I can't resist a work party so when I saw there was one up in NE Derbyshire, I decided the time had come for a neighbourly visit from England (Mids) 
The forecast was decidedly balmy so I combined work with pleasure and packed up the latest stock for a longer than usual test drive. They don't usually take 3 days but hey, you gotta be sure
First job was preparing a firepit in the lovely secluded area designated for a communal. A couple of fallen trees made a great bench and backdrop for the traditional scavenged materials used
The wood is predominantly larch and not been managed for nearly 20 years so theres a fair bit of deadfall around, plenty for this lovely tool to get its tooth into
One of the problems is a semi-fallen tree over the communal which leans against another... it must have happened a long while ago because both still live and have grown around each other in an almost symbiotic bond Very interesting but an undoubted PIA for the guys to remove as the melding is about 12-15' up
As more arrived, kit was dumped and folk pitched in with the work, starting on the woodpile which will be covered with a raftered lean-to roof overhanging for better weather protection. The whole wood is a work in progress- the trustees hope to introduce more diverse tree species to become more representative of broad leaf woodland. It's a real privilege to see such a long term undertaking beginning
There's something about being with trees that makes people want to climb up them, isn't there? I think stringing a parachute support was just an excuse, really...
The firepit performed really well with some longer larch trunks 'firing' the clay walls prior to a planned stoned surround. It burned in a really interesting way, almost thermocycling the heat and flame in a swirl around the 4 sides, making a really interesting and hot fire which threw out loads of heat- I've not seen how larch burns before and was surprised there was so little remnants and zero embers the next morning after such a handsome fire
There were a few camps dotted around- just under 15 acres meant plenty of space for everyone, with great pitches for ground dwellers and swingers alike! I wish I'd got a closer picture of this USA silnylon lightweight tarp, Mark had connected the adjusters directly to the pegouts so it tightened beautifully using curved edges to pull the tension along the fabrics bias. I *think* that was the theory, any way I'm told they are called catenary cut (no connection or recommendation etc but the link pictures it much better than I managed!)
Lots of holly stands made for plentiful areas to tuck away discretely.... as discretely as neon pink cordage could possibly be, anyhow!
Lots of willing hands made light work of truncating the communal deadfall for recycling into the woodpile. It's made the area a lot more user freindly- it had a lovely ambience and feel which has been enhanced by the sensitive work done
The woodpile grew steadily over the weekend... its hard to resist the pull of a good tool for a graft in the sunshine so folk took turns on the yard axe and everyone got a good 'first warm' from the wood
One of the splitters revealed a mummified blue tit- one of a couple we found over the weekend- which had fallen into the heartwood hole and become wedged.
There were plenty of opportunities for a brew break as people turned up for a chat and a well earned relax... I love work parties soooo much!
Another set up- the wood is in the lee of a peak alongside a valley so its naturally well protected. Considering there were still snow drifts along the roads on the way up, it was surprisingly sheltered considering the veiws across the counties from its periphery.
I thought the lads were making fun of the visitor when they told me that a lot of Derbyshire farms have 24/7 vending machines for their home made produce.... yeah, RIGHT!! Turns out I was the one with freshly laid egg on my face when I came across this while collecting Stu's lovely lass Gemma.... one in the eye for the megamarkets, eh?!
With Gemmas arrival, us lasses came as near as I've ever seen to outnumbering the lads! It was brilliant to finish for the day, cook, chat and relax together
One of the group (apologies but I've forgotton who) had filtered some beeswax to make small can candles which sat beautifully in the root ball like a little Shrine to the Fallen Apparently you can soak kitchen roll in melted wax and twist it tight for a wick which will burn for hours in ones of these, another on the ever lengthening list of 'must try's
Sunday morning dawned to a beautiful day so we stripped down camp in leisurely fashion. The woodstore has plenty of rafters- often thanks to Gemma, who didn't return from a walk without a 12' pole in her hand!- there's a good supply of fuel and a good few camp tables/ seats. A really profitable weekend with the feelgood factor of good work, done well
Before we left, I had a stroll around the footpaths around the edge of the wood. It's stunningly photogenic!
Some of the dry stone walls are still tumbled...
... but they're being slowly (and beautifully) repaired. Derby has a georgeous Shire
Absent freinds came to mind when I saw this bark formation around the heartwood- if the punky dead wood could take a suggestion of a female form, the bark would make an excellent angels wings, looking across the valley
It was a great weekend. MUCH respects to the lovely Derbyshire crew for making me feel so welcomed, I have a super cast iron pan as a momento... and aching shoulders... it was great meeting with you all, thanks for sharing your camp with me!
