MARCH 1st
A day for saying 'Well Done!!'
Did you know that, as well as being St. David's Day, 1st March is 'World Compliment Day'? It's a day that aims to address the “basic human need for recognition and appreciation,” and we should all "make someone's day by praising them"
So - let's compliment the NCVs who gave up their time and energy to plant trees at Padside and in Pateley this week. It was a worthy way to spend the day as the trees will do wonders for water retention in the ground, help remove CO2 from the atmosphere and provide great habitats for lots of wildlife as they grow bigger. There were 400 saplings to plant at Padside so let's see how they got on there first of all...
Upon arrival at Padside the NCVs had to first
move the posts and tubes to the field.
There were plenty to shift!!
But then - there was plenty of space to fill.
Next, landowner Chris explained the planting plan -
a very cunning one at that.
The field was divided into labelled compartments
and an appropriate selection of trees for each was already in situ.
What wonderful organisation!!
Right - so posts in place first.
Some stereo hammering took place at this point.
Then the tubes needed doling out, one per post.
And finally - the all important trees were planted....
Some were rather dry around their roots
so had to be re-hydrated in a wet ditch.
Luckily the field is fairly damp (if not downright wet)
so they should be fine.
One particular area is so wet that Chris has turned
it to advantage and dug 2 ponds. The wildlife is going
to be VERY pleased with these!!
"Dave - what are you doing??"
"Just retrieving a copy of the cunning plan -
goodness knows how it got down here!!"
The trees got planted speedily and by coffee time
things were well advanced.
Off Liz went to arrange a second job.
By lunchtime the job was done and the NCVs
were rewarded with a choice of cakes.
(Thanks Ms Scott - much appreciated.)
Then - off they trooped to continue the good work.
Next up the NCVs moved on to Riverside House in Pateley to add to a hedge that they planted in November 2019. There were just 160 trees here, so the job was completed in no time at all!
Here a third row of plants were to be added
to the existing hedge alongside the footpath....
...and a three tree deep hedge was to
be planted at the shorter end of the field.
This time there were no posts and tubes -
just canes and spirals to protect the young saplings
from deer and rabbits.
"Right" said Ken - "that's this job done - where to now Liz?"
Then he promptly collapsed onto a garden chair
and asked if there was any cake.
Surprisingly there was - lots left over from
the morning's job. Hurray!
Luckily for Liz there was a bin full of rain water to clean off
the muddy spades to save her doing it back at the barn.
The NCVs used the same water to wash off their wellies.
Well - you can imagine the state of the water
once they had finished!!
And while we are at it - let's say a big 'Well Done' to Jan and Phil, who have spent no fewer than 40 hours during February making 20 nest boxes to be erected in the Dale!
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