How fast do trees grow?

If you want an idea how fast trees grow, take a look at the two newer plantations. Most of the trees in the Western Wood - the old allotments - were planted in 1992, so that's 15 years ago. Some of them are now 30 feet high. They've been so successful that we're going to be thinning them out shortly.

Photo: The Western Wood, looking towards the old miners' cottages at Wapley Rank.

The Centenary Wood, on the edge of the Top Meadow, was planted in 1995, so that's 12 years. It didn't have the benefit of being former allotments. Even so, many of the trees are 15 or 20 feet high.


Photo: the Centenary Wood (lighter colours) with the main woodland behind.

Report on work morning 14 January - LOTS done!

We started off by putting in 60 marginal plants in the top pond. A sight for sore eyes - Malcolm and myself in waders sloshing around in the water, with me towing a floating box behind me with plants in. Everyone else was planting along the bank - 60 plants in all - and digging a channel to divert the incoming water under the little bridge and stop it flooding the path - it's rather a morass up there.

Then we turned our attention to tree planting at the picnic area. We planted 60 trees and hedging plants. We put in mainly hawthorn to fill the gaps in the hedge, then we put trees in the long grass, including hazel, dogwood, spindle, crab apple, holly, field maple and wayfaring tree. They're fairly small at the moment, but they will grow into substantial trees.

A big thank you to everyone who came along on the work morning! Our next one will be on Sunday March 11, meeting at 10.00 am at the Shire Way gate, when we shall be doing a spring clean and clearing some bramble. Please come along and join us!

Work morning Sunday 14 January

The next Wapley work morning will be on Sunday 14 January, from 10.00 am until 1.00 pm.

We will be planting in the top pond, and putting some more trees in the picnic site.

Please come and help - meet us at the Shire Way entrance.

Ring Paul on 01454 315851 if you would like more details.