Christmas at Calke Abbey - 28th November - 1st December

The day is over, it's time to head to bed, it's been a long 5 days and an age since my last lot of annual leave. The holiday is here finally, my alarm is off as tomorrow it's baking and packing as I head to the Lake District on Friday for MNTV’s annual Christmas weekend, is what my Facebook tells in memories of 7 years ago.

It's Friday and you find me having done my baking and packing on a train heading for Derby as I travel to MNTV’s Christmas weekend at Calke Abbey. When first advertised it was a winter weekend but after a vote it was decided that it would be our Christmas Weekend, very early I know, but the members spoke! With a long train journey ahead of me and not sleeping to well I'm gonna kick back and relax maybe have a nap and I'll come back to You later…

4 hours and 20 mins later I reached Derby where I was met by Jenny who had picked up the shopping on route to meet Me. Once I had found her and put my bags into the car we made our way to Calke Abbey. The basecamp is at the end of the one way system through the park, so we had to tell the kiosk we were going to the Basecamp so we didn't have to show our volunteer cards. Upon arrival at the Basecamp we discovered Mary, her luggage and her 6 bottles of wine had just arrived. The Basecamp is basic with bunkbeds but with the number of people we had staying we all had bottom bunks. Upon arrival we discovered many flys in the ladies dormitory, they were everywhere, on the floor, the beds, the curtains, light fittings so we got the hoover out and started cleaning them up alive and dead ones….after settling in we awaited for the arrival of Jack, Sarah and Denise. Andy and Clare who were staying nearby in a NT Cottage, joined us to put up the tinsel and fairy lights. Sarah arrived at just before 6.30pm and shortly afterwards Sarah, Jenny, Mary and Myself headed by car to the local watering hole, The Milking Parlour. Andy, Clare and Jack had set off before us to walk. Once there we awaited for the arrival of Denise who had got caught in traffic. We hadn't just gone to the Milking Parlour for a drink, on a previous visit to Calke we had visited it and seen they cooked pizzas so we partook in the consumption of pizza, there were unusual flavours, Greek Lamb, Feta and Hot Honey was a winner as was Seasonal Roast Veggies and Herb Creamed “Cheese”, an interesting choice and very much enjoyed was Salt and Pepper Chinese Beef after the delicious food we headed back to base this time we all got a lift as we now had 2 cars with us. Upon return to basecamp we slowly headed to bed.

Saturday dawned wet, we breakfasted and prepared ourselves for the day ahead. Just before 10am Ranger Paul and Apprentice Ranger Holly joined us in the basecamp to introduce themselves and tell us a bit about the task. Jenny unfortunately wasn't able to join us, she was looking after a knee injury that had flared up, perhaps unfortunately isn't the right word with the weather we were going out into. 

Our worksite for the weekend was Staunton Harold Reservoir, willow coppicing, with some blackthorn thrashing thrown in for good measure. The bits of willow that we had coppiced were either to be made into 6-7 ft sticks for den building and the other was meant to be chipped but as the ground was so wet and not being able to get the chipper in position, Paul and the Team had to rethink, a dead fence to pretty up an old fence. It was a wet morning and we enjoyed our coffee and lunch break in the cafe which had very kindly said we could sit in there as it was so wet, it felt a bit odd eating cake we had made in a cafe that some very tasty cakes on offer, there were also real toilets which was a bonus. Having spent the morning working away, Denise and Sarah headed back to help Jenny with preparations for our dinner that evening. The rest of us carried on working and by the time we finished our days work at 4pm it had stopped raining, the sun made a brief appearance and we had seen a rainbow but it had turned colder.

Upon arrival back at Base I discovered that Sarah and Denise had made their way to the Christmas fair and lights trail which was located by the house so I decided a shower was needed and then I headed off to the festivities. Having a quick look round the Christmas Fair I found Denise and we went round the lights trail and watched the house lit up in many different colours. We also went under the house through the tunnels that were built for the servants to move goods around unseen, they were decorated for Christmas.

We found Sarah and headed back to  Basecamp, where we found Andy and Clare had joined us. Christmas Dinner had been expertly cooked by Jenny, we had Chicken, Pigs in Blankets, Roast Potatoes, Roast Parsnips, Carrots, Peas, Sweetcorn and Gravy, followed by Christmas Pudding and Brandy Sauce. We chatted and then went to bed as we were tired after a long day.

