I am almost halfway into the 4th week of Natural Networks in The National Forest and amazed at what I have learnt in such a short period of time. I have been coppicing, felling and thinning trees, clearing vegetation at a riverside and had a go at hedge-laying.
This has all been really valuable experience and I have Tom Watkins the Project Officer at The National Forest TCV office to thank for helping me to settle in and let me get involved in his projects. After a very productive meeting with the Community Liaison Officer at The National Forest Company I now have a focus for my project – community orchards – so now the work on my exciting project begins. My focus this week is identifying the community orchard sites that are already working well and those that need some attention, I have some visits planned, people to meet and a fruit tree pruning workshop to attend, happy days!