Poringland WI Norfolk is ahead of the game in tree planting.
An old Chinese proverb says that the best time to plant a tree is 30years ago, and the second best time is today. Over 30 years ago, the year of ‘the great storm’ was a mast year, when every oak tree shed thousands of acorns. On my walks around Poringland I collected many acorns and gave every WI member one or more to grow. The resulting saplings were taken to High Ash farm (a local conservation area) and were planted in their hedges and woodland.
Autumn 2020 was again a mast year and once again I collected a bag full of acorns. During lockdown, we had been keeping members in touch in various ways, and at Christmas everyone received a goody bag. Along with such items as a greetings card, Centenary pen and mini Christmas cake etc, was another acorn. All the little saplings were returned at our Annual Meeting in November. This time, 20 were donated to High Ash farm, where they will form part of a regenerative area, where most of the trees have sprouted naturally. A further 20, plus a few hazel saplings that the squirrels had planted in my garden, will go to our local tree warden. These will form part of a native hedge and small woodland area to be planted on our newly designated Community land.
A batch of little oaks awaiting collection.
Joan Fountainm, President, and Lesley Sanders, Secretary handing over some of the little oak trees to Daniel Skinner at High Ash farm.