Sunday dawned bright and sunny, we all left Base at 9.45 as we were due to meet Paul and Holly at Staunton Harold Reservoir Car Park at 10am, to carry on the day befores task, but today was extra special as we had Shropshire and Staffordshire NTV Group joining us. They had bought 12 volunteers with them, more volunteers means more work gets done, well that was the plan and it worked. When breaktime was called we produced our cakes and they produced their cakes. There were many different kinds, Victoria Sponge Cake, Orange and Sultana Cake, Banana, Date and Walnut Cake, Chocolate Brownies, Chilli Chocolate Brownies and Rice Crispie Mars Bar Cake. There were lots of whooping with the number of cakes available to try.

There was no room to sit in the cafe so we commandeered the picnic tables outside for our breaks. Mary left us after lunch to head home as she had plans for early Monday morning. The day was a day of blue skies, laughter, hard work and chatter. As the day drew to a close it was great to see the amount of willow we had coppiced, we hope the resident bird watcher is pleased. 

We said goodbye to SSNTV and headed for base where we dined on Chicken Curry, Rice and Naan, Sarah and Denise left us after dinner to head home and after washing up the evenings pans and crockery Andy and Clare left us too. That left Jenny, Jack and Myself, it had been a busy day, so the three of us headed to bed to relax get some kip.

On Monday morning we made sure we hoovered the basecamp, swept the floor, took down the Christmas Decs and packed up the food then headed for home. Jack left first, Jenny and I left shortly afterwards and called in at Kedleston Hall to see it decked out for Christmas. As we were heading in the hall we met Andy and Clare who had had the same idea as us. We very much liked the decorated Christmas Trees. My particular favourite was turquoise and blue ribbons.

It was a long journey home for me, I travelled in style having upgraded myself to First Class and got back to Edinburgh at 8pm.

It was a fantastic weekend with great chat, fabulous banter and great food. I’m very glad I had an extra day at home today as it is now Tuesday night and all the washing is done and I’m back to work tomorrow.

It was great to meet another group like ours, we hope this will be an ongoing arrangement going forwards. We hope to join SSNTV at Shugborough Hall this Summer.

Removal of red osier dogwood at Quarry Bank Mill on Sunday 23rd November 2025

Nine of us met up with Ceara before walking to South Wood to begin the task of cutting down and stacking red osier dogwood.  No, I  didn't know what it was either and had to ask good old Google!  It is a non-native species that grows prolifically and seems, once established, like rhodi to tangle itself.

We started around the mill pond, disturbing a heron that was stood minding its own business, stacking all the cut shoots by a tree that had come down in storm Claudia.  Ceara asked if we could help to move the tree, so once brew finished we set to loading up the trailer using straps to help carry the big pieces, between four people, as well as cutting some into more manageable sizes and dragging as much as we could out of the pond.

That was hard work not made any easier by the downpours that kept up all day.  There is still some to move because they need a chainsaw on them.

Finally back to the dogwood which was further down the woods along the riverbank.

Thank you to Ceara for a good workday and especially thanks to my colleagues for all their hard work in the most inclement weather.

Christine

Birch clearing and rhodybashing at Lyme Park on Sunday 9th November 2025

We had a great day at Lyme Park today working on two tasks in Lantern Wood.

The first was clearing birch in a sight line from the Lantern in a roughly southerly direction which was completed.

The second task was rhodybashing and burning, where the area we were working on was a good bit up the hill from the Lantern.

There is still however a few years left of bashing required to clear the wood of rhody.  The rangers were very happy with all our efforts.

Martin

Halloween at Biddulph Grange Gardens

You find me on my way home to Edinburgh I'm currently on train bound for York as with the West Coast Main Line is closed between Preston and Carlisle due to a train derailment at Shap, in the early hours of this morning I'm heading for the East Coast Line.

I was in Manchester to join the group for a workday at Biddulph Grange Gardens. I was joined by 8 others on a chilly but sunny Sunday morning, for our annual task for taking out the Daliahs. This task involves cutting down the Daliahs, taking out the stakes which we had put in earlier in the year, making sure to keep a hold of the labels so that they can be tied on to the tubular and then put in a crate with other plants of the same name. There were names such as Boom Boom Yellow, Edinburgh, Purple Gem and Golden Sceptre. Some of the Dahlias were still looking good but it was time for all of them to come out.

Before we started we were asked if anyone wanted to cut a bunch of Daliahs for the cafe so I offered…you can see my arrangement below.

We had our coffee break at outside tables that belonged to the cafe and although it was in the shade and a little chilly it was great to be able to enjoy being outside with nature, Robin Redbreast joined us in the hope of getting some crumbs leftover from our Mr Kipling cakes Sue had provided. 

