New year walk 30 Dec 2012

Five MNTV volunteers met at Styal and did a round walk out of the estate through the North Woods, back up through villages and fields to Wilmslow Carrs and the South Woods. There was even sunshine (and quite a lot of mud).

Hedge laying at Alderly Edge 16 Dec 2012

Four volunteers turned out to Alderly Edge and layed a short section of hedge along side the NT carpark near the wizard tea room.

We did not complete as much as was hoped, but did get a small fire going to dispose of the cut material.

No photographs - I forgot to pick up the camera.

Manchester Christmas markets (and to see Ally sing) - Tues 11th Dec 2012

Five of us met in time to watch Ally sing with her Rock Choir outside Manchester cathedral, in the freezing cold - wearing only a T-shirt!! (see photo).

The Rock Choir sang for about 30 mins before they, and other choirs, went inside the cathedral to perform in a concert in aid of the North West Air Ambulance service. At this point, we left Ally and headed off to explore the bars and eating establishments in the Christmas markets in Exchange Square. We had a few beers and glueweins before Andy decided he just HAD to have a bratwurst sausage. After he'd eaten it, we found a stall selling a very tasty chicken paella which we all had - it was delicious!!

As we'd all arrived in Manchester on public transport, once we'd eaten and drunk enough, we headed back to the train station - it was a relaxing evening and a chance to have a good chat:-)

Fence removal and plantation thinning at Hayfield 9 Dec 2012

Five volunteers turned out to Hayfield and met up with the local ranger to do some work on the National Trust land around Kinder Scout.

The first job was removing a fence ready for contractors to come in and install the new one.

In the afternoon the task was "thinning" - selective felling a plantation.  For some reason lost in the history of the site - the plantation had a number of inappropriate species in it - these were removed by Shane with a chainsaw.  A task made easier by the fact that the fence is also being replaced on the boundary of this plantation.  We the volunteers followed at a safe distance with hand tools - cutting up the felled trees and stacking them clear of the line where the new fence will go.

montage and team photo added 19/12/12 with thanks to Nathan