Well, that was fun! On Sunday, 23rd March it stayed dry for the 23 volunteers that came along to help tidy up the start of the snicket that leads down from New Mill Road, past SP Designs and Holmfirth Fresh Fish towards Miry Lane, Thongsbridge.

We encourage young folk to join in on our community projects, and welcomed 4 young Holmfirth High School ladies., 3 of which needing to complete 12 hours working on projects over 6 events that are part of tasks needing to be undertaken towards achieving their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.

Prior to Sunday we asked the Holme Valley unity if anyone could help us by cutting down a very large tree that had fallen over the snicket just past Holmfirth Fresh Fish. We struck gold, as on a Wednesday, Peaked Tree Services came down (Robert and his son) and did a fantastic job, not only cutting this huge tree down but shredding most of it too, cutting the trunks and branches into manageable pieces.

The snicket is safe again to walk under and opened up to let the light back in. Nearly all of the trunk pieces have since been taken by people who will keep them for their wood burners next Winter.

Then 2 days later on the Friday, we welcomed Thomas Bray who offered to cut down yet another fallen tree further down the snicket. Again, another great service was provided by an experienced professional, carried out safely as was before with again, all tree trunks were collected by people for using next Winter.

Our gratitude for both Robert, his son and Thomas Bray for their time, given freely, to make these will travelled walkways clear for all to use and enjoy.

Neighbours backing onto the snicket also came along to help, which stretched from near New Mill Road to a limited distance along the snicket.

The DoE girls were tasked to tackle an incredible amount of litter and glass from the adjoining slopes, not just the first section of the snicket, but the whole length.

All volunteers worked as a team, some using, hand tools, while others Strimmers needed to cut through the dense brambles that hadn’t been cut in years.

NO – Nesting Birds, Hedgehogs, Bee’s or Mice were seen or disturbed in the area we were able to attend to over a four hour period we worked.

Our intention is to make this snicket a much nicer place to walk down next year with the installation of c.1,000 daffodil bulbs in the Autumn after a final survey of growth during the coming seasons.

We would like to also like to thank the following for their support :

• Local neighbour Jill Dunford for baking some delicious cookies “Chocolate Chip”- “Butterscotch” – Mini Eggs”, all well received when volunteers took a well ear.ed break around 11:30am. Jill also provided flasks of Hot Chocolate plus toilet facilities if needed, thank you Jill x.
• Bluebird Bakery in Holmfirth also provided a supply of Chocolate Brownies and Flapjacks.
• Holmfirth Co-op provided biscuits and bottled water.
• Holmfirth Fresh Fish, allowung us to put a quantity of filled builders bags into their weekly skip, which has been such a help.
• SP Designs for a great deal on the printing of 12 new hi-vis tabards which helps us tremendously with our groups finances.

We, as a group always bring with us a large hot water dispenser for tea and coffee plus an ample supply of sugar and cups of course.

In total, 12 builders bags and 11 black bags were either filled with green waste or litter related items, which included much glass.

There is so much more we could report on that’s been happening which will have to wait for now, but you will notice something’s yourself if walking around Holmfirth Town Centre.

Thank you to all the volunteers and those who follow us – current following of 3,324 and growing fast.

Win, Karen and all Holmepride-CiA volunteers.