This Sunday’s workday was a change from our usual winter slash and burn ‘destruction’, where we remove trees or scrub to open up woodland habitats.
Instead we were planting a new hedge. There are 509 new hawthorn hedge
plants in Whisby Nature Park, thanks to the efforts of 14 keen Lincoln
Conservation Group volunteers, and other Park staff or volunteers have since
planted the remaining 91!
On a day of patchy sunshine and cloud, we put in several stretches of new hedge along the path beside the drain between Coot Lake and Thorpe Lake.
Over the years, the original hedge had died off in places, mainly due to the effects of sycamore trees planted when the gravel pits were in use. These trees have been removed and it was time to replace the hedge, which also forms the parish boundary.
Luckily the ground was easy to dig, with only the occasional tree or
bramble root to deal with, and so good progress was made throughout the day.
The new hedge plants were watered in and tree guards put round them to
protect them.
The Park was busy with lots of people interested in what we were doing. It was good to see so many people out walking and enjoying Whisby.
No doubt we will be back to work on the same hedge, making sure brambles don’t overwhelm it or to remove the tree guards once the plants are well established!
Jude
More images on the Picasa website