Autumn is full on seed prep time at the tree nursery. A relief from weeding for volunteers.
A new polytunnel has been installed, making seed prep less exposed to the elements. In turn, this has helped to boost both morale and atmosphere with so much laughter and singing coming from the polytunnel that neighbouring plot holders wondered if we were having a party!
The people and fun are making the tree nursery sessions buzz - and the volunteers returning. They bring their friends and their grandchildren, help with watering and emergency mending outside of regular hours, and act as ambassadors both for the tree nursery and for other aspects of ERT work. They also support each other, working as a team for the tree nursery but making lasting friendships along the way - a first for some of our volunteers from target audiences who have become accustomed to sitting on the sidelines.
A corporate group from Heildelberg Materials were impressed and inspired - ‘passionate, interesting, worthwhile’ ‘informative, therapeutic, addictive’ - and hoping to be more involved next year with lots of suggestions for how they could help.
This quarter, trees grown at the tree nursery have been planted out in conservation project schemes at two farms, Moorside and Colby Laithes, and a new community nature reserve at Knock. This is really super special. Getting to plant out the trees that we have grown justifies and rewards the effort and validates the volunteers contributions like nothing else.
