The usual invitation from Ron
"A short note to remind you that this Sunday, 1st August is a workday and we will be repairing the fence round the hazel coppice in Robert Leech's field.
Colin and myself had a meeting with the ranger on Tuesday at Hall o'the Heath and we also had a look at the hedge at Crewe Green Church. Colin will fill you in with the details of what was discussed on Sunday.
Hope to see you all at 9.00am on the car park."
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Saturday, 3 July 2010
HCV Summer Outing 2010 part 2
Following the visit to Wilmslow, it was then a quick trip over to Teggs Nose Country Park just off the Macclesfield to Buxton Road.
A circular walk from the visitor centre led down towards the lower slopes and back up to the quarry where we regrouped.
Old Quarry machinery.
Friday, 4 June 2010
June work day - Sunday 6th June
A message from Ron
"We meet again this Sunday when we'll be repairing the fence around the hazel coppice in Robert Leech's field. Colin won't be with us due to a prior arrangement with SECOS. Hope you can make it and hope the rain keeps off!
I'd also like to add a plug for my walk on the following Sunday, 13th June, starting at 10.30am from Waterloo Road car park."
Thursday, 29 April 2010
May Work Day - Bird Boxes
A message from Ron
A reminder that this Sunday, 2nd May we will be making bird boxes at Zan. Haslington folk will meet at Waterloo Road car park at 9.00am as usual, people from the Sandbach area meet at Zan for 9.15am.
Let's hope it's a fine day so we can work outside. Look forward to seeing you all.
A reminder that this Sunday, 2nd May we will be making bird boxes at Zan. Haslington folk will meet at Waterloo Road car park at 9.00am as usual, people from the Sandbach area meet at Zan for 9.15am.
Let's hope it's a fine day so we can work outside. Look forward to seeing you all.
Sunday, 28 March 2010
April work Day - Coppicing
The April work day took place on 28th March to avoid Easter. Finishing the coppicing work in the Hazel Copse that was started back in February.
The copse was planted about 10 years ago with the intention of coppicing the Hazels on a 10 year rotation. Given how fast they have grown we may now move to a 4 year rotation.
The intention is to leave nice clean cuts near the ground that will produce re-growth during the coming year. We were a little late in the year fininshing the cutting, with sap running from the cuts.
The hazels cut back a couple of years ago are regrowing well.
The coppiced wood was divided into three, larger pieces with interesting shapes will be used for garden furniture, smaller pieces will be used in hazel hurdles, and the remainder was used to reinforce the hedge to keep out the sheep.
The copse after we had finished for the day.
Transport to the willow weavers of Alsager.
Saturday, 27 March 2010
March Work Day - Tree Guards March 2010
The March task required the construction of a large tree guard around various trees planted at the Hall o'the Heath farm in Haslington. It was a very bright clear morning, with the sun rapidly melting the frozen surface of the fields.
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
February Work Task 7th Feb 2010
A message from Ron
"Just a reminder that Haslington Conservation Volunteers meet this Sunday at 9.00am on Waterloo Road car park. We will not have a ranger with us, Brian having retired, so we will use our own tools. (Please remember to bring gloves). It will be more convenient to walk to Robert Leech's field.
Let coppicing commence, hopefully without too much rain. See you on Sunday."
Friday, 1 January 2010
January 3rd 2010 Work Day
Message from Ron regarding this months work day...
"I would like to wish all of you a Happy New Year. Our first meeting of 2010 is this Sunday - gathering, as usual, at Waterloo Road car park before heading off to Crewe Green Church where we'll be cutting the hedge. This will be our last workday with Brian who is due to retire on the 29th of this month. I know we would like to wish him all the best for the future and thank him for all his help and advice."
This is work on the hedge between the graveyard extension and the open fields that we have worked on in the past. We need to ensure that the trees within the hedge are safely established.
