Path tidying at Styal 30 March 2014

Two volunteers turned out to Styal for a workday that was hastily rearranged from Hare Hill. 

The day was spent clearing mud of paths near Chapel Bridge and improving the drainage of water off them

Dunham Massey - grass "repair" 23 March 2014

Eight volunteers turned out to Dunham Massey and spent the day digging over and raking out compacted ground.  Various areas where services have been laid in trenches had been back filled but were not recovering well - with luck the remaining turf / grass will now recolonise the freshly dug and raked out soil.  Returfing / seeding is awkward due to the difficulty of sourcing correct grasses.

Biddulph Grange Garden - clearling land on the woodland terrace - 16 March 2014

Four volunteers turned out to Biddulph Grange garden and spend the day working with one of the regular gardeners on the "woodland terrace" - which we helped to replant some years ago.  The area had become a little over grown and the spring bulbs were becoming invisible behind / under willows and "dogwoods".

The task was therefore clearing out an area which is going to be turfed for the moment to reduce the amount of maintenance required.  With the potential addition of some borders and other features in the future.

Between us we cut down and grubbed out a significant number of the dogwoods and willows.  We also cut out and removed a lot of "ghost bramble" which has vicious thorns to make sure that no one grabbed them by mistake!

Hayfield - Sunday 9th March 2014

Nine volunteers joined 4 Hayfield Rangers and their 4 dogs on a glorious day in the Peak District.

We met in the Sett Valley Trail carpark then drove to Park Hall Moor in the National Trust LandRovers and one of our cars. Here is a photo of the snowdrops near where we parked - aren't they glorious:



We then headed up the slope and were given large white hessian-type bags to collect any small rhododendron that we saw in amongst the heather, dead rhody stalks and other ground covering. Not an easy task spotting it all, but we did our best. Some of the rhody had already been sprayed with herbicide so we didn't need to do anything with those, and the larger area's of rhody were going to be sprayed by contractors in the near future but the small stuff that was starting to re-grow needed to be pulled out so it didn't get established.

After lunch (great cakes again thanks to Karin and 'a well known supermarket chain') we headed  to another part of the Moor, quite high up and, bearing in mind it was a scorching hot day, allegedly hotter than Greece!!!, we took our time walking up. Adrian and Sue had an unexpected stop when they came across a large furry caterpillar on the path which they stopped to admire for some time to ensure it was off the path in case anyone else came by so it didn't get trodden on.

Once Sue and Adrian got to the top, Adrian took a photo of the rest of the group in the distance on the other side of the valley, walking along with their white collecting bags(you'll have to look very closely at the photo to see them): 

We were so lucky as it was such a glorious day to be out in the Peak District:-)

Clear up - at Styal (Quary Bank Mill pond) 2nd March 2014

Six volunteers turned out and spent the day clearing up and burning dead wood from previous coppicing and pruning sessions. We also removed and burnt the brash (smaller twigs and branches) from trees felled on the day by the ranger - Tim. The area is beginning to look a little tidier, and far more open with greater views over both the pond and the river. Also with less trees over the path it should now dry out and become less muddy.

Two volunteers brought and shared their home baking - "coffee kisses" and "pear and sultana cake" which both went down well.

MNTV Social: Chilli Banana, Wilmslow 28/2/14

Recession, what recession?!

The Chilli Banana in Wilmslow was absolutely packed last night as 7 MNTVers met for the February social.

We had a lovely circular table upstairs which enabled us to chat to everyone across the table, and there was plenty to talk about and almost no time to draw breath.

That said, when the food arrived (we all decided to have the £25 banquet) it was really lovely and we enjoyed trying dishes that we hadn't eaten before.

There were 5 different starters and 4 main courses (my favourite was the 'heavenly beef') plus steamed rice and an accompaniment of  fried 'morning glory'. All this (and there was plenty for all of us) was topped off with a drink of Jasmine tea or coffee.

A thoroughly enjoyable evening, and great to catch up with fellow-MNTVers that we hadn't seen for a while:-)

Thanks to Andy for taking the photo.

Hedgelaying at Alderley Edge on 23 February 2014

Six of us (four regulars and two newcomers) spent today laying a hedge in a field behind Daniel Hill Wood.  The hedge was close to ones that we laid in January and last November and we continued laying from where last week's mid-week workparty reached.

We divided ourselves up and throughout the day Matt and Mark laid the hedge, Daniel and Jane pruned the hedge so that it was ready to lay, Gordon started and stoked the fire and Adrian worked on the fire and moved prunings to it from the hedge.  We worked unsupervised (ranger Dave Standen transported our tools to/from the worksite), took a coffee and cake break at 11 and had lunch at 1.

Our hedgelaying is from the double-trunk tree leftwards

The weather was decent all day (mild temperature, a strong southwesterly wind but none of the forecast rain) and as we walked to the worksite we had excellent views to the Cage at Lyme Park and Kinder Scout beyond.

From left: Jane, Gordon, Mark, Matt, Daniel, Adrian

This was our last hedgelaying until the autumn because the bird nesting season will soon be upon us.