Rhodybashing at Hayfield on Sunday 10th October 2021

We arrived at the station Carpark at Sett Valley, Hayfield to meet Mark, one of the Hayfield Rangers. Mark was keen to pass out the flyer about Tinsle Tales- Benniebee/Walliewasp. This was one of the six books that he has written during furlough.

From the Sett Valley car park, we drove to Park Hall in convoy. We all managed to park, when Adrian said that he was stopped on the way up by a neighbour asking what we were doing. Once Adrian explained, she was then happy with all the convoy. As we were getting ready, another car arrived and it was Martin who joined us.  After a head count and me not realising that the Hills were two! We then took the tools, which we had enough of, and went up the hill and climbed the banking.

The Rhodies were quite established and there were quite a few regrowth’s, which someone said was more like pruning than removing. Dave led the way and started pulling up, roots and all, which seemed a good way to go.

At the 11 o’clock bell we returned to base where Esther did a fine job of cutting up the cakes for us.

It was decided by Mark that he wanted us to cut down rather than burn, so some of the excitement and enjoyment went from the day! At the 1 o’clock bell, we went back to the base camp for lunch. After lunch we went on to further decimation of the Rhodies.

Victor went upwards, over the wall and was destroying there, whilst leaving the coppice of 15 footers for another day. Anna, Christine and Esther went down the hill and continued on down there. David and Martin disappeared to the left while the four older men scrabbled up just below the wall to the right below Victor.

We waited for the 3 o’clock bell before Andy used his melodic shout to call everyone back to the base camp.

We then left at 3.30 pm to make our own ways back to Manchester.

Neil Bonner

Thanks to Andy H and Adrian for the photos.