Here is Jonathan’s email
Hello All,
And a very Happy New Year to you!
I trust this message finds you suitably refreshed and invigorated because
there will be a volunteer session in Fairfield Orchard, Fauna and Flora
this Saturday morning, January 11th, between 10.00am and 1.00pm.
On the agenda for this occasion:
Tidying in the Orchard. This will include cutting back self-seeding and
rooting suckers and pruning the brambles, especially in the Old Damson
Copse.
The Orchard is quite heavily planted and this includes patches of nettle,
bramble and other understorey scrub. But to protect our fine standard
trees, such as the two lovely oaks, we need to keep the scrub in its place
and proportion.
Digging out, transporting and planting ferns from Upper Sowerholme to Pony
Wood.
Weeding the 2018 and 2019 hedge saplings alongside the Pony Wood path.
Finally, let’s turn our thoughts to eating and drinking.
All Fairfield volunteers, in whatever capacity you contribute, are invited
to the annual Volunteers’ Buffet at the Storey on Thursday 30th January
from 7pm to 9pm. Partners, of course, are very welcome. The cost is £10
per person. Please let either Ian Procter () or Sue
Nieduszynski () know if you are coming.
Best wishes,
Jonathan.
Here’s what we did
The Saturday volunteer session attracted 13 volunteers on what turned out to be a dry if blustery morning. The forecast had been for heavy and persistent rain so the good attendance was a tribute to our volunteers’ fortitude.
• We continued the winter pruning of the Orchard fruit trees.
• Invasive bramble was cut back throughout the Orchard.
• Self-seeded and rooted saplings, mostly willow I think, were trimmed back where they are growing inappropriately.
• The area around the base of the fruit trees alongside the Pads hedge was trimmed back to allow room for the mower later in the year.
• Ferns and hart’s tongue were dug out of Lower Sowerholme, barrowed to Pony Wood and planted there to increase the ground diversity in the wood.
• We continued the weeding of the Pony Wood path hedge saplings planted March 2019.
• Preparations were made for next week’s Wassailing.