May Health Walk

It was a rather nice day for the second health walk in May - not too much wind, just a breeze, and a bit warmer than it has been too. There were not as many on the walk as there have been in previous weeks, but still a nice group.

The walk went to the edge of the moors with good views across to Pule Hill and all across the north of the Marsden Moor Estate, before coming back along the stream leading to Tunnel End. A nice morning walk to make you ready for lunch time!

Health walks run on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month, meeting at 10.45 at our Exhibition Room, usually returning at about 12.30. It's a good chance to stretch those legs, get some fresh air, perhaps discover a new place and to meet new people - including our lovely volunteers!!

More Plant Fair Pictures

Plant Fair Success!

Our annual Plant Fair was held on Sunday, and this year it was bigger and better than before! The morning started off lovely. We were working in the sunshine at 6am, just a shame it didn't stay like that the whole day. All the plants were set up and the additional stalls in place for the fair to open at 10am.

New for this year, we had Thurlstone Owl Sanctuary, local produce stalls, some lovely cakes and chocolates and also National Trust products for sale too, as well as children's activities. The giant snakes and ladders seemed to be a hit!

There were a few heavy downpours during the day, but that didn't stop some of the dedicated shoppers. The rest of us sheltered under the gazebos until the rain calmed down a bit.

And when it came to packing up, it didn't take too long at all as so many plants had been sold. A great day, and lots of money made to go towards the work needed to maintain our moors. Thanks to everyone who helped or came to support the event!!

Preparing the Plants...

Our annual plant fair working holiday are currently out in the yard working very hard! A group of 12 people come each year for a week preceeding the annual plant fair to label the pots and get the plants looking pristine ready for sale!

It's been a bit of a damp start to the working week although it is brightening up so hopefully by the big day on Sunday we'll be back to some proper sunny weather again.

The plants are being crated up ready to be transported down to the big car park where the plant sale will take place.

It's going to be a busy week for the working holiday!

More flag laying in Easter sunshine

17 flag stones were laid today on the Thieves Clough path by some of the Kirklees Youth Offenders. It was very hard work, and a good thing there were a fair few of us so we could break often! Some flags were so large it took all of us to move them into place. I think everyone will deserve their Easter Eggs tomorrow...!

The Highfields Garden Group

Highfields Community Centre in Huddersfield have been growing a variety of plants for us which we will be selling at our Plant and Spring Fair on 22nd May. The group started off growing moorland plants for us which we will planting out on the moors once they are big enough, and have now moved on to garden plants and vegetables. It is a great project for the group as they can watch the plants growing through the weeks, and it is an activity that helps to improve their co-ordination skills too.

All the money raised from the plants sold at the Marsden Moor Plant and Spring Fair goes towards the conservation of the moors. The plant sale runs from 10am - 3pm on Sunday 22nd May. There is free entry, free parking and more than just plants too! Children's activities, Thurlstone Owl Sanctuary, local food producers and more!!

Kirklees Youth Offending Team video

The Kirklees Youth Offending Team are carrying on with their sessions - the last one was in fabulous sunshine, flag laying on Thieves Clough. Some rather big slabs to move, some needing everyone there to help shift them! A good session until it was unfortunately cut short by the fire on Close Moss.

Check out the video about the partnership working between Marsden Moor and the Kirklees Youth Offending Team at www.outdoornation.org.uk

Welly Walks

Fancy a family walk during the Easter holidays, or just fancy a guided walk that is easier than a hike over the moors? Come on our Welly Walk! Our first one is on April 20th, meeting at Marsden Station at 10am. The walk will be going down the canal towpath to Slaithwaite and back. Hopefully there will be plenty of puddles to be jumped in on the way!

There will be more Welly Walks through the year too, one on May 30th and one on July 29th. Check the website for more details on these.

Don't forget - our health walks also run on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month, come along to enjoy the scenery and have a good chat with our friendly volunteers and wardens!

Our New Van

We were able to buy a new vehicle in the autumn last year in order to have sufficient vehicles for all the activities we do - volunteer work parties, community group activities and going to events.

We have now finally had it signed up so you can tell that it is a National Trust vehicle. Using money from the Youth Offending Team to get the work done, our shiny new van has on our logo and on the back a super picture of conservation work on the moors - a beautiful sunny day doing some flag laying on White Moss.

As we were able to use the Youth Offending money to get it done, we have also put their logo on the van to highlight our work together. Our partnership working ables us to work with many young people that would not necessarily come to somewhere such as Marsden Moor - it is a great project of which we are very proud.

Highfields Joint Work

A group from Highfields Community Centre in Huddersfield have been doing more work with us recently. Over the winter, they have been planting moorland seeds in the hopes that they will grow into plug plants that can be planted onto the moors when the are large enough.

Now that spring is finally here, they are continuing to grow seeds for us, but now it is vegetable and flower seeds that they are growing. These will be sold at our Plant and Spring Fair, which is our largest plant sale of the year, as well as at the weekly yard sales throughout the summer.

The latest project is a small group working towards their John Muir Awards. The group had their first session for the award on the moors yesterday, digging out rhododendrons from the Wessenden Valley - a spectacular spot. They will be coming for 6 sessions over 3 months as well as doing work back at their base as well.