Santa tree guard
Highlights of our winter volunteering activities so far
We’ve had some really enjoyable (and productive) sessions over the last two months; continuing hedge laying along the Swale Trail (watch Margaret’s latest video here), creating new woodland at Gunnerside (aided brilliantly by local school children from Yrs 3-6), and extending Booze Wood northwards (ably helped by ‘James Herriot”s daughter Rosie Page who has been an enthusiastic supporter of our projects). We’ve also created a hazel copse in Muker, extended an upland scrub in Arkengarthdale using locally sourced willows, and got close to finishing our tree guard removal project at Storthwaite.
Woodland corridor planted in Langthwaite extending Booze wood northwards. About 350 saplings spanning 20 species were planted to produce a mixed wood. Many thanks to all the volunteers who came out to help plant the trees across two days. Thanks also to the landowners for the chocolates/biscuits!
A lovely sunny day spent up above Gunnerside, planting a new wildlife corridor to join ‘Grandad’s Wood’ to ‘Granny’s Wood’ at Pear House. A huge thanks to the landowners, and years 5 and 6 from Reeth & Gunnerside School for working so diligently and enthusiastically alongside our grown up volunteers.
Section of dead hedge created along the Swale Trail by the hedge laying team. It’s a great way to use up the brash cut when hedge laying and fill a gap in the living hedge with a visual barrier and wildlife corridor. Many thanks to Peter!
One of the few final areas of tree guards that need removing at a 9-acre young woodland in Arkengarthdale. Thanks to all the volunteers who have joined us in this very satisfying task so far. Another day should do it!
Join us in January and February to beat those winter blues
Our volunteering schedule for January and February is now available and what a great way to kick start the new year! We have a good mix of tree and hedge planting, hedge laying and tree-guard clearance with a choice of weekday and weekend options. In short, something for everyone! Please sign up using the online signup sheet here, or email us if you have problems, and we’ll sign you up.
Interested in a Yorkshire Peat Partnership Workshop?
The Yorkshire Peat Partnership has contacted Sustainable Swaledale to gauge interest in a workshop that it plans to hold as part of an ongoing project at Nethergill Farm—helping people access, learn about and get involved with peatlands.
The proposed workshop would start with a guided walk across the blanket bog to see restoration work, led by Yorkshire Peat Partnership staff; followed by a drawing session led by Dr Ali Foxon (founder of the Green Sketching movement), focusing on drawing as a way of slowing down and connecting with nature.
The drawings would then be used by Ali to create a mosaic for an exhibition at Nethergill Farm from the end of March for a few months, after which the artwork would be returned. (No art skills or former art experience are needed).
The suggested date would be sometime in March, and would run from 10am-3pm. The group would organise a minibus, with space limited to 12 people. To express an interest in joining, please email Margaret on info@sustainableswaledale.org.
Tis the season to cosy up with a good nature book/film/podcast…
Looking for inspiration for your next nature-based read? The resources section on the Yorkshire Rewilding Network website includes a wealth of first-hand book recommendations, as well podcasts, films, and an ever-expanding back catalogue of free Yorkshire and UK-focused webinars.
If you attended Jon Lovett’s discussion of nature and economics at our December meeting, you might also like to deep dive into the various Natural England publications he recommended. These include:
Natural England’s Science, Evidence & Analysis Framework 2025-2030 – NE795.
NERR137 Edition 1 State of Natural Capital Report for England 2024
NERR092 Natural Capital Evidence Handbook 2021
Wansbeck Restoration for Climate Change – NICRE
(Money doesn’t grow on trees but local economies can…)
Group Meeting
The next meeting will be in February—details tbc in the January edition of the newsletter.
In the meantime, we wish you all a merry christmas and a wonderful start to the new year!