Snap!

First session of Xmas 2014/15 and the task was about the same as the last session before Christmas. 

‘Hedge planting’ is essentially just like tree planting, except the plants go in closer together and lined up in strict rows.  The other differences between before and after the start of Christmas: another range of species; slightly different planting methods; and a shift in the weather. 

Oxfordshire had been treated to what one of our members calls “a silver Christmas” (as opposed to a white Xmas, whether cartoon form or heavy metal): a sufficiently deep coating of frost to make everything out of doors look sparkly in the sunshine, but not enough of the white stuff to cause inconvenience.  Dendritic ice crystals on a window this morning, where it had been left open for fresh air in a bedroom overnight, seemed appropriate given today’s task:

The cold snap did have some volunteers wondering if the ground would be too hard for tree planting.  “Dunnowz I know” – as they say in Wisconsin – was the only response I could give.  (All folks associated with that part of the world are feeling particularly laid- back at the moment.  For anyone connected with Wisconsin naturally supports the ‘Pack’, and the Packers have just won their fourth straight divisional title.)

However, none of the volunteers need have worried.  All had been prepared ahead of our visit by trust-staff, who had thought on ahead, protected the ground with compost and covers, and sorted out bundles of whips of 15 different species (64% hawthorn, 10% field maple, the remainder assorted other specimens, incl the odd rose).

As the morning progressed, some volunteers developed individual styles of working.   

One pair, from another community-group, worked in a tiny area, where there would have been no room for our merry band.  Among the Green-Gymmers, some went for “the production line method”:

Others continued to dig one hole at a time (“hand-crafted”).  Some of the craftsmen had extra assistance:

(Well done, our young apprentices!)

The third system of work was to dig trenches:

Fortified by treats brought over from Germany (marzipan, chocolate-coated almonds, and Lebkuchen), the all-age work-party managed to complete all three lengths of hedge with immaculate scheduling for our normal going-home/decanting-to-the-pub time.  Here the finishing touches are being put to the two sections which were allocated to Wallingford Green Gym + visitors:

Happy New Year to all – Prosit Neujahr!

A Dull Day

A Tuesday without Green Gym is by definition at least a bit dull.

Actually, the weather, which had been a bit damp and not very interesting to be out in, intermittently brightened up this morning.  However, there was no Green-Gym session for the sun to shine on.  Site wardens had been reluctant to schedule a session for this week: they seemed to think that volunteers would have other things to do.  Apparently there is something important happening the night of 24/25 December. 

However, I have not been able to keep away from things Green-Gym altogether.  On a stroll round nearby Riverside Meadow, I made a point of revisiting some of the spots where we have worked in 2014 and in years past. 

This corner in particular brought back a few memories:

Foreground: ditch restored by WGG in 2008 and maintained annually since

Background: spire of St Peter’s Church, Wallingford

Old hands still recall the local official who became madder than a wet hen because the team had carried out work precisely according to written spec, and the results were exactly as we (but not he) had anticipated.  It all got sorted in the end.

There are also stretches of river bank, where (to all-round satisfaction) we have been engaged in willow spiling.  This was a spot where deep wash from passing motor-boats had been causing erosion:

Foreground: fenced area where bank has been repaired
Background: River Thames; Wallingford Bridge

Here the problem had been cattle trampling the ground when they habitually visited the same spot to drink from the river:

Nearside: Green Gym was here!

Far side of the river: Wallingford Rowing Club; tower of St Leonard’s Church, where we help out in the churchyard

One reason why willow spiling is effective for safeguarding river banks is that willow rods stuck in the earth will – in the right conditions – re-grow:

Normal service will be resumed at Green Gym next week!  In the meantime, I trust volunteers are taking a well-deserved rest …

Fastest Tree-Planters in the West

We had a reputation to live up to today.  Not only were we leading the field according to the Earth Trust arborometer, but a newcomer had joined us on the strength of what a friend had told her about how wonderful it is at Green Gym. 

“It’s such fun!” was the promise held out to our new recruit.  Effective too: when it comes to tree-planting rates, Wallingford Green Gym is the fastest of all the local conservation/ community groups which have joined in the current phase of the ‘River of Life’ project.  I hope we also provide quality as well as quantity when it comes to sticking little saplings in the ground.  A site-warden can get madder than a wet hen if tree-planting is not done precisely to spec.

So no pressure for our Xmas Special at the spot which will be, when all is done, a wet-woodland site:

Note the stakes 2.5 m apart.  The spacing is calculated so that growing trees will soon form a canopy which inhibits the growth of grass (which would have to be mown) or invasive scrub (which would have to be taken out):

The ponds really were that colour when viewed from above: a deep frost overnight had neatly topped them with a layer of ice.  (Which might have supported the weight of the ducks if they had made a return visit, but would not have taken the load of a human.)

There was also ice in the form of high-level cloud to admire:

These, we thought, were cirrus – that’s at least 20,000’ up in the air.

The other remarkable sight was well camouflaged among the trees on the opposite bank of the Thames:

Yes, that really is a boat.  Two years ago, it was in the river.  Then floods came, the vessel was deposited on land, and the owner has apparently not come to claim it back.

As for the tree planting, well it was essentially the same as last time.  Still using the slot-planting technique, but this time with us split into teams of three: one team digging holes; another planting; and another positioning stakes ready for the next tree-planting gang on site.  Below is, I believe, is a volunteer re-assigned from slot-digging to stake-securing – although it might appear from the photograph that he is about either to brain or to knight his colleague:

This time there were also different species of tree to plant.  The range today was alder, crack willow, black poplar, and volunteer’s choice from a range of scrub.  And the ratio to be remember was 5:3:2:1.  (Tree planting isn’t all just digging holes and posting treelings!)

Indeed tree planting done well seems to be a task with a high job-satisfaction rating.  After our previous session on this task, one volunteer spontaneously produced this testimonial:

“I must say how much I enjoyed the tree planting this week, giving a great feeling of leaving a legacy for future people to enjoy.”

Green-Gymmers can, of course, also be incentivised by more immediate rewards, such as the spread at tea-break:

The tea-crate fairy saw to it that other, not quite so photogenic festive gastronomic treats were also on hand.  (Thank you, Victoria!)  Then there were the chocolates.  (Many happy returns, Helen!)  And finally, the small matter of workers being paid as they left the site, in gold coins no less (thank you, Janet!) – but only chocolate ones.

And the verdict from our newcomer at session end?  Green Gym had been every bit as good as she had been led to believe!