.  A corporate group had been in earlier in the week and had made a great impression.  Duncan pointed out the area we were tasked with clearing.  First impressions were there wasn't a lot - how wrong could we be!

After lunch we helped load the trailer with split tree trunks which were to be used for cleft fencing.  As the trees were oak, even though split, they were very heavy.  Once done, whilst Duncan took the trailer to the yard we continued "popping" birch.

It was a strenuous day but we left tired but happy with what we had achieved, as was Duncan.

Thank you to my colleagues for their very hard work and to Duncan and his faithful dog for a good workday.

Christine

Reinstating a mountain bike path at Lyme Park on Sunday 19th November 2023

Eight MNTV volunteers met the Lyme Ranger in the main car park at 9.30am.  It was confirmed that we would be reinstating a mountain bike path in Hase Bank wood so we moved our cars to the car park by the Knot which was nearby.  Apparently the mountain bike path had fallen into disrepair after felling had taken place in the wood and a number of trees had fallen across the path.

We set to with our mattocks, spades, shovels, slashers and loppers, clearing the path of overgrown vegetation and removing moss and soil off the rocks.  We felled small trees and brambles that were too close to the path but we left the Ranger to clear or adapt the fallen tree trunks with his chainsaw enabling bikes to ride through or be lifted over with ease.

We worked hard and were rewarded at elevenses with bakewell slices and flapjacks from Jenny, which were delicious.  Sadly it rained on us quite a bit, which was a shame, and we got very wet, so much so that after lunch when the rain had been falling continuously for over an hour some of the group decided to call it a day.  Others were content to carry on with the task after lunch and others wanted to help Jenny decorate the MNTV Christmas tree in the timber yard.

The bike path team worked really hard in the afternoon and managed to clear all the way through to the first exit near the west gate.  There were two more exits beyond that, but we managed to make a big difference.

The Christmas tree team were joined by Julia, the volunteer co-ordinator and we had fun (and a bit of shelter) threading up and hanging the decorations people had donated (silver foil, bottles and tools cut from sweet tins).  We also hung some baubles with text explaining the theme of the tree and a bit about the work MNTV does.

Sue B and Jenny

Cancelled - workday at Hayfield on Sunday 12th November 2023

Sadly, today's rhodybash near Park Hall, Hayfield, was cancelled because of insufficient numbers.  Ranger Chris had said a minimum of four were required and by the 12 noon Friday cut off only three had signed up at which point we agreed with Chris that the workday was off.  Two more signed up later that afternoon but we were unable to contact Chris to ask if the workday could go ahead after all.

Removing a fence and scraping steps at Quarry Bank Mill on Sunday 5th November 2023

11 from MNTV met Stuart, the Styal Ranger, in the volunteer's car park.  We walked a short distance to a field near to the mill where we started removing an old fence.  We decided to start at both ends so we could spread out, cutting back vegetation first so we could get to the fence, removing and collecting the staples holding the barbed wire and the fencing wire, rolling them up so they could be reused/disposed of safely, and finally removing the fence posts.  Some had rotted so snapped off in the ground and some had been put in so securely that it took a number of us to get them out!!

We stopped for morning break and were just getting settled in the field when it started raining (!!) so we gathered up our stuff and decamped to the shelter by the old entrance to Quarry Bank Mill.  We stayed lovely and dry there while we enjoyed Sue D's mince slices with our hot drinks.

After our morning break we went back to the field and finished the job, carrying the fence posts, rolls of barbed wire, rolls of fencing, litter and all our tools, up the incline to Stuart's vehicle so he could take everything back to the compound.

After our lunch break under the shelter (when we had slices of Sue D's apple cake) we walked into Chapel Wood where we finished the day scraping off leaves and excess soil from the paths and steps down to the bridge and up the other side.  It was hard work but made very enjoyable by the lovely comments we got from the families passing by who thanked us for doing this job.

At the end of this task we walked down to the mill where we had our group photo taken in front of the impressive poppy display cascading down from the mill building.  The poppies had been knitted and crocheted by many people with connections to Quarry Bank Mill including some of our own volunteers and their families and our Chairman's mum stitched them all together - a momentous task but hopefully well worth it, as they make such an impressive display.

Sue B

Dahlias, tulips and a table - 10 go to Biddulph Grange Garden - Sunday 29th October 2023

On Sunday 29th October after remembering to put the clocks back, nine volunteers met at Biddulph Grange Gardens.

Upon meeting in the carpark at Biddulph we met up with Gardener Leslie and apprentice Holly.  Leslie asked us if any of us had forgotten about the hour changing we were able to inform her that no we hadn't, she had!

