Our two tree planting sessions have finished for March, leaving a new staggered hedgerow of 360 trees planted on New House Farm, Breightmet. The free trees had been provided to us by 'The Conservation Volunteers' under their project 'I Dig Trees', the hedgerow consisted of Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Dogwood and Hazel, although it also included Dogrose (which we'll discuss later). Our first session, we had 17 volunteers join us.
If you're wondering why the dog-rose wasn't planted into the hedgerow, the reason why is as follows; After chatting to Alun from HERA who manages the habitats at Seven Acres, he explained how he no longer plants dog-rose into hedges until it's been hedgelayed, due to the fact he has had too on more than one occasion, cut the dog-rose out to gain access to the hedgerow to lay it. Instead, he explained how it makes better sense to plant the dog-rose in a hedgerow once it has been hedgelayed, which makes sense, as it would then be free to intertwine into the hedge. Our second session, had a turn out of 16 volunteers who joined us to finish the 360 trees.
A massive thank you goes out to all those who came out to our two sessions and took part in the big 'I Dig Trees' project. As the hedgerow establishes itself, berries and nuts will provide food for wildlife, in eight years time we can hedgelay it, thickening the row so that nesting bids can use it for cover, as well as Great Crested Newt's being able to hide under the damp thick shelter.
The remaining 40 dog-rose, a thorny climber, will be planted into established hedgerows at Leverhulme Park and on New House Farm so that the rosehips provide a food source. We'd just like to say a final big thank you to 'The Conservation Volunteers' for providing us with the trees to make a difference in our community, making it more wildlife friendly, pleasing to the eye and showing that people care. If you'd like to know more about the Conservation Volunteers project, click the link below; https://www.tcv.org.uk/communities/i-dig-trees/