Planting Plugs
"Plug planting? PLUG planting? Why on earth would you want to plant plugs?" I hear you ask.
Don't worry. This week's NCV task was not a way of solving a post Brexit supply problem in electrical or plumbing accessories. No - the plugs to be planted were going to grow into some lovely wildflowers instead. It was all part of the 'Farming in Protected Landscapes' (FiPL) project with Clare Foster and the Upper Nidderdale Farming Group. This group of upland farmers have been successful in applying for funding to enhance over 11 farms' hay meadows. The NCVs were helping by planting 750 plus plug plants across a network of 12 fields in the upper reaches of Nidderdale. What a lovely thing to do! And here they are - in action with their trowels and dibbers....
(NB there are few photographs this week as there was simply too much to do to spend time snapping!!)
Claire, with her clipboard, gave out all the instructions.
The plugs not only had to be shared out between the fields
and planted in certain types of ground,
but also needed to be grid referenced too.)
And here are the plants - 5 trays costing a total of £500!!
Species included ox eye daisy, rough hawkbit, bird's foot trefoil, betony,
harebell, meadow cranesbill, meadow vetchling and ragged robin.
There was a LOT of walking involved - from field to field and from planting point to planting point.
The NCVs were going to get their steps in today!!
It was a challenge getting the plugs out of the plug trays. The NCVs soon realised that a hi-tech poking tool was required...
namely a stick or a pen!
Everyone leant a hand with the first site - a sunny bank suitable for betony.
Then everyone was split into groups and assigned different species.
The plugs were very tiny, which made for ease of planting compared to trees with bare roots!!
Each little plant was carefully watered in.
Then - crucially - each group grid referenced.
This entailed Ros E. racing around with the GPS and clip board.
She finished the day a shadow of her former self.
Worzel Gummidge (or is it the Angel of the North?)
waits patiently for Ros E. to waymark his plugs. (!)
6 fields (375 plants) were completed before lunch.
After lunch everyone moved across the valley to repeat
the process in 6 more fields, with 375 more plants.
By 4pm those left standing were demanding overtime.
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