Cotton Grass in the Cold

The Kirklees Youth Offending Team were out again on Saturday, planting the last of the cotton grass plugs on murky Buckstones. Another chilly day, and most of the gullies were still full to the top with snow.

The clouds did eventually clear, and it turned into a rather nice day. With the last of the cotton grass in the ground, the bare patches on Buckstones now look rather more healthy.

Another enjoyable day on the moors!

The White Moors of Marsden

Here are a few pictures to show what parts of the Wessenden Valley looked like covered in Snow. It was incredibly deep, and very hard to walk through, but there were some very impressive sights.

Fixed Point Photography

On a cold Saturday in December, a group of young people from the Kirklees Youth Offending Team came out on to Buckstones to do some fixed point photography. Splitting into 2 groups, we walked about the moors in the partial sunshine taking photos from particular spots.

These photos all help to make up a portfolio of images of the same spots so that we can monitor how the moors are changing, and particularly on Buckstones, so that we can see how quickly plants are starting to grow again after the fire a couple of years ago.

After stopping for a breezy lunch, we then went off looking for potential spots for gully blocking, following our noses that were following the GPS.After a few windy hours on the moors, we then headed back to Marsden.

Insect Homes For Sale!

Do you want to encourage more wildlife into your garden? If so, then we have just what you need.

We have luxury bird tables, hedgehog hotels and insect homes for sale, all handmade by Marsden Moor volunteers.

Bird tables cost £40, Hedgehog hotels cost £15 and Insect homes cost just £7, as pictured.

If you would like to purchase any of these, please contact the estate office to place your order on 01484 847016.

Flagging in the Snow

On the last Saturday in November, the weekend work party volunteers arrived in Marsden and found it looking very wintry. Snow was falling and the ground was white. A lovely day to be on the moors!

The work was doing more flag laying on the old Pennine Way and despite the path being nearly finished, there was still more than a mile walk to start our labouring. Once at the area of path we were working on, it took just one flag to be placed for everyone to be looking very dirty.

The snow stopped falling on us and we continued working hard to attempt to stay warm enough, only stopping for a cup of tea or pork pie for extra energy. By the end of the day, we had finished the section, and we trudged back to the vehicles looking like we had done a hard days' work.

Deerhill and Blackmoorfoot Walk

After 2 days of torrential rain, we all set off wrapped up to the hilt fearing the worst! However the sun was soon out and remained out for most of the 9.5 mile circular walk from Marsden around Deer Hill and Blackmoorfoot Reservoir and back through Linthwaite and Slaithwaite back along the canal to Marsden.

Andrew set a good pace and we completed the walk in 4.5 hrs with a lunch stop. Fantastic views all the way round with sunny blue skies and a stunning rainbow stretching across the valley.

A little muddy in parts, after a few hysterical screams and screeches we managed to pull ourselves out and keep the pace up. Passing through some lovely farm areas there was lots to see including young highland cattle, donkies, horses and lots of cows looking slightly bemused at our antics in the mud!

All in all a lovely day out enjoyed by all and certainly a walk I’ll being doing again!

Emma Murray.

Come Cotton Grass Planting!!

As part of the Learning Revolution Festival, we are inviting YOU to come and help us look after our moorland estate by planting some cotton grass with us. On Saturday October 31st, come to Buckstones car park on the A640 at 10.30. You can come and learn about why we need to protect the moors and stop the peat from eroding away, and help to prevent this from happening by planting cotton grass.

The event will run from 10.30 til 12.30. Please wear warm clothes and suitable boots. Come along to try something new and to get out onto the wonderful Marsden Moor!

The Vanishing of the Bees

On Thursday 29th October, The National Trust will be screening a film called The Vanishing of the Bees. Vanishing of the Bees is a shocking eye-opening account about the declining bee population. Bees are dying in their millions and are vital for pollinating a third of the food we eat. Come along to watch this film and find out about why the bees are disappearing.

The film will be shown at British Waterways, Tunnel End Visitor Centre, 2nd Floor. The show will begin at 2pm, so arrive earlier to get a good seat.

Adult tickets are £2, children, up to 16 years, get in free. Booking is advised. For more information or to book a ticket, please call 01484 847016 or email alison.mills@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Gateway to Care Taster Day

On a sunny September day a group of adults from Kirklees Gateway to Care came to visit Marsden Moor for a volunteering taster day. The day was split with two different tasks so that the group could see what different volunteering opportunities we have.


In the morning we joined in with the plant group and had a look at what they do each week on Fridays. The group then got stuck in to sowing cotton grass seeds in to pots, in the hope that they will grow and can be planted out on the moors.

In the afternoon we had a trip up to Wessenden to take some of the fencing down. After a steep climb up to the top, everyone then got stuck in, helping to pull out posts and roll up wire, while also trying not to fall down any holes

Flag Laying at White Moss

On a lovely sunny day at the end of July, a team of four ventured out to lay some flags on the old Pennine Way.

Having crossed a large wet patch without any casualties, it was then down hill all the way, manoevouring the massive stones into place.

After a hard days work, and being considerably muddier and sweatier than when we started, we sat to admire our fabulous stretch of path in the sun, and to enjoy the views across the estate.