The Call of the 
Tree Tubes
Long awaited sequel by Jack London
It was to Humberstone Bank that the NCVs travelled this week to answer this call. During the last visit, about half the job of restoring tree tubes and their inhabitants was completed. Now it was time to see to the rest. No easy task given the nature of the ground where the trees are growing. Apart from the usual trip hazards underfoot, they had to deal with sub-zero temperatures, which had turned the earth into something akin to frozen tundra, and also had to make sure they kept well clear of four fox traps which had been set by the game keeper.
"How did they get on?" I hear you ask. Well - let's see shall we?
The continuous lines of brash heaps were an indication
that the site was originally a coniferous forest area.
In amongst the stumps of the felled trees the newly planted
deciduous woodland did its best to remain upright, And often failed.
The loneliness of the long distance tree tube checker.
That's a bit better - let's hope it stays like that.
This one was flat on the ground - its trunk may now be vertical
but its crown shall forever be bendy.
These two needed precision surgery, with a Stanley knife,
to free them of their strangulating tubes.
Coffee and lunch breaks came as welcome relief
from the constant battle to remain upright.
A small band of super sighted NCVs were sent to spot and mark out where
the fox traps were. Can you spot this one?
Andy practised the Tango with this particular tree.
He is clearly 'Strictly' material.
Elsewhere Anita practised her double bass playing.
Not quite as tuneful as we would have liked.
Unfortunately not all the tree tubes contained a living tree.
Some contained dead ones and others were simply full of weeds.
Those that were defunct were collected up.
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