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.