Task Reports

This week we made another journey to Harrogate to plant trees at the Birks Crag site. There were several areas that we concentrated on today. The first we planted an Oak copse where to the length and colour of the grass it was hard to spot the marking canes. Then we moved to the bottom of the field we worked on last week, this planted with Oak, Aspen and Alder, which were staked and guarded. Also another group worked in an adjacent field to plant areas that needed trees.

The group worked hard again and by the time we had to leave there were still some trees to planted, but that will be for another day.

Today we were a group of 11. 

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 We travelled to Harrogate again today to carry out further tree planting at the Birks Crag site. We concentrated on one large field at the far end of the property. Again we planted native varieties like Oak, Birch, Hazel and Rowan. Lots of tree were planted, which then had to be staked and guarded. The group again worked hard to complete the task.  Looking back at our work we had completely changed the landscape from the beginning of the day and it surprised us all.  

Today we were a group of 14.

To continue with the planting projects in the upper Aire valley catchment.

Leave Culture Fusion 9.30am

The task today was to plant the heavy standards in their locations. There were 25 to be planted in four different places along the path. Some of them had to be moved from where they were delivered and to call them heavy was no under estimation. Yesterday we had prepared holes for the trees. Once the tree was planted we had to stake it and put on the tree ties. Not only the planting but the benches had to be installed and these were equally as heavy. The work was hard and heavy, especially moving the Ginko trees along Gaisby Lane and over the fence, but working as team we managed and it was a really impressive effort by all concerned. The other trees we planted were Rowan, Willow, Bird Cherry and Horse Chestnut. They will make a colourful display and add to the biodiversity of the area.

This finishes our work on the project and final result is really pleasing. Already the pathway is well used by local people and am sure it will be enjoyed in the years to come.

Today we were a group of 12.

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We prepared holes for the heavy standard trees. We worked along Gaisby Lane where 11 Ginko trees will be planted. We were joined by groups from Bradford College and Barnardos Bike project in Keighley.

Our work on the greenway is progressing and today we made further good progress. Two tasks were carried out, the important job of planting and replanting the whips. There is a good mixture of native trees including Oak, Hazel Holly and Birch which when they grow will make a significant improvement to the environment and biodiversity locally. It appears though that the dogs like to chew the canes, so this and other pressures will be a challenge to the trees developing.

We also worked on the seating area, but as the benches are not now being delivered until next week we concentrated on getting the surfacing in place. We found that we were a couple of bags short so will have to complete this next week. Everyone had to work hard to complete their share of the work today, but it was also a good day to be out and there were positive comments from local people. The days task was followed by a User Forum meeting and social that was also well attended and enjoyed by the group.

Today we were a group of 14.

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We continued developing the seating area today after yesterday we completed digging out the area. The group installed the timber edging, laid the ground fabric and moved several tons of crush and run. We managed this despite each job going on at the same time and local people being confused about what was being constructed.

Today we were a group of 9.

Today we travelled to Birk Crags on the outskirts of Harrogate to help Forest of Bradford with an ambitious planting scheme.

With a total of 8,000 trees to be planted in several fields we were able to make a contribution to an area of oak, downy birch and alder that was flanked by willow and hazel. There were still a few to plant when we left! All the trees needed deer guards, which adds extra work, but we like FoB’s new deer guard post driver that made the job easy.

In the afternoon the wind picked up as a reminder it is still mid-March. It was a longer drive home than our regular Fridays, and with fish and chip shops at nearly every junction I thought I was going to lose passengers to the temptation on several occasions.

Today we were a group of 12.

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To continue with the planting projects in the upper Aire valley catchment.

Leave Culture Fusion 9.30am

Today we joined with the Friends of St Ives to prepare an area that will become a meadow. It will be sown to commemorate the centenary of the First World War for visitors to the estate. Our task was to remove scrub from the area which was mainly brambles. We cut and raked the area, and with the cuttings created habitat piles. A machine will now be able to further prepare the soil ready for the sowing.

We also took our coppiced wood to the site, some of this was taken up to the kilns and the remainder will be pulled up the hill by the working horse.

Today we worked with 14 volunteers.

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