A friend and I, whilst out walking in the Yorkshire Dales, were talking about new tree planting and how many areas had been covered over the past few years. Still a long, long way to go but progress is being made, the target of 28,000 by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust just this winter is well under way.
It’s essential work planting trees as we all know but then it was the question of the plastic guards put around the baby trees to protect them from the weather, rabbits, deer etc from eating them, and generally trying to give these tiny saplings a good chance to survive. But, and a big but, to me anyway, although providing a head start, the guards are quite a ‘blot on the landscape’ and what is to be done about them when the trees don’t need them anymore? As coincidences happen, a few days later a newsletter from the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, based in Clapham, came through the post and what was the happy news as I read? 21,000 guards have been removed for recycling thanks to a variety of farmers, landowners and partners and volunteers have cleared 3,350 to date with 400 to be reused.
Why is plastic still used for these guards was another topic of conservation and yes the newsletter went on to say that nearly 9,000 trees have been planted over 6.1 hectares within small sites and each site is trialling up to six alternative guards! So it’s all good! Questions answered!
You will all know of the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, which works in partnership with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, when you book online as most of you ‘Donate to the Dales’. These donations all go towards the care of the people, landscape and wildlife of the Dales, delivering diverse and inspirational projects that range from countryside apprenticeships to tree planting and restoring wildlife habitats. Have a look on their website to find out more.
Now I must just get out that information to contact the YDMT to see if Joanne and I can volunteer again to help plant some trees!
Written By Nadine Bell