Studfold Farm: 30-04-13

Editor's note: This week's blog entry is written by one of our new NCVs. Thanks for taking the plunge Terry!

The venue today was at Studfold Farm near How Stean; the task to check on and maintain the thousand or more newly planted trees. The young trees had been planted earlier this year by our volunteers and army apprentice cadets from Pennypot. The strong winds following planting had caused some damage which needed fixing.

After leaving our cars, eleven volunteers and our Ranger Paul walked about two miles and climbed a thousand feet carrying all our equipment - spades, club hammers, stakes and new trees. Someone in management had decreed that we no longer needed the land rover!
(The worst joke of the day was related to this issue. The award goes to Ros K. who, carrying a bucket loaded with lump hammers down the track at the end of the task, commented that 'this is beyond the pale.' Groan.)

As we arrived at the first location some of us decided that we should have lunch and call it a day but the boss and our Ranger insisted we worked. The damage was fairly minimal and only required straightening a few trees, knocking in stakes and adjusting ties. 

At the end of the long walk up the 

hillside the task begins. 

Is there anybody there?Gill tentatively 
peers down a tube, looking for signs of life .


Yep - there is something there -
and it is starting to grow green leaves.
The original planting has been successful!

                                             

The task continues further down the hillside. 

Tube after tube after tube after.....

We worked our way gradually back down the valley and stopped for lunch overlooking Blayshaw Gill, a delightful stream with waterfalls and pools running down a gorge - perfect.

Jan soaks up the sun and John
impersonates a cool dude in his sun glasses.

Terry M. gazes out over the view, thinking profound thoughts,
whilst Angela tries to hide behind a pheasant feeder.

Ros E. gives an impromptu post-prandial tutorial on 'Clearing your Chakras' - something she feels everyone should do before setting out on a day's volunteering. (Ros K. followed this up with a demonstration of her take on morning yoga exercises.)

The weather was beautiful, warm and sunny so getting us to move and resume work after lunch required all the motivational skills of our leader. We did finish the job and planted another twenty trees before heading back. Another good day.

Terry M.