Day Ash Farm: 03-10-2023

You are cordially invited to.....

 Yes - this week the NCVs were sent out an invitation to 'Help the Trees at Day Ash Farm'. 

Now, as loyal readers will know, we have been to this venue before to carry out various tree related tasks - in particular, planting, halo coppicing and tube maintenance. So - which was it to be this time? The plea to bring any spare tree tubes we had tucked away in the attic was the clue. Read on to see what was done.....

 

Before work could start everyone had to walk 

a good step to the field  where the 

trees were awaiting attention.

Once at the end of the footpath Andy pointed out

 where we then had to walk up to. Another long haul began...

...this time carrying tubes and stakes and tools.

 

The vegetation did not make for an

 easy surface to walk through....

 

...and as trees were de-tubed it was 

clear that they needed some TLC.

 

There you go, little chap. Weeds removed 

and nicely pruned of any dead twiglets. 

Hmmm. Interesting galls on this fellow.

 

The previous landowner had used short tubes 

so the deer were having a great time feasting

 on the trees as they emerged from the tops. 

Tube  extensions were needed!

 

Of course, extended tubes required extended stakes. 

Once the available long ones were all used up, 

two short ones had to be joined together.

(Ps - the red and white streamers are not for decoration.

They are to make tools less easy to lose in the long grass!)

 

And there you have it - 

an extended tube/stake combo. 

 

Coffee time was taken under the extensive

 canopy of this healthy looking tree.

Not!! 

Andy had kindly made some of his 

internationally acclaimed millionaires'

 shortbread for us. Thanks Andy 

- deeeeeeliscious!!

Then it was back to work in ever

 deteriorating weather conditions. 

Short dry spells became few and far between

 and, every so often, we were rewarded 

with a rainbow.

By 1:30 it was lashing down and we had

 almost run out of stakes. The NCVs were

 quite relieved when Liz called time!!

 

 

 Looking back down the hillside it was

 heartening to see how many (initially invisible)

 tubes could now be seen. 

(Although there are still more to do at the top of the field!)