Cancelled - workday at Hayfield on Sunday 26th January 2025

Sadly, today's workday at Hayfield was cancelled on Friday by the rangers because of forecast bad weather and the aftermath of Storm Eowyn.  The storm will have blown through by Sunday but they are still expecting winds of 40pmh+ with sleet/rain on Kinder where they had planned for us to carry out some footpath work.  Conditions not conducive to safe work!  The other option was carrying out rhody control in the woodland but following the storm the rangers need to do post storm inspections in the woods to ensure it is safe for any works to go ahead.  In addition, they have post storm inspections to carry out across the whole Kinder estate.

So, no workday today but we will see you at Styal next Sunday, 2nd February.

Birch thinning at Alderley Edge on Sunday 19th January 2025

After collecting tools from the rangers store, seven of us car-shared down to the work site at Mobberley Quarry.  We were working here at the end of last year doing the same job of clearing self-seeded birch.

As we found it very tiring last time, working individually as they had deep spread roots and were bedded in moss, we decided to work in teams.  Starting in the lower quarry it soon became apparent that it was far too wet and the tree poppers were just sinking into the ground.  Plan B ... we moved to the upper area and what a success!  We cleared the area!

What a team effort!!  Thanks to my colleagues for their hard work and perseverance.

Christine

It was snowy in Lyme Park for our first workday of 2025

Having been looking forward to seeing some snow, my area of Scotland didn't get any, we got a lot of cold weather but no snow. With pictures from the group coming in with lots of snow, particularly impressive was the amount of snow at Matt and Lisa's close to Penrith, they had a whopping 12 inches,  I was very excited to learn that Manchester had some. Watching outof the window on the way south, west of Edinburgh City Centre and south along the West Coast Mainline there was lots of snow to be seen. 

Upon arriving at Macclesfield, my home for the next 3 nights I found 4 inches, however by the time Sunday morning arrived it was warming up slightly. The snow didn't stop 10 enthusiastic volunteers meeting at 9.30 in the carpark at Lyme Park. We were met by Ranger Jason who was on foot. Which worried us slightly as we knew the worksite was uphill. We needn't have feared, as he informed us that due to the weather conditions and flooding on the Estate there were reduced parking spaces. This meaning we were asked to move our cars to outside the Stable Block, where we would be directed by another Ranger as to where to park. - Result

Cars parked, we headed through the snow to Lantern Wood, some by NT truck and the rest on foot.

Once at the foot of the wood we collected the tools from the back of the truck and headed up hill, past the Lantern and up to our worksite, where the group has previously been working. The snow was quite deep and covered the undulations of the ground and was also on the rhododendrons we were to be chopping down. Neil, Jack and Jason got the fire going and the rest of us chopped and dragged the rhodies so that when the fire was ready we could start burning it. Due to the wet chopped rhodies the fire took a long time to get going, Neil tried his flame thrower and Jack and Jason used their extendable fire straws to blow oxygen onto the fire. By coffee time it still wasn't at its best but we had work to do!

There was a large area of rhododendron still standing that needed chopping, we made great inroads into this, there were also big piles of precut that needed burning, which somebody suggested just setting light to them disappointingly nobody wanted to do that. Sue D who is a volunteer ranger at Lyme stopped by to see us whilst doing her rounds it was so lovely to see her and hear her news.

We concentrated on the rhododendron still standing and chopped away at it making more piles but this time the majority of the piles were dragged and burned on the fire. Having swapped between loading leaves and heavier bits on to the fire, by lunchtime the fire was almost at its best. After lunch we carried on with the task, Andy S showed a rhody who was boss by chopping down a big plant and the fire finally took off. Towards the end of our day we were asked to stop chopping and bring as much of the chopped rhode as we could to the fire area to be burnt. Once we had burnt all we could, Jason said we could go and he would stay until the flames had gone. Adrian said out loud, I haven't thrown a snowball this year and proceeded to throw one at the fire, everyone else joined in, firstly just in the direction of the fire then there was a little more precision as people aimed at the flames, to help them be put out. Once Jason was satisfied that the flames were out we barriered off the fire and headed back down the hill. Ally, Jenny and Emma headed to the cafe for a well earned hot chocolate and a good chat, the others all went home.

Although the day was snowy and cold, it was noticeable upon returning to the cars that the snow was starting to melt. Monday was again slightly warmer. By the time I got back to Edinburgh late on Monday night it was a balmy 10C!

Everyone enjoyed our first workday of 2025. I hope you all enjoy your workdays this year.

MNTV social - Sunday 5th January - wWhat should have been a walk at Tatton Park

With no ranger picking up the first Sunday of 2025, it was decided that a walk around Tatton Park and a bite of lunch after would be the order of the day.  Unfortunately, with amber weather warnings in force with the threat of snow we decided to cancel the meet up.

We will be back out and about at Lyme Park on 12th January and hope to see you there!