The Queen's Green Canopy planting Sunday 19th December 2021

On  a foggy day on 19th December, 25 willing volunteers with spades assembled in the Parish Meadow to plant 105 tree ‘whips’ (plants about 10” high) provided for free by the Woodland Trust to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne under the title ’The Queen’s Green Canopy’.
 
These consist of Crab Apple, Downy Birch, Goat Willow, Hazel and Hawthorn all of which will provide food and habitat  for birds and insects in years to come.  We also added self seeded trees from our gardens including Oak, Hornbeam, one  Walnut, Beech and an Elm.

They have been planted to extend the existing copse at the bottom of the field below the skate park and Nadder Centre.  This field has been given to the Parish Council on a long lease by the Fonthill Estate in compensation for the development of 90 houses on the other side of the Nadder Centre off Hindon Lane.
 
The baby trees have been protected with plastic guards which will be removed when the trees are established and the guards will be re-used. We also took the opportunity to do some maintenance work on other young trees which had been planted nearby in recent years.
 
Following the planting we all celebrated with mulled homemade plum wine and mince pies.

​Debbie Carter