"I would like to wish all of you a Happy New Year. Our first meeting of 2010 is this Sunday - gathering, as usual, at Waterloo Road car park before heading off to Crewe Green Church where we'll be cutting the hedge. This will be our last workday with Brian who is due to retire on the 29th of this month. I know we would like to wish him all the best for the future and thank him for all his help and advice."
This is work on the hedge between the graveyard extension and the open fields that we have worked on in the past. We need to ensure that the trees within the hedge are safely established.
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
December work day 6th December.
A message from Ron.
Hi and an early Merry Christmas to you all,
Don't forget this Sunday we'll be at Hall o' the Heath tidying the hedge and area around the pond. Our resident fire lighter will, hopefully, produce enough hot embers to roast a few potatoes and there should be enough coffee and mince pies to complete the 'feast'. Let's hope the weather is better than last month's!
Hi and an early Merry Christmas to you all,
Don't forget this Sunday we'll be at Hall o' the Heath tidying the hedge and area around the pond. Our resident fire lighter will, hopefully, produce enough hot embers to roast a few potatoes and there should be enough coffee and mince pies to complete the 'feast'. Let's hope the weather is better than last month's!
A nice warm fire from December 2007.
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Tree Planting with Haslington Guides
On Sunday 22 November the Haslington Conservation Volunteers were joined by the 1st Haslington Guides and their Senior Section to plant a variety of trees.
During a break in the rain we managed to plant three locally grown oak trees together with a pack of 30 smaller specimens to develop a small copse close to Fowle Brook.
The trees included Hazel, Holly, Dogwood, Hawthorne and Dog rose.
Tree warden Colin Lythgoe identifies the small oak, surrounded by the tree planters. If we come back in a few dozen years it might look like the slightly larger specimen growing on Shukers farm behind the group.
The instructions from Ron required us to remove a small area of grass, two spades by two spades, dig over the ground that was uncovered. Then the tree "plug" was popped into a hole in the loosened soil, firmed in and a stake knocked in alongside - missing the roots. Apparently many bare rooted saplings are killed off by exposing the roots to icy or drying winds, so they need to be kept in the plastic bag until the moment of planting. A tree shelter made from corrugated plastic was then placed over the small tree and tied to the stake. The tree shelter stops attacks by rabbits or other small creatures, but also provides an excellent miniature greenhouse environment to encourage growth. Finally the grass that was dug out is placed face down around the tree - this provides some nutrient but also reduces competition with the tree until its roots are re-established.
Guide Leader Joy Hitchen had obtained the 30 small specimens. The tree shelters were sponsored by the Rotary Club of Haslington. Thanks also to Brian from the Cheshire East Rangers and the parents of the Guides.
During a break in the rain we managed to plant three locally grown oak trees together with a pack of 30 smaller specimens to develop a small copse close to Fowle Brook.
The trees included Hazel, Holly, Dogwood, Hawthorne and Dog rose.Tree warden Colin Lythgoe identifies the small oak, surrounded by the tree planters. If we come back in a few dozen years it might look like the slightly larger specimen growing on Shukers farm behind the group.
The instructions from Ron required us to remove a small area of grass, two spades by two spades, dig over the ground that was uncovered. Then the tree "plug" was popped into a hole in the loosened soil, firmed in and a stake knocked in alongside - missing the roots. Apparently many bare rooted saplings are killed off by exposing the roots to icy or drying winds, so they need to be kept in the plastic bag until the moment of planting. A tree shelter made from corrugated plastic was then placed over the small tree and tied to the stake. The tree shelter stops attacks by rabbits or other small creatures, but also provides an excellent miniature greenhouse environment to encourage growth. Finally the grass that was dug out is placed face down around the tree - this provides some nutrient but also reduces competition with the tree until its roots are re-established.
Guide Leader Joy Hitchen had obtained the 30 small specimens. The tree shelters were sponsored by the Rotary Club of Haslington. Thanks also to Brian from the Cheshire East Rangers and the parents of the Guides.
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