Tree planting at Dunham Massey on Sunday 24th April 2022

After a week off for Easter, today 13 of us volunteered at Dunham Massey where we planted whips around the main carpark.  It is late in the season for tree planting but ranger Nat was keen that we got the whips into the ground rather than heeling them in at the nursery and trying to keep them alive until next winter.

Before we got going Daniel handed out Volunteer Cards and Parking Permits to Adrian, Andy H, Andy S, Christine, David, Jack, Jenny, Martin and Simon.  They had all volunteered for more than 50 hours in the year to 31 March.  Thank you all for your time and dedication to MNTV and the NT.  Jack showed us a photo of his Volunteer Card from 1992 - unchanged from today's except for the colour scheme!

We planted in pairs, one person to cut the hole/slit and the other to plant the tree, insert the support cane and wind round the rabbit guard.  There were several species of tree to plant incl willow, hawthorn, hazel and cherry.

The willow planters found a newt!

The weather was dry and sunny all day.  April has so far been very dry and we hope it rains next week to water in the whips.  We had our elevenses at the fire site and lunch at the picnic tables by the carpark.  After lunch we planted trees in the woods beside the overflow carpark.  By 14:45 we have planted all the whips and so ended the day early.

Tree planting at Styal on Sunday 10th April 2022

Nine of us met in Styal car park at 9:30 on a beautiful sunny spring morning.  We expected to do a litter pick with Craig but were greeted by the head ranger Colin and ten bags of tree plugs that needed planting.  This task was the final part of the project to replace fencing and rejuvenate hedges throughout the Styal Estate and was supported by the government Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

The trees were a mixture, including hawthorn, Gelderland rose and oak.

We planted the new trees about a foot apart, between the existing hedge and the stock fence.

A bit difficult to see, but in a few years time this will be a new hedge.

The pink lines on the edges of the two right hand fields show the extent of hedging we planted - with eight trees to spare!

Smiling faces after a very satisfying day.  We were working close to a popular path so had plenty of opportunity to talk to the visitors and spread the word about the work MNTV does.

Jean

Cancelled - workday at Erddig on Sunday 3rd April 2022

Unfortunately today's workday was cancelled the day before due to staffing issues and we were unable to arrange an alternative venue at short notice.

MNTV Committee