Tree Group
Convenor: Philip Evans,
Vacancies
Regular Meeting – 2nd Tuesdays of month at 10.30
Usually at Little Wembley, by skateboard ramps, Beccles Common
2024. Too wet for Jan meeting.
Have since discussed way forward and made plans for future action.
5th March 2021: As we reach the end of the planting season, we look back to our final flourish. Six hip-height oaks on council land near the Morrison allotments and bordering the by-pass; six more again by a footpath west of Bungay, and 5 more of the same by another footpath south-east of Bungay. And at last, after many false trails, we have a NOTICE up, to inform those who pass by what Little Wembley Meadow is and why it looks as it does – dotted with green plastic tubes. We shall see how many of those green plastic tubes actually sprout leaves.
LITTLE WEMBLEY MEADOW
BTC FENLAND CHARITIES
REWILDING BY
BECCLES U3A TREE GROUP
7th Dec 2021: A meeting on Little Wembley Meadow. Six members took all the remaining young trees sent by the Woodland Trust with their protectors and canes, and planted all of them. Hawthorn, Goat Willow, Crabapple, Spindle, Downey Birch and Oak.The baby oaks that had emerged by themselves have survived this first few months, some now with protector. But will they get nibbled down to the ground when real Winter strikes ? We met a Tree Warden - Alastair Graham Kerr. He has planted many trees om and around Beccles over the past years, is now in Burgh Castle. He had not heard of the U3A Tree group
22 Nov 2021: In the past six months we have had to experience rather turbulent happenings, which have tested our resolve to keep the Little Wembley meadow in a "re-wilding" state. By which we meant, "Leave it alone, let wild things grow" First the Town Drain on the railway margin of the Meadow was dredged, and the dredgings were spread out over the margin of the drain. This effectively destroyed all the willow wands we had placed to take root there. However we carried on planting the Common Lane margin with small hedgerow trees which and been foraged locally. With some 25 knee height plants staked and in protectors, it did look as if someone was trying to do something with the land
Then one day on arriving at the Meadow we met a chaotic scene – protectors and stakes were scattered around, some plants bent or broken. A group of boys had used the protectors as footballs, as they passed through Little Wembley meadow. So we have learnt that not every passer-by likes us, this is just a short cut to the skate Park from Common Lane, urban trees planted have a tough life. But a couple of members have been busy and ordered 100 plugs of assorted trees from The Woodland Trust complete with stakes and new spiral protectors.
Up to now we only used protectors that were foraged locally, but we cannot look this gift horse in the mouth .
The next disappointment was that the whole meadow (except for most of the part we had planted) was mown, using tractor and machine. We had hoped to leave the thistles and nettles and all the Autumn largesse for insects and invertebrates to spend the Winter in, and the thistledown for the goldfinches.But due to a mix-up in the town council's responsibilities, our way of treating the meadow somehow got lost.
Besides Little Wembley meadow, we have planted about 30 oaks as requested at Clinks Farm, ten young Oaks around Mettingham (after contacting the Parish Council). We also have 30 oaks of mid thigh height and ten at ankle height,growing well. Our representative on the Beccles Town Council is Peggy McGregor who has liased with the cTown Council on our behalf. Next project: A Notice board
.