Saving Young Trees
| Convenor: Philip Evans | Vacancies |
January 2021 Winter report: The project involving our proposal to Beccles C.C. for Little Wembley, a patch of ground near the skate park, has been started but has gone forward very slowly. When first seen in Summer it looked as if the project of "re-wilding" this area, currently covered on lush grass with nettles, thistles, and reed, would be straightforward. Further visits in late autumn and winter showed that the flooding that was foretold was extensive, covering over half the area. However a day of planting wet-loving species showed that further planting might survive if plants can avoid being de-barked by rabbits and deer. Protecters have been collected, but we have now gone onto deep lockdown, and work its suspended. On 15th Jan our days inspections attended by the Mayor of Beccles Mayor Ashley Leve whose advice we were glad to hear was similar to our own "re-wilding' plan. Currently we cannot do any work on Little Wembley as we are in deep "lock-down".
Autumn 2021 One of our group who volunteers at Clinks Care Farm at Toft Monks had a request from the owner to plant trees where any in a 5 acre planting had died. About ten members set out with spades saplings etc etc cand spent two or three hours filling gaps.
IN various gardens we have a number of young trees ready for planting, one of which have been used to replace those that did not survive the dry Summer. As before, we need to search for more sites for planting trees.
1st July 2020 Report
Emerging from the standstill of Corona Virus, our Group finds that, of those who have managed last Autumn to save trees and plant them out, they have either come into full leaf or suffered from some kind of misfortune. The losses come eg. from protectors blown off, hence, death by browsing; or death by freezing / drying out, or death by unexpected happening (trampling by cows). We lost a quarter of our stock, mostly small plants.But we have 40 young trees previously saved from certain death by strimmer &c., of sizes from the 4-leaf stage to over 6 ft tall, all native trees. The majority are young Oaks, which seem to come up anywhere and everywhere.
There is an urgent need to find sites to plant these trees. If we just feel a need to plant trees, we need to get out and find out some places where a tree is needed. You can of course join the Woodland Trust or the National Trust and help to plant a forest, but we are looking for sites for individual trees, and here we can sing the praises of the Parish Councils. They are fully aware of current trends such as the need for trees, and may even have a Tree Warden. But a warning: they have no control over verges, that comes under Highways, and highways are more interested in cutting down trees that block the highway than planting more 'to cause more accidents.’ Your convenor has had much encouragement from his Parish Council, which suggested sites, and from this we have managed six plantings of rescued Oaks, five of which are in full leaf and emerging from their knee-height protectors now. Let's start wth Beccles Town Council .......It's more difficult to find the site than save the seedling tree.
Volunteers please !
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U3A Tree Planting Group 3rd Meeting 5th March 2020.
A small gathering. A new member with allotment volunteers for local farmer with strong community connections and suggests possible opening for consideration of planting trees around the farm. Has a collection of small trees available.
Another new member has notified a possible site in Beccles near Men’s Shed, either 4 big trees or 10 hedgerow trees. Will need volunteers, choose species and ensure permissions available.
A keen Parish Council offered possible sites on parish land – three oaks planted. Total of 18 oaks planted out in the past 6 months.
There has been progress on several fronts by various members. We need to hear what they have done.
Join this project if you care about saving trees and planting them out. We have so far collected around 30 very young trees, from two-leaf to two foot. We need native trees found wild, such as Oak, Ash, Hornbeam, Birch, Hawthorn, Holly etc.
We intend to plant them where they are needed, in town, country or road verge.
If you are interested in joining this group, please email Philip or Gillian via the bird or call us on 01986 895113