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Bearsted Remembers: An interview with Ron and Shirley King
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Planting
Location: Kent
By February 2005 all 38 oak trees planted in the avenue has been adopted, with a further 10 applications for oaks arriving too late to be included. Three rowans and 3 silver birch with individual plaques were planted in 2004 and a similar number will be planted early in 2005. In addition, over 200 woodland trees were planted of which over 60% were adopted. The Plant a Tree scheme had so far brought in around £12,500.
Now autumn is here, everyone returning to Bearsted Woodland will notice that great progress has been made recently. The smooth, wide paths for wheelchairs and pushchairs are finished and looking good, and as you walk round, you will notice five new seats, including an old roller very neatly converted by John Monk. Signs will soon be a feature, not only at both entrances (by the Church and the Bowls Club) which will carry maps of the site, but also smaller ones in strategic places giving information about birds and insects. Woodland sculptures (part of the Lottery funding) are also being considered. Thanks to vital watering throughout a very dry year, nearly all the newly planted trees are looking very healthy. Leaflet boxes have been installed, tree trimming, weed control and mowing continue apace and in mid-November we shall begin Phase Two tree planting.
It’s very pleasing to see that so many of the trees planted in Phase One have survived the long spell with little or no rain and are now in full leaf. The oak avenue is particularly attractive and the group of rowans on the bank is covered in berries, much to the delight of hungry blackbirds.
For the Phase Two planting scheme, over 50 trees with individual plaques have been donated and over 50 woodland trees have been reserved. Those Friends who missed out on Phase One opportunities may wish to contact a member of the committee as soon as possible in order to make sure they can be included next time around. As of the end of August, £25,350.00 has been donated for trees in the three phases of planting.
Planting over 100 trees will be an enormous task for able-bodied volunteers and we shall need all the help you can give. The first ‘tree planting’ days were very well attended and enjoyed, but has the novelty worn off? Recent workdays have not attracted many volunteers – maybe due to holidays – so, please, turn up on the following dates, and help plant a tree. (It’s very satisfying to watch ‘your’ tree growing and coming into leaf).
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