It’s all go on the tree planting front! On Saturday 23rd November a group of volunteers planted around 300 hedgerow trees at Framboise’s Orchard in Barton St David.
We now have a plea for volunteer tree planters to attend Saturday 30th November 2019 on land beside the River Parrett, near Crewkerne.
There are more than 400 trees supplied by the Woodland Trust, and another hundred or so donated by XR members and supporters. Eventually XR hopes to plant more than 2,000 trees on this site in several plots along the river — this first one is being protected by a deer fence. All the trees are British native species; the Woodland Trust says the ones they’ve supplied are particularly good at drawing up water; since the Parrett flows across the Somerset Levels, this woodland will in time help prevent flooding in the rest of the county.
The day will be starting at around 9.30 at the Willis Lane Sustainability centre, which is a 10 minute walk from the site, but you’re very welcome to join when you like.
Here’s what you need to know to take part.
Park at Willis lane sustainability Centre in North Perrott (Willis Lane is opposite the North Perrott fruit Farm, go all the way down and the centre is at the bottom of the lane – postcode TA18 7SN). You can also walk to the tree-planting site from Crewkerne in about 30 minutes or less (this also avoids a quite steep and slippery bit of path you need to walk down to access the site from Willis Lane) — from the town centre walk up East Street and turn right into Easthams Road (at the house with the circular turret), and follow the path at its end. Keep going straight on through several fields, and turn right when you reach the concrete farm track. This leads past two houses, over a gate/stile, and down the hill. Cross the footbridge over the Parrett ahead of you and turn right. You’ll see a new wooden two-bar fence we’ve put up – walk round the upper end and you’ll see a large oak tree ahead of you, where we are planting.
Please – car share/cycle/walk where possible. Bring a spade if you have one. Wear waterproof shoes/wellies and warm waterproof clothes. Bring lunch to share. Bring flasks of tea, coffee etc. Bring cake to keep us all going!
On the weekend of the 14th and 15th December 2019 volunteer tree planters are needed at The Dove Centre, Barton Road, Butleigh BA6 8TL . They also have a second date for planting on the weekend of 11th and 12th January 2020.
Do hope you can make some of these. Tell your friends and family about these dates; share the joy!
