(Editor's note - Well done to Jan and Paul - you deserve an extra piece of flapjack next time!)
Today ten volunteers arrived for a 10am start at Kettlesing school where there were 3 tasks to be completed, but first we just had to admire(!) our fence and walling handiwork from before Christmas, which has now bedded in and looks very much part of the landscape. The quagmire had dried out around the new gate and a cluster of brave daffodils were growing up in the gate entrance. Much as these would look very attractive in bloom here, they created task no.4 - move them to a safer place! Colin took care of this one.
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| Gate entrance plus Colin = Moved daffs. |
Task 1: Five volunteers offered to put in the new hedgerow –the
plants consisted of honeysuckle, field maple, guelder rose, holly, hawthorn,
buckthorn, hazel and dog rose. These had to be planted in 2 “reasonably
straight” rows, so we staked out canes and set to. Each plant had to be
approximately a boot length apart, both along the row and from the other line
of plants. Due to a few stones below the surface and the differing sizes of
volunteers' boots, this did not always make for an accurate or harmonious result-
Dave was a stickler for “ the line”, but Hannah was convinced that curves made
suitable wind breaks for wildlife. We made compromises; the planting of the
hedgerow, together with the cane supports and protective tubes was eventually
completed to everybody’s liking!
The planting of the hedge - Dave keeps a beady eye on the straightness of the line.
Task 2: was to construct a stile in our new fence which
would make access to the field much easier. I think Howie would have liked this
to have been completed sooner- it was not an easy move to clamber over our
fence in order to plant our hedge! Anita and Will took the stile on and
achieved a great 2 step result with hand support.
Task 3: This was to stack the remaining stones that were removed from the wall when we put in the field gate. These had to be placed neatly and safely alongside the walls on either side of the gate. Although this sounds quick and easy some stones were extremely heavy and needed muscles (!) and teamwork to move them. A few stones were also pummelled down with a lump hammer where the daffodils were removed, so the entrance to the field is now “paved” with hardcore with a nice slope for easy access- a very professional look!
After lunch 14 children arrived with their class teacher to plant some Dog Rose and Hazel trees, (which the school had provided), in the far corner of their field. They also planted a few hedgerow plants alongside the new fencing. They all did this with great enthusiasm and are looking forward to seeing the growth of the new plants popping out of the top of the tubes- eventually!
Shortly after 2pm all was completed and we had an early
finish for good behaviour! Some of us
got rid of any surplus energy by tossing a couple of tennis balls around that
we found in the field. Sadly, the moles put paid to any accuracy in bowling
balls at an improvised cricket bat (a spade)!!
Ros K
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