“If you are thinking a year ahead, sow a seed;    
 if you are thinking ten years ahead, 
 plant a tree.              

Kuan Tzu

This is a wildflower meadow, edged with trees and hedging, that I acquired in August ‘07.  It is near the Darwell Reservoir and is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty.  It spans about 5.5 acres. My aim is to develop about 2 acres of it as a new woodland, set aside some for organic herbs for the creams that I make, leave some of it as a wildflower meadow, and cultivate some. Although I can’t open it to the general public I would like to make it accessible, by arrangement, to like-minded people, people who care about nature and the environment, and those who care for others, either in their profession (therapists, nurses etc) or in their daily lives (carers of sick or disabled relatives and friends etc.) We all need to recharge our batteries, especially those of us who spend the majority of time tending others’ needs.

I would like to support the Billion Tree Campaign, inspired by the work of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Professor Wangari Mathai, founder of Kenya’s Green Belt Movement.  UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) aims to plant one billion trees. They aimed to reach their target by the end of 2007, but although many millions of trees were pledged the final figure that was actually planted is unknown.

Achim Steiner (Executive Director of UNEP) said: “We need action. We need to plant trees... Countering climate change can take root through one billion small but significant acts in our gardens, parks, countryside and rural areas.”

In December I was given 800 saplings by the Woodland Trust as part of their FREEwoods scheme. After a few manic weeks, through rain, snow and fog, - and (in the words of the Beatles) a little help from my friends - they were all planted.

To sign off in the words of Meryem Amar from UNEP:

                       Yours... in the service of the Earth....

Levelling an area for the shed to stand on

New shrubs planted and protected from nibbling deer.

A grass snake, less likely to pay visits in the future as the grasses will be kept shorter, although the wildflower area will still offer attractive accommodation!

Building the shed. Many problems encountered

Common orchid The meadow is adorned with orchids and other wild flowers throughout the summer.

Much work needed to get the shed ship-shape.

265 trees planted with the help of good friends (and thermal underwear), followed by a bonfire and hot soup. Only 535 to go!

Update: All 800 were planted by the end of Jan 09, but were constantly damaged by deer, which necessitated the installation of a deer proof fence around the boundary.

Top