Sunday morning on 9 January was cold, dull but dry when eight intrepid volunteers, well wrapped up, booted and gloved met outside the Land Rover Garage to help plant hedge slips along the Langley Horse Track.
Anna Cohen, the Projects Officer from the Countryside Management Service arrived with a Land Rover stuffed full of plants, tools and equipment. The team went to work with enthusiasm and although the ground was hard, sodden and full of brambles, at the end of three hours had cut back the brush, filled two sacks with litter, made 200 holes, popped in the plants and added supporting canes, rabbit guards and mulch mats to each plant.
The new hedge is a mixture of native trees – field maple, dogwood, hazel, hawthorn and ash, planted in groups to provide good mixed cover.
There were 400 more hedge slips to go in but as it is essential that they are planted soon, it was decided to enlist the help of a local contractor to complete the job as soon as possible.
Many thanks to Anna and the intrepid eight who worked so hard. The reward should be seen in a few months’ time.
Liz Holliday