Tree Planting at Wilson's Plantation, High Birstwith: 04-3-2014

After four weeks of unavoidable absence I was pleased to be able to return to the fold today and join my other family. What a day to have chosen - excellent weather, a beautiful location and a free lunch!

10 NCVs (including a new member, Stewart) met Paul at Bell House, High Birstwith where we were tasked with planting 120 oak and wild cherry trees in Wilson's Plantation. The trees and their accompanying equipment were provided by Sean Kelly, one of the Nidderdale AONB's Firm Friends for the company Richard Austin Alloys.

During the morning we planted about 50 of the trees on a piece of hillside that had just been cleared of conifers. 

The sun shines on the hillside - the trees lay waiting.

The peace is shattered as the NCVs descend and make a start.

The theory was that the trees would be planted 3m apart - a theory soon abandoned when it was realised that they just had to be planted wherever a hole could be dug. Intervening rocks and old conifer roots prevented the perfect plan from happening. There was a good deal of hole envy and tree root envy going on; NCVs were heard bartering - "My hole won't go down any further so can I swap my long rooted tree for your spready outy one?" Other, more devious NCVs simply pinched prized short rooted trees, that had already been collected for a particular hole, when their owner wasn't looking.

 Paul prays his tree will survive.

Will heels in the soil around the newly planted tree. 

This was one hole that was nice and soft to dig. Lucky Will!

That's the tree tie, now just the plastic spiral and then I can stand up straight... 

After a well earned cup of tea we then trailed off down hill, carrying all our equipment and the rest of the trees, to the next section of woodland - a deciduous area that we knew well from a previous bracken bashing trip. 

Builders' tea or tree planters' tea?

And off they go taking all their gear with them.

As we got over the wall a cry went up - "It's a tree tube graveyard!" - and indeed it was. Although many of the trees in the original planting (mainly silver birch) had survived, there were many that hadn't and their tubes were either upright and empty, bent and empty or horizontal. Some of us made a start in collecting the dozens of empty tubes to try and find out where the new trees could be usefully planted. Others got busy digging holes and planting trees.

 What's that in my glove?

 Laura tries this tree for size.

At 1pm a halt was called and we adjourned to the shed at the top of the hill for a lovely sausage sizzle lunch (thanks Sean and Mrs Sean). Conversation ranged from discussions about wine and cars at the male dominated end of the seating area, to the joys of changing nappies at the female end.  

Dining Al Fresco with the NCVs.

The three wise monkeys - Stewart and Alistair listen intently 

whilst Graham makes an important point with his bottle.

Replete, we all trailed back down to the plantation to continue planting and de-tubifying the hillside. The views over Nidderdale were wonderful, although I seemed to spend most of the time looking at black holes down defunct tree tubes. Carrying great armfuls of these unwieldy items over long  distances was not easy, but gradually large piles were made and the area looked much tidier. New trees sprang up where green plastic once reigned supreme.

Will stands back to admire his handiwork.

Graham takes advantage of this de-tubed area to plant a tree.

Well at least the soil is easier to dig than this morning.

Joanne piles up the unwanted tubes - this is just one of the piles.

Just after 3:30pm a shout went up that we were finishing for the day. There is still work to be done releasing all the older trees from their now unneeded tubes and further de-tubification of the area, but we were glad to make our way back to the cars and home for a well earned rest.

At the end of the day a weary soul plods her way up the hillside.

Ros E.