The forecast was decidedly balmy so I combined work with pleasure and packed up the latest stock for a longer than usual test drive. They don't usually take 3 days but hey, you gotta be sure First job was preparing a firepit in the lovely secluded area designated for a communal. A couple of fallen trees made a great bench and backdrop for the traditional scavenged materials used
The wood is predominantly larch and not been managed for nearly 20 years so theres a fair bit of deadfall around, plenty for this lovely tool to get its tooth into
One of the problems is a semi-fallen tree over the communal which leans against another... it must have happened a long while ago because both still live and have grown around each other in an almost symbiotic bond
Very interesting but an undoubted PIA for the guys to remove as the melding is about 12-15' up
As more arrived, kit was dumped and folk pitched in with the work, starting on the woodpile which will be covered with a raftered lean-to roof overhanging for better weather protection. The whole wood is a work in progress- the trustees hope to introduce more diverse tree species to become more representative of broad leaf woodland. It's a real privilege to see such a long term undertaking beginning
There's something about being with trees that makes people want to climb up them, isn't there? I think stringing a parachute support was just an excuse, really...
The firepit performed really well with some longer larch trunks 'firing' the clay walls prior to a planned stoned surround. It burned in a really interesting way, almost thermocycling the heat and flame in a swirl around the 4 sides, making a really interesting and hot fire which threw out loads of heat- I've not seen how larch burns before and was surprised there was so little remnants and zero embers the next morning after such a handsome fire
There were a few camps dotted around- just under 15 acres meant plenty of space for everyone, with great pitches for ground dwellers and swingers alike! I wish I'd got a closer picture of this USA silnylon lightweight tarp, Mark had connected the adjusters directly to the pegouts so it tightened beautifully using curved edges to pull the tension along the fabrics bias. I *think* that was the theory, any way
I'm told they are called catenary cut (no connection or recommendation etc but the link pictures it much better than I managed!)
Lots of holly stands made for plentiful areas to tuck away discretely.... as discretely as neon pink cordage could possibly be, anyhow!
Lots of willing hands made light work of truncating the communal deadfall for recycling into the woodpile. It's made the area a lot more user freindly- it had a lovely ambience and feel which has been enhanced by the sensitive work done
The woodpile grew steadily over the weekend... its hard to resist the pull of a good tool for a graft in the sunshine so folk took turns on the yard axe and everyone got a good 'first warm' from the wood
One of the splitters revealed a mummified blue tit- one of a couple we found over the weekend- which had fallen into the heartwood hole and become wedged.
There were plenty of opportunities for a brew break as people turned up for a chat and a well earned relax... I love work parties soooo much!
Another set up- the wood is in the lee of a peak alongside a valley so its naturally well protected. Considering there were still snow drifts along the roads on the way up, it was surprisingly sheltered considering the veiws across the counties from its periphery.
I thought the lads were making fun of the visitor when they told me that a lot of Derbyshire farms have 24/7 vending machines for their home made produce.... yeah, RIGHT!! Turns out I was the one with freshly laid egg on my face when I came across this while collecting Stu's lovely lass Gemma.... one in the eye for the megamarkets, eh?!
With Gemmas arrival, us lasses came as near as I've ever seen to outnumbering the lads! It was brilliant to finish for the day, cook, chat and relax together
One of the group (apologies but I've forgotton who) had filtered some beeswax to make small can candles which sat beautifully in the root ball like a little Shrine to the Fallen
Apparently you can soak kitchen roll in melted wax and twist it tight for a wick which will burn for hours in ones of these, another on the ever lengthening list of 'must try's
Sunday morning dawned to a beautiful day so we stripped down camp in leisurely fashion. The woodstore has plenty of rafters- often thanks to Gemma, who didn't return from a walk without a 12' pole in her hand!- there's a good supply of fuel and a good few camp tables/ seats. A really profitable weekend with the feelgood factor of good work, done well
Before we left, I had a stroll around the footpaths around the edge of the wood. It's stunningly photogenic!
Some of the dry stone walls are still tumbled...
... but they're being slowly (and beautifully) repaired. Derby has a georgeous Shire
Absent freinds came to mind when I saw this bark formation around the heartwood- if the punky dead wood could take a suggestion of a female form, the bark would make an excellent angels wings, looking across the valley
It was a great weekend. MUCH respects to the lovely Derbyshire crew for making me feel so welcomed, I have a super cast iron pan as a momento... and aching shoulders
... it was great meeting with you all, thanks for sharing your camp with me!