Work carried on and some of the daliah beds were in sunshine which was actually quite warm and others were in the shade and coats were needed. But we worked away at our different tasks wherever we were. Lunch was eaten near to the worksite some of us in the sunshine others not. It did make me smile that out side the gardens was a sign that said no picnics and there we were eating our picnics. Whilst working we had been passed by many visitors asking for advice about Daliahs also saying how much they had enjoyed seeing them on previous visits. We even got asked about the group, hopefully they will join us on future workdays. 

Many of the visitors to the gardens were families on the look out for Halloween related objects, we found this chap working hard near the truck and trailer where we were putting the cut off dahlias, he was dead pleased to see us as his heart was no longer in it. His name badge told us he was called Albert Spinestein....

We finished our day at about 3.15pm we didn't quite manage to take out all the Daliahs but Gardeners Holly and Jack were delighted with what we had got done.

Afterwards Sue, Jean and I went in search of a Red Maple Tree in the China Garden, Sue had been told about. It was fabulous to see, particularly with the colours of the Chinese Garden.  

Sue and I also followed a sign I had seen on the way in, it was an arrow with Kitchen Garden painted on so we went exploring....

Thanks to everyone who joined Me we had a great day...and yes I made it back to Edinburgh

Putting up bird boxes and bashing rhody and birch at Alderley Edge on Sunday 26th October 2025

We got an extra hour in bed this morning because it was clock change day.  Is this why we got ten people meeting up at Alderley Edge on a damp Sunday?

The rain was intermittent all day.  It was one of those days when if you’d been inside you would have thought the weather was horrible, but it wasn’t so bad being out.  We managed to find a dryish spot for lunch.

 

We had a variety of tasks to do in the same area, so plenty of choice.  Two pairs went off putting up bird boxes that had been made by local school children in the summer.

Two others went off to hunt down and destroy any rhody they could find in “Rhody wood”.  Others went off in search of birch to pull up with tree poppers or by hand.

Any oak saplings they found were carefully dug up to preserve the roots and transplanted to the new tree nursery.

 

It has been a fabulous year for fungi - and since it’s Halloween I have included a disembodied hand for scale ;-)

We had a good day, removing unwanted vegetation - to keep the habitat as heathland.  Hopefully some birds will find the nest boxes in the spring.

Jenny

Cancelled - workday at Bickerton Hill on Sunday 19th October 2025

Due to lack of volunteers and looking at the weather forecast we have decided to cancel today's workday.

Our next workday is on 26th October at Alderley Edge.  Jenny is leading and will be in touch this week with all the details.

Ally
MNTV Chair

Seed Spreading at Marsden Moor - Sunday 12th October 2025

On Sunday 12th October a small group of us made the journey up to Marsden Moor.  The task was  heather seed spreading on Holme Moor, the rangers also invited members of the public to join in and we were joined by a lovely gentleman who volunteers at the rangers plant nursery.  

We met the ranger at the bandstand in Marsden Moor and then walked up to the site (approx 45 mins), it was a lovely sunny day and quite warm for the time of year so we had a quick tea break before getting to work.  The task was done by hand and we had to scatter the seeds in between the clumps of purple moor grass (tussocks), to do this we had to scarify the soil to reveal the peat below.

View from top of the moor

Work area containing Tussocks grass

Bag of seeds

Working away

Seed spreading

End of Day group photo

The catch water drains

We finished quite early and made our way back down to Marsden Village and some of us decided to stay on for a drink as there was a jazz festival on.  This was my first visit to Marsden Moor and it certainly won't be my last, the village is lovely and the scenery is amazing.

Denise Clark
Worksite Leader

Cancelled - workday in the High Peak on Sunday 5th October 2025

Today's rhodybash in the High Peak on Park Hall Moor was cancelled because fewer than five people (the minimum number stipulated by ranger Chris Lockyer) had signed up.  That's obviously a shame, but with Storm Amy blowing in perhaps no surprise.

Hopefully we will have sufficient numbers for our next visit to the High Peak on 9th November to go ahead.

Daniel

Removing birch trees at Alderley Edge on Sunday 28th September 2025

It was lovely to meet up with several members of MNTV where we welcomed two new members on a lovely autumn day.  We walked along the track from the rangers yard with two wheelbarrows full of tools, tree poppers, saws, loppers, etc.  We unlocked the gate to the Engine Vein mine entrance and went through locking the gate behind us just in case the public decided to follow.  One of the fun bits for me of volunteering with MNTV is getting to go places the public don’t have access to.

