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Bough-men of Winston

Founded November 2014 by John (Master) and Eiann (Bastard) as a branch of the Bowmen of Winston

 

John and Eiann's Tree-climbing Log

 

Log entry: 19-3-2015

Weather conditions: very favourable. No wind, except that which we might have contributed; fair and sunny; outlook: almost cloudless.

 

Equipment used: rope (for safety only...mostly!)

First tree-climb: Hedgeholme, Winston, Co Durham: Trinity. So named because of its three-pronged bole, and from the trinity of John, me, and the tree.

Height: 92 feet (approximately!)

We have graded it as a 6. This takes into account the physical difficulty of the ascent, the amount of trunk at the base bare of branches, and the 'atmosphere' of its location. If it had not been for one wrist-sized, dying branch tantalisingly out of reach, but in the end reachable, we would have had to grade it higher.

This beech tree does have great presence because it stands in its own arena within the wood; that, and its well-proportioned and proud stature make it a most pleasing tree to behold. It behoves reverence, I feel.

For a first climb, it was most satisfying to complete. To mark our ascent, we left a small wooden disc engraved (using pyrography) with our initials and the year. We plan to do this with every climb.

Many thanks to Jeanette, our 'scorcherer' and fairy-queen, for making the magic discs.

 

Tree-climb number two: South of Winston Bridge, County Durham: Twister. So named for its twisted bifurcated trunk. Technically probably another trident, but two limbs had twisted as one, leaving a fork.

Height: 74 feet. (But add to that the twenty feet down to the river, and...?)

Unsure what species of tree this is. We will have to do some research.

We have graded this one as 7. Our assessment was based on its imposing, almost dark, nature and its situation, perched as it was on the crest of a twenty foot slope above the river Tees. Unlike the open location of Tree one, this contender stood among others in a shaded area of the wood. It was branchless at its base section, probably as much as twenty feet. Relatively young ivy threaded its way up most of the main sections, providing, on occasion, some very convenient purchases. In fact, I think without the ivy, we may not have been able to get up that bottom section.

Very tricky to ascend because of the branchless base section. John's hands suffered all manner of cuts and abrasions from hand-jamming between the twisted boles. Climbing to the first safe hand-hold thoroughly knackered the pair of us! Farther up, the bark roughened, somewhat, and dead branches were aplenty, but we survived.

 

In the fading light of day, we found a safe place to build a fire. A fitting end to a challenging day. We cooked bacon, sandwiched it between buttered bread, and ate and talked to the accompaniment of evensong and the cry of owls until all that remained was the peace of night, the clink of embers glowing, and the contentment of friends.

 

beech tree, Trinity

Trinity: our first climb.

success!

Success! (That's Winston church on the horizon and the river Tees in the background)

disc 1

Disc 1

Twister

Twister

Disc 2

Disc 2 (and John's hand)

Logging off

Branch Secretary (Underling).

 

Sunday 6th September 2015

A beautifully clear and warm day, very much like that on our previous expeditions.

This, our third climb, was discovered by John in the wood behind Darlington's football stadium. We think it is a Scots Pine, and Old Spike is the name we have fondly lent it because its coarse, flaky bark left a few holes and scratches in our own. I say fondly, for though it always threatened to let us down, quite literally, through an expected and imminent breaking away of its many rotten stubs and branches, it never actually yielded even one; and for that we are most grateful. We came away thinking it had been kind to us.

Old Spike now bears a token of our presence in its upper boughs by way, we hope, of a mutual remembering. We wish it well.

old spike

Old Spike
(We estimated its height at around 75 feet)

view from top of old spike

That is Darlington Football Stadium in the background

 

Our next climb is but a couple of hefty stone-throws away. And we walked to it glowing with the shared satisfaction of achievement, and bouyed with enthusiasm for more of the same. It was then that we encountered a very thin lady with unnaturally avid eyes. A half-naked lady of the wood who, we felt, had perhaps sampled too much of its berries and darkling plants, or had skipped, following rays of wondrous sunshine, into our path on the way back to her field of giant poppies. We just didn't know.

 

So, climb number four is likely to be a willow in the same wood. It stands branchless for the bottom third (or more) and is accessible at about this height from a fallen tree that has reached out a limb to this one. I fear there will be much fear...mainly my own, because even the fallen tree is branchless. Though it forks at its middle, the access tree will, I am sure, provide a feeling of unprotected exposure, providing nothing to hang on to __ but our nerve! As for the willow itself...it leans away from the fallen bough as it reaches up to the light with a reasonable amount of branches from its uppsr torso. It will be another climb of character, I am sure of that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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