There were fires on the moors yesterday - the smoke was billowing down through the village of Outlane by about 2pm. Fire engines screaming up the road followed shortly after.....
The land on fire wasn't owned by the National Trust (the group with who I am currently volunteering) but it was quite close.....
Rumour has it that some lads were challenged by a local landowner for riding their motorbikes across the moors, so they returned to burn his land..... they lit three fires going across the hills between Marsden and Holmfirth way.
Don't quote me on that but it's as plausible as any other theory I've heard.
We have observed, while out there on the hills, how dry everything is at the moment, and it's definitely approaching "fire season".....
Anyways.... the fires were out pretty efficiently..... Yorkshire Live did their usual hack-job of reporting it....
So, today, back out litter picking.....
First up the A640 a few miles from my house. More cannabis tips, tyres, tin cans, bottles of piss, bits of cars, wet wipes.... and of course a spent, disposable barbeque.... <shudders>
Then an afternoon in a blistering hot polytunnel, planting sphagnum mosses...... i don't know mosses very well yet, but i can tell you the codes we were using then i'll endeavour to find the names and some pictures......
Squar - squarrosa?
Cap - capillifolium?
Sub - subnitens?
Pap - papillosum?
Pretty knackered today..... gonna enjoy an easy Friday, catching up on some admin and probably looking for paid work.
Quote of the day: "I now think i've got favourite moss!" - Declan
Not my picture today (for a change) but here's a nifty graphic that always makes me smile.... it's something called "desire paths" and i always remember this story....... at Microsoft (back in t'day) there was a big grassy area outside Bill Gates' office windows..... he used to watch the people who followed the circuitous footpath as it wended its way around the outside, but would readily select those who followed their own desire paths and take shortcuts across the area - maybe true/untrue but i always love a desire path. Hope this makes you chuckle as much as it makes me chuckle.
So early in the year for those fires near Marsden... and yes - I did find the path sequence cartoon amusing. Good luck with the ongoing job hunt!
ReplyDeleteyeah i thought it was early but it's very dry out there and you wouldn't believe how busy these areas get as soon as the sun even threatens to shine!! Thanks - J
DeleteThat's fairly disgusting litter you're picking up, I hope you are provided with strong gloves. The desire paths sequence is a good one.
ReplyDeleteyeah, i mean, there's not much scope in terms of litter about what is good and what isn't ..... it's all fking heavy after a while!! Gloves are supplied..... but i forgot mine and left them in the van yesterday.... boo!
DeleteDo you have one of those litter pickers? Volunteers are a godsend, in our part of the world, which is the Hebden Bridge/Todmorden area, they remake the pathways across the moors.
ReplyDeleteThelma, Southerner trapped up North in a deep and dark valley called Caldervale ;)
the National Trust provide all the equipment we need..... BUT.... i can confirm that i take my own litter picker and hoop with me.... i just prefer my own, that's all...... the volunteering bit can be hard work but it's nice when you see what you've achieved - i recommend it
DeleteWhat ignorant pillocks.
ReplyDeleteyou're not wrong
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