The task was to remove vegetation, mainly birch trees, from the rocks above the mine to prevent the roots damaging the mine.

We set to work. Any trees that we couldn’t get out with the specialist tree poppers we removed the tops and left a stump so it could be winched out later.

We found some lovely examples of Amanita muscaria  mushrooms amongst the saplings – they look just like the mushrooms in children’s story books:

The second task was to use the saplings we were removing to create a basket weave fence around the area.

This will help keep people out and disguise the metal stock fencing. 

We worked all day but found time to eat cake and chat.

By the end we had cleared a lot of the birch saplings off the rocks and had had fun “basket” weaving the brash into the fence:

Once we had collected all the tools we went to look at the mine entrance which is hidden in the rocks unusually above the gully. The door is an old bank vault door.

We walked back to the cars tired but satisfied that we had done a good job in good company.

Jenny

Cutting back Blackthorn at Lyme Park - Sunday 21st September 2025

Seven MNTV-ers met Rangers Chris and Jason in the main car park at Lyme Park on a cool but dry morning (a huge difference to the deluge of rain that fell yesterday!!).

We were transported back to the admissions hut in the NT vehicle in a couple of trips, and driven up the short drive, through the wooden gate, to Red Lane, which is just outside the boundary of Lyme Park. 

Part way up Red Lane, we went into a Council owned field where we've worked previously, pulling Hymalayan Balsam.  This time we were cutting back Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) - a thorny native British shrub/small tree known for it's early white blossoms in Spring and the dark blue-black fruit (called Sloes) in Autumn. We were cutting it back to the fence line so that the meadow became much larger and could be used for a variety of purposes in the future by the NT.

We were SO lucky with the weather as it improved during the day, and was very sunny for most the the afternoon.

Initially we loaded the dead Blackthorn that had been previously cut onto the back of the trailer, so it could be transported into Lyme Park and disposed of another time. The trailer was re-filled multiple times during the day as we continued to cut the Blackthorn back.

We had our usual break for coffee and cake in the morning, and a lunch break at 1pm, finishing the day soon after 3pm.

We were pleased with what we'd achieved but, as there is still more to deal with, it may be our task next time we visit Lyme Park.

Sue B

Various jobs at Formby on Sunday 14th September 2025

Four of us joined Bree and Jess for a day at the seaside.  The original job planned for today had to be changed due to machinery malfunction, but they had some good alternatives for us to get stuck into.

The first job involved a fire - eat your heart out Neil, Andy & Jack!  There were large piles of brash and cuttings plus loads and loads of chestnut fencing that had all been removed when dismantling Victoria Road car park.  Our aim was to get this done before the rain started at lunchtime.  Talk about precision work - as  the last lot was put on the fire the first spots of rain started to fall!

The second job was to complete a wall of double/triple layers of fence posts.  This is to replace fallen down fencing which was to separate different size stones for the paths.

Finally, we dismantled, de-nailed and cleared timber from the yard and stacked it in a massive skip.  Again a lot of this had come from Victoria Road.

As far as the new car park is concerned, it is well under way and surprisingly is ahead of schedule with it hoping to be complete for next spring.

Bree and Jess were more than happy with what had been achieved, as these were jobs that kept being put on the back burner for more pressing jobs.

Thanks to my colleagues for their hard work and good company.

Christine

Social and Workday at Alderley Edge - Sunday 7th September 2025

On Sunday 7th September we had our first combined social event and workday.  We were due to work at Chirk but due to low volunteer numbers the workday was cancelled and we instead had a last minute change of plan...

During the morning we had a tour of Wood Mine which was a guided tour conducted by the Derbyshire Caving Club as part of their open weekend.  Four of us attended the tour and had an amazing morning learning about the history of the mine and touring the underground tunnels and chambers.  Please see a selection of photos from the mine below.

After exiting the mine we encountered torrential rain so had a very wet walk back to the rangers yard to contemplate whether or not we could go ahead with the afternoon workday task of putting up bird boxes.  There were only three volunteers for the afernoon session but due to the nature of the task it was easily completed with such a small group.

After a short lunch break the rain stopped and we managed to get out in the woodland to put up bird boxes, it's the first time I have used a drill on a workday and we discovered that silver birch are the best trees to drill into!

We all had a lovely day.  We plan to organise another mine tour social in Spring 2026.  There are plenty more bird boxes to put up in future workdays.

Denise Clark
Worksite/Social leader