As November draws to a very wet and windy close it’s time for a little update as to what’s been going on at the Tree Life Centre this month, one that’s hard to believe started with the many wonderful autumn colours that have now been sadly blown and washed away.
National Tree Week started this Saturday (24th) and the bare rooted planting season also recently began, orders for our trees have started to come in. We have been battling the elements to complete the orders, especially this past week with most volunteers getting wetter than wet, although the sodden ground certainly does help to dig up the saplings! One of the orders was for the Yatton and Congesbury Wildlife Action Group (YACWAG), a local conservation group, so if you are in the area and see recently planted trees they may well be grown by us!
Our volunteers who are taking their Diploma Qualification in Work-based Horticulture both levels 1 and 2 have been progressing well, taking advantage of being able to hide inside either the polytunnel or the office for the written tasks.
The final few trips out for collecting seeds of both native trees and wildflowers were completed, with varying success, with all the seeds now sorted and processed ready to be sown as and when they are required.
The Monday afternoon Edible Foods group have been busy planting over wintering and early spring vegetable seeds in the polytunnel’s raised beds with some rows already poking their heads above soil already, which is always good so the guys and gals can start to see the hard work paying off!
Finally, as the festive period is nearly upon, our volunteers have been busy preparing various treats ready to put on our stalls at the two festive events we are going to attending and have stalls (see Parish Notices section). Hand-made wooden reindeers of various sizes have been constructed along with much practicing of making willow stars, although to say some look like stars might need a fair bit of squinting, especially my ‘avant-garde’ attempt! We also have been digging up small to medium sized Christmas trees and potting them up to be sold, along with some fruit trees.
Parish notices:-
We are going to have a stall at the Festive Fair held in the Create Centre, Smeaton Road, Bristol BS1 6XN. The fair will be open Friday 30th November 4pm – 9pm, Saturday 1 December 11am – 5pm, Sunday 2 December 11am – 4pm. For more info. click here.
We will also have a stall at Carols in the Barn held at our home on Grimsbury Farm, Grimsbury Road, Kingswood BS15 9SE. The event is being held on Saturday 8th December late afternoon – early evening. For more details go to the Friends of Grimsbury Farm website.
If you are attending either event why not pop by and say hello to our volunteers who have kindly given their time to man the stalls outside of their usual time they volunteer for us. Also, if you have a particular variety of fruit tree you would like to purchase it can be arranged for you to pick up at the events, get in contact for more information.