After a talk through of the Risk Assessment we headed into the gardens.  We knew what our task would be but because we weren't all experts Leslie talked us through it.  It was a task I had never done before and seemed pretty straight forward.  Cut the dahlia stems, take out the stake holding them up, dig out the remaining dahlias and get rid of as much soil as possible and tie them up with the name label attached with string.  There were a lot to get through.  I started with the cutting of the stems.  If there were any flowers still in bloom and looking good we could pick them to make a bunch of flowers which Jenny did.

The Gardens were very busy with visitors and there were lots of families with small children.  The children wearing wellies enjoyed jumping in the puddles and some of the adults stopped to speak to us or ask Leslie questions about dahlias or gardening in general.

At 11 we stopped for elevenses and had Jenny's delicious Bakewell Tart and Ally's very gooey Millionaire Shortbread.  They both went down a treat.  After the cake Jean unfortunately had to retire home due to an ongoing injury.

After elevenses we carried on our task and got most of the dahlias and stakes out.  The stakes were ones we had put in back in June.  It is a task we have done for a number of years so I was keen to see what it was all about.  Lunchtime was called and Leslie had lined up a treat for us ...  RANGERS TAKE NOTE ... she provided us with a table and chairs to sit round, very posh for us when we are used to eating sitting on the floor or on a rock!

After lunch we finished tying up the last of the dahlias and turned over the beds for our next task  tulip bulb planting!  Just before we started on this task Sue B arrived to say hello and to see me as I have not seen her for at least a year.  She partook in a small amount of bulb planting. Biddulph had 5,000 bulbs to plant in different locations around the gardens.  Where we were there were five beds to be filled.

The way to plant the tulip bulbs was to throw handfuls of them from an allocated box, each bed having a a different box.  After they had been thrown they then had to be buried under the soil using trowels.  The planting was an important task if a little tedious.  We managed to get two and half beds done and then decided to call it a day.  It was starting to get dark and we were all tired.  We had a group photo and headed for home.  Leslie was very pleased with what we had done and is looking forward to our next visit there.

It was a fantastic day and it didn’t rain.  It lovely to see you all.  Here's to next time.

The advice I will take away from this day is tulips don’t need to be planted a particular way up so just plant them any which way you like.

Ally

Hedge laying at Formby on Sunday 22nd October 2023

Five of us arrived at Formby early in glorious sunshine and although there were some dark clouds about we managed to stay dry all day.

We met up with rangers Al and Justin and headed out to the hedge laying worksite by the heathland on Larkhill Lane.  We laid part of this hedge last year and since then local groups have done a lot more so we had to walk a bit further across the field to get to the worksite.

The rangers showed us the task:

We had all hedge laid before but it was good to have a refresher about where to cut and where to place the stakes.  It’s amazing that all you need to leave is the layer of wood just under the bark and the tree will continue to grow.  We split into to two groups and started either side of the gate.

The hedge was a mix of hawthorn, blackthorn and rose so we had lots of thorns to contend with.  It was the first time I had laid rose and it was relatively easy, as the stems are quite small and the long bendy stems are easy to weave into the hedge.  Once it has all grown up it will make a lovely barrier.

We had a coffee break with cake (orange sponge cake and chocolate brownies – some with added spice and chilli) and by lunchtime had finished the shorter section by the gate.  Al’s time as a tree surgeon was coming in very handy when we pruned the standing tree at the end of the hedge.

After lunch we all went to work on the longer section and made good progress with tandem sawing demonstrations from Justin and Andy H.

By the end of the day we had laid quite a long section of hedge ...

... and headed home proud of the job we had done.

Jenny

Clearing Trees of Heaven at Dunham Massey on Sunday 15th October 2023

Nine volunteers turned out on a beautiful crisp autumn morning to meet ranger Jimmy.  Jimmy only started at Dunham in August, although he has worked previously at Styal, so it was his first time working with MNTV.

After explaining where we were working and what the task was we realised we had done the exact same job two years previously.  Tree of Heaven is an invasive non-native species that self seeds as well as grows shoots from the main trees roots.

We had a bit of nature around us as well as  a deer from the park had somehow made its way into the area we were working plus David came across a mouse or shrew not sure which.

Task completed by lunch time so we then went into the park to remove some detritus that had been pulled out of one of the ponds.  It didn't look much at first but it filled the trailer.

As I said it was a beautiful day and by late morning Jimmy had to leave us to put the car park full signs out with people queuing to get in.  Even as we were leaving cars were still coming in.

Thanks to Jimmy for looking after us and to my colleagues for their hard work.  It was a good workday.

Christine