Bull Pen, Thornthwaite: 31-01-2023

  

Time to dig deeper folks!!

Having planted 1000 trees last week the NCVs felt that this week's task would be a breeze. All they were required to do this time was plant 50 trees. Finished by coffee time?

Ha ha!! No chance - this week it was 2m high, mature trees with root balls to match. It was going to require much deeper digging than last week to get these 50 parkland and fruit trees in and protected with a  new type of tree guard called  “Cactus Guards” https://cactustreeguards.co.uk/ 

The reason for installing the prickly guards was to prevent the 3 alpacas belonging to this small holding from  rubbing on them and pushing them over, unlike traditional tree guards. 

So, I hear you ask, how long did it take? Was the job completed? Was the ground as full of rocks as the ground at Volta Farm? Let's take a look shall we......

 

It's a lovely sunny day - why the hoods?

Galeforce wind - that's why.

Liz had to keep a firm grip on the planting plan!!

And here are the trees ....

...very tall.

And here are the rest - those root balls do look big!!!!

 

 OK Anita - get digging.

 

Sorry Ruth - you need to go down to Australia. 

At least pickaxes don't appear to 

be needed this week.

 

In with a tree - that's the ticket Tom.

Ta da! That's two in.

 

 

Oh - there's another.

Well done laddies.

Bigger ones needed extra support -

 bailer twine came in handy here.

As it always does.

Whatever you are doing.

NCVs were planting all around the field.

 

Osian made sure he kept to the plan.

Not easy in the wind.

Other way up please!!

The difficulties of deeper digging paled 

into insignificance once it came to adding 

the 'cactus' tree guards.

Hang on - shoudn't they be tube shaped?

Yes indeedy!

Get to it.

 

Instructions said they could easily be assembled 

by one operator.

Yeh - right! Not!

 

Usually 3-5 people were needed.

Remember - these tubes had spikes 

sticking out all round!

 

Then came the job of securing 

the sheets into tubes.

Serious kit needed here.

 

Here's another trio having fun and 

games with the tree guards from hell.

 

A bit of respite from the wind and the spiky job....

 

.... with some very welcome rations.

Thanks to cake provider Liz!!

 

Ken made use of an empty compost 

bin to shelter from the blast.

 

Ooo. That's rash Anita -

 hope the spiky side is pointing down!!

 

 

" This lot think that those new tree guards will stop

 us rubbing on the trees, but I think the spikes

 look just the thing for combing out my knotty hair. 

This wind's played havoc with my coiff.

Days from a bygone age number 8

Did you manage to guess last week's NCV? It was, of course, our very own  Boss, Ros E. on her way to a wedding.

 

Then...

...and now.

 

Volta Farm: 24-01-2023

 

Happy New (Chinese) Year!!

新年（中国）快乐

Today's NCV task was the first in the  Chinese New Year festival period. This year is the year of the rabbit - the fourth of the zodiac animals. According to https://chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/rabbit/ the rabbit 'was proud—arrogant even—of its speed,' so it seemed appropriate to celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year with a demonstration of some equally speedy creatures. These walk on two, rather than four legs, don't have such long ears and are far from arrogant. However - they can plant trees at a rapid rate of knots, which was just the skill required at Volta Farm. If you remember, last week the freezing conditions prevented hedge saplings being planted there, so all that could be done was to insert the canes ready. This week the temperatures were better and, although the ground was still rather hard, planting could go ahead. 

So - hold on to your hats as the NCVs whizz along the canes and get those trees into the ground....

 

Liz addressed the masses from her chariot

to give her instructions for the day.

 

Then it was dig, dig, dig...

...all the way up the first, fence bound hedging area.

 

By coffee time this first section was done.

Note - NO TREE SPIRALS!!

Hurray! This plastic-less approach is much 

more environmentally friendly.

 (Although it does require double fencing!! )

 

Getting in and out of the fenced work area was 

interesting. Ride 'em cowboys!! 

 

Onto the second stretch.

 

 

Graham did his best to keep the

 trees under some kind of control.

 

Friedy preferred to keep them in a bag.

Now - what species is this? 

When someone asked "How can you tell which 

are the quickthorns?" (apparently another name for a hawthorn), 

Tom quickly retorted "The ones without the sloes!!"

Nice one Tom!!

Jan was taking no chances with his 

knee comfort.

Ta da! Second stretch done and it was only 
lunchtime!

Everyone slithered their way through the mud

 back to their bags 

and headed off to planting area 3 for lunch.

Various items were used to keep rears 

off the muddy terrain during breaks.

 

Graham took over the chariot.

These two were sitting on a special septic tank unit.

It was an interesting perch as there was a

 machine underneath that was vibrating - 

as were both NCVs when they eventually stood up!!

 

Andy provided delicious brownies this week.

Thanks Andy!!

Time to get busy again.

 

Turf was removed...

...and canes inserted.

THEN - it was discoved that 

there were remnants

of an old wall below ground level. 

Out came the pickaxe.

And out came the rocks.

This one had Ken's name on it.

 

Then it was eyes down, look in 

and plant those remaining trees.

After a LOT of hard work the job was done. 

1000 trees planted, in three hedges, by 21 people,

in one day. All the rocks and stones

were used to mark a boundary to stop 

anyone strimming the trees by mistake.

 

Finally the muddy spades had to be cleaned off.

Urggh. That water looks disgusting. 

Give them a quick wipe with some grass Sarah.

Then pass them onto Liz for a polish.

Please ensure you wash that before

 you use it to dry your dishes Liz!!

 Days from a bygone age number 8

Now here's a well dressed young lady who is definitely not about to do any tree planting.  Which NCV is it? Take a guess and check next week's blog to see if you were right.