Here is Jonathan’s message
Greetings All,
There’ll be a volunteer session at Fairfield Orchard, Fauna and Flora this
Saturday March 12th, starting at 10.00am and finishing at 1.00pm.
Please come along for as long as you can manage.
Here’s the To Do list for the session:
* Dig out (preferably) or cut out bramble in the Orchard especially around
the soft fruit hedge, in front of the bench at the south end and behind
the apple trees.
* Trim the West hedge of the West Field.
* Ensure that the West Field far gate is lambproof.
* Reinstate the wire fence in the Flora Field after hedging.
* Repair the gap in the hedge between the Orchard and the Pads footpath at
the bottom of the Towneley path.
In equine news, the two fell ponies are generating substantial amounts of
– let’s not be coy here – horse manure.
Volunteers with gardens are welcome to bring a barrow or bucket to share
in this bounty. This will NOT involve entry into the field. Rather, an
experienced volunteer will be on hand at the Big Meadow north gate from 12
noon on Saturday to collect and distribute the manure.
And another thing… the Hedge Working Party continues its work through
March meeting on Wednesday mornings at 9.30 at the Shed.
However, the group will NOT meet on Wednesday 16th March. The meetings on
the 23rd and 30th are provisional depending on the progress of spring
weather. If in doubt contact Ian (details below).
And there’s more… the second Big Brash Burning will be held on Thursday
10th March meeting at the Shed at 10am. We need people to haul the brash
from along the Flora Field hedge to the fire site please, and what else
could you possibly be doing on a Thursday morning?
And finally… we are beginning to put together a team of ragwort diggers
(not sprayers).
The work will start sometime in April and if you can spare some time to
keep control of this persistent plant please contact Ian.
Full training will be given along with the loan of a ragfork so you can
work in your own time, should you so wish.
Ian’s contact details are : OR 07811 970 595
And that is about your lot for this time,
Best wishes,
Jonathan.
And here is what we did
The Saturday volunteering session attracted 21 volunteers on a cloudy, damp but warm morning.
• The west hedge of the West Field was trimmed down to encourage thicker growth. This was its first trim since being laid in the winter of 2013-14. The hedge is developing well although it needs a few more saplings in some gaps.
• A litter pick was done along this hedge and along the south hedge of the West Field.
• More bramble was dug out of the Orchard especially around the soft fruit circle and in front of the bench toward the southern end.
• The wire fence between the Long Pads footpath and the Flora Field was reinstated up to the section where we are still hedge laying.
• Further winter pruning of the fruit trees.
• The gap in the Orchard / Pads footpath at the bottom of the Towneley path was repaired.
• The tree guards around the new fruit trees were cut to shape to fit the trees.
* Horse manure was made available to the public for gardens and allotments.