Brash bashing at Alderley Edge on Sunday 10th May 2026

Today's workday had been planned for Lyme Park but was changed to Alderley Edge the day before as Lyme's entrance was closed due to roadworks on the A6.  So, the lucky 13 met in the car park at Alderley Edge and after picking up tools carpooled to the start of a footpath near Squirrels Jump.

Even though it’s close to the road the path was difficult to see so we worked with loppers and silkys (pruning saws) to clear the overgrowth.  We even brushed away the leaves!  This was the only task Ranger Izzy had for us at short notice and as we were such a big group we made short work of it.

We’ve worked at Alderley a few times this year so knew a meadow area just a couple of minutes drive away that could do with a bit of TLC.  But the first priority was lunch and relaxation in the sunshine.

We had made a pathway through the brambles at the entrance eighteen months beforehand but it was already starting to disappear and because it's a popular area for dog walkers we cut back the new growth.

We also dug up brambles in the middle of the meadow.

And cut down the last of the encroaching birch saplings.

Many thanks to Jenny for all the time she spent talking to Ranger Izzy to arrange the day at Alderley Edge.  It was really enjoyable with lots of variety and the opportunity to complete some work we had started on previous visits.

Jean

Various jobs at Formby on Sunday 26th April 2026

Seven of us met up with nine from the Merseyside group to spend a sunny day at the seaside in Formby.  Ranger Chris explained the jobs and gave us the option of driving round to the new car park on Victoria Road.  With it being such a nice day and it being only a 15 minute walk through the woods and sand dunes we opted to walk.

Task 1: 400 saplings required tree guards

They already had the plastic guards around them but the winds proved these were not sufficient protection, so it was a case of inserting a stick at the side and, using cable ties, fastening them to the guards.

Task 2: Planting a bench

This was not just any bench. It had been made by one of Formby's volunteers out of pine that had been chopped down to make way for the new car park.

Task 3: Putting up a new sign at the exit to the site

We had our combined brew/lunch break in a new picnic area where again the benches and tables had all been made with local timber and built by volunteers.

We had a great day working with our Merseyside colleagues, made all the more pleasant by lovely weather.

Thanks to Chris for his help and guidance and to everyone for their hard work and great company.

Christine

Dead hedging and other jobs at Alderley Edge on Sunday 12th April 2026

Well they do say “April showers” and that’s just what we got today, sunshine and occasional hail.

We started off with a long list of jobs. First up - clearing mud from the field entrance ready for the cavers next week.  Here is our newest member getting stuck in. She enjoyed her taster session so much she joined the group.

We planted some “sticks dipped in honey” (yes - really!) in the tree nursery. It  reminded me of that playground joke “what's brown and sticky?” The honey promotes root growth and is an anti-bacterial.  It was pure local honey and tasted great as well.

We were going to build a cold frame cover but didn’t find any screws so instead we went to fill the gap in the dead hedge nearby. The hedge had been laid by a corporate group in the winter and walkers had destroyed a bit of it to use a path through the woods.

We collected more brash from the surroundings and added some taller stakes then filled the gap with some bigger logs and made the whole hedge a bit taller. To finish it off we planted some of the honey-dipped twigs to create a bit of life in the dead hedge.

All in all a nice way to spend an April Sunday. Meeting new people and improving the environment.

Jenny

Sunday 5th April 2026 - Easter Sunday - no workday

Cancelled - workday at Hayfield on Sunday 29th March 2026

Due to lack of volunteers (the ranger asked for a minimum of six) today's rhodybash on Park Hall Moor near Hayfield was cancelled.

MNTV Committee

A trip to Wales, Chirk Castle - Sunday 22nd March 2026

Five of us met members of Merseyside NT volunteers and ranger Keith in the car park at Chirk on a bright and sunny morning.

Chirk is a small property but the whole estate is a SSSI so is of particular conservation importance.

The rangers have been felling trees that were encroaching on a species rich meadow that’s important for fungi such as waxcaps.  Brash, mainly laurel, needed clearing away, but what’s normally straightforward can be difficult in a protected area.  It couldn’t just be left to biodegrade or provide habitat as laurel is poisonous (it contains cyanide!) and it couldn’t be burnt due to the fungi.  An added complication was the brash was in an area boggy due to recent rain.  So the main job of the day was dragging brash from one end of the field to a firmer section for disposal.

Keith brought a wood chipper to chop up the brash and throw the chips into neighbouring woodland.

But it’s a small machine and only two or three people could work safely with it at any one time. So there’s still a job for the ranger to do in the coming weeks.

The last hour of the day was spent taking down fencing from around some saplings.

The area had been used temporarily for grazing but as the sheep had moved on to pastures new (literally!) the fencing was no longer needed.

The sun shone and the job gave us time to catch up with the Merseyside group.  And working at Chirk is always interesting due to the ecological diversity of the site.  A good day all round.

Jean

Rhodybash in Lantern Wood, Lyme Park, on Sunday 15th March 2026

Eight from MNTV met Chris, Lead Ranger at Lyme Park, in the main car park at 9:30 for a chat about what we’d be doing today then in two cars we drove to the accessible car park and walked round to the Stables where we met Ranger Jason and collected the tools for the day.

After loading the Lyme vehicle with the tools and our rucksacks, two of our group got a lift up to the stile over the dry stone wall by Lantern Wood, while the rest of us walked.  We climbed over the dry stone wall and then carried the tools and our bags further up the hill to where there were multiple piles of pre-cut rhody waiting to be burned before the start of bird-nesting season.

A couple of fire sites near the piles of rhody were selected and two fires were started.  By then two Lyme Youth volunteers joined us to help.  We had a productive morning.  The weather was dry and we got the fires started by morning break and we were pleased with our progress.

After lunch was a different story because the rain started and it turned much colder.  We struggled to stay close to the fires for warmth because the wind would erratically change direction, blowing smoke into our faces, so we kept a reasonable distance.

By the time we finished we had managed to clear a few of the piles of rhody so were pleased by what we’d done, but we were all feeling very tired, cold and wet.

Despite this, we enjoyed the day and ate lots of cake 

Sue B