Tree planting at Longside Farm: 24-03-2015

15 NCVs and the two students met in a layby beyond Ramsgill and began to walk up the drive past Longside Farm where they met Paul and the tools. These had to be carried up a steep slope on rough ground kindly bequeathed to us from forestry operations some 8 years ago. Debris on the slope still provided the necessary agility and fitness test for everyone. The handrail was much appreciated! Unfortunately the tree saplings, stakes and tree guards were at the top of the slope having been deposited there in a trailer on Monday. 

The NCVs gather at the bottom of the hill to collect their tools....

....before toiling up the very steep slope to the planting site.

The view to Gouthwaite helped to make the 
journey up worthwhile.

After a brief explanation by Paul we set about planting as many trees as possible. The saplings were variable in size, from tiny and delicate to long and robust. We had cherry, birch, rowan, sycamore beech and oak and a few Scots pines and hollies and the task was to plant roughly 2 metres apart – in reality where the stakes would go in firmly - and in a random arrangement of native species. We were working in pairs or small teams and were enjoying ourselves so much digging holes and banging in stakes that we missed coffee break altogether.

Tom helps to plant his first tree.

Team work is the order of the day.

By lunchtime we had dropped a significant distance from the top wall and needed regular resupply of guards and stakes (lobbed downhill at the unsuspecting recipients) from above. Only the occasional brief hailstorm interrupted an otherwise beautiful day. The views of the dale and Gouthwaite reservoir were lovely, as was the sound of moorland birds. Bluebells had started to grow amongst the debris and young trees.

Lunch on the terraces amid the tubes.

Ros E. and Angela make their way very carefully back up the slippery 
slope with a bucket of precious water from the valley bottom 
to quench the thirst of the trees.

There were tree planters to the left.....

....and tree planters to the right.....

.....and tree planters down below.

By 3 pm we were beginning to hope that there were no more stakes or guards and were sorely wishing that there were no more trees either. Time to call it a day. We had done about half the slope and look forward to repeating the exercise next week.

 

Ruth 

At last - somewhere soft and stable to sit and rest 
at the end of the day.