The Long Shaw Tree planting project

Following on from the article in the Winter 2024 edition of the Newsletter, we are pleased to advise that in mid-March, members of the club joined together to carry out the Long Shaw Tree planting project, resulting in the planting of 36 new saplings around the club.

The meeting we arranged with Alex from Thