We happy band of brothers – and sisters!
As the rain fell, your correspondent arrived in Old Leo’s carpark, his customary five minutes late, expecting to find no one there, but NO! Beneath the trees there lurked a veritable crowd of indomitable and enthusiastic Friends!
In all nine of us turned up today despite the heavy rain. We soon split into two teams: the litterpickers and the path clearers. Your correspondent was one of the path clearers and so this report will largely focus on their exploits.
Before we go on, though, a big hand for the four litter pickers – Jen, Win, Steph and Carol – who did a wonderful job.
Back to the path clearers. Two large trees had partially fallen over and were precariously suspended by other trees over paths.
The first was over the diagonal path that starts from the right of Crag Lane just before you 
reach the carpark. That path was also very overgrown with holly. So Ade and Cat cut back some of the holly – assisted by your correspondent – while the big men attached a rope and winch to the tree. Astonishingly, the sun came out about quarter of an hour after we started!
Once the tree was all winched up, Ade and Cat acted as lookouts while we winched the tree off its resting place and brought it crashing down to the ground – completely blocking the path. We then had a happy half hour of sawing and lopping to clear the path.
Having cleared the tree, we then descended the path to complete the pruning back of the holly.
There she blows!
Then on to the second tree – on the path below the cricket field. Here a large branch had snapped off and was dangling over the path, held up by a strip of bark, at the right height for someone to decide to swing on it!
In mid flight!
Again we attached the rope and winch to it and from a safe distance pulled it down from its resting place. Ten minutes of sawing and lopping and the tree was cleared from the path.
We also took the opportunity to cut back some of the holly further along the path towards the picnic area.
We were back in the carpark for 12.15 pm, so not a bad morning’s work.
As we loaded the car with equipment, Steph was bracken bashing at the Buck Stone.
Thank you to everyone who came along.
See you in a month then!
Friends of Adel Woods 