Restoring Hardknott Forest

We're up north in the Scottish Highlands (well some of us are) finishing off our pine marten monitoring work after the successful Cumbrian releases. More info in our next newsletter. ⤵️ mailchi.mp/1dd189bd3314/r…

Here's a quick selection from our Spring residential at the weekend. 2000 trees planted, a few complimentary Northern Monk beers drunk, new friendships made. Great stuff as usual. Full write up and next dates in the April newsletter. mailchi.mp/1dd189bd3314/r…

Congratulations to Dan & Harry, two new staff at Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery, who have passed their chainsaw training. As well as non-native tree removal, they'll be using their new skillz to make larch into posts, boards for leaky dams & raised beds for the tree nursery.

Our Spring residential is next weekend, and thanks to generous support from NORTHERN MONK we'll have free beer at this one (and 2000 trees to plant). One ticket left ⤵️ @Krankenhausfest @WoodlandTrust @nationaltrust trybooking.com/uk/FMUB

Catkins on a hazel tree (Corylus avellana) with a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) behind and the branches of a juniper (Juniperus communis) in the bottom right, on the Findhorn Hinterland yesterday.

@impsandblues @mays_farm I thought he looked familiar.

@mays_farm Christopher looks like the cover of a Chumbawumba album

Anyone know Christopher? Happy 21st chap and would you like your ballon back before one of my cows eats it?

Yesterday was a perfect day for collecting juniper berries to grow on. Nursery manager Julia is busy preparing growing space, with nursery volunteer days starting soon. Thanks to Chris & George at High Wallabarrow Farm for showing us their impressive stand of juniper.

This was brilliant last year. We'll be there with our stall and a guided walk.

Another successful team up of Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery and @nationaltrust staff. 1000 trees planted at Black Hall farm in the north of the valley. Aspen, oak, birch, hazel & willow were added to a couple of existing fenced areas. @lakedistrictnpa @TreeNewsFeed

Proof that no-one listens to me...I specifically said not to take offence.

Great example of teamwork on Harter Fell yesterday, removing a redundant fence. With a big chunk already done by the farmer, we were able to get the rest of the fence down & ready to remove. Cheers to teams from Fix the Fells, @nationaltrust & Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery.

Top instruction from Steve @nationaltrust and Hincksy (Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery) for our first volunteer hedge laying day. Video below. More days next year. Vol days are advertised in our newsletter which you can get here: mailchi.mp/1dd189bd3314/r…

One ticket left!

@AlanWatsonFeat1 Thanks for that information Alan. It seems to fit with what we're seeing as our plantation pines are gradually naturalising.

@HardknottForest Yes, there has been selective breeding of Scots pines for a long time to create straighter-stemmed trees for commercial timber purposes. See, for example: plantedforests.org/planted-scots-…

For many people their image of a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is a straight telegraph pole-like tree with no side branches. That's because they are grown like that in commercial plantations. In a native forest like Glen Affric here, they have abundant branches & real character.

Find out more about how the Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery project is impacting on farmer's livelihoods, and the habitats & wildlife of the Duddon valley. New video ⤵️ youtu.be/wJ9OAA4BuG0?si…

Three steps in removing a Sitka spruce sapling: 1) identify the sapling 2) completely remove using loppers or a saw 3) leave a clean stump that won't regenerate. Loads of natural regen on this site (rowan, willow, oak) to fill the gaps.

One place left for Sunday's volunteer day ⤵️ trybooking.com/uk/FMTT

If you fancy a bit of non-native tree removal, tree & wildflower planting, or tree tube removal use the link below to book onto a day. Or get in touch for more info: j.h.hodgson@leeds.ac.uk bag.leeds.ac.uk/projects/resto…

@northnthat We still book in for a meal at the Newfield. I'll send the info out soon.

@HardknottForest Ooohhh nice. Is the visit to the boozer at Seathwaite no longer a thing like? Now the bunk barn has been superseded...?

Just 2 tickets left for our residential conservation weekend in March. Thanks to generous support from #NorthernMonk we'll have FREE BEER at this one. And long-time supporter & volunteer Tony has just sent us some FANCY COFFEE for us too! Booking link⤵️ trybooking.com/uk/FMUB