Although we don’t have a scheduled work party in August, we held a mini work party today specifically to tend to canopy trees (oak and lime) planted in recent years in our four trial planting areas. In perfect conditions, 5 of us, armed with cordless hedge-trimmers, made in-roads into bramble and other understorey to get to the trees and check their stakes and ties. Some of the ties needed loosening to avoid constraining the growing trunk, and a few stakes and ties were removed as the trees no longer needed them. Sadly a few trees had died, particularly oaks in the most recent trial planting area, and stakes/ties were retrieved from these too. The hedge-trimmers proved to be a suitable tool for opening up the bramble further in places, to help increase diversity, should we wish to do this. It was pleasantly surprising that the single battery in each trimmer lasted the whole session (with one exception). Also the recently purchased shears proved quite effective. Thanks to those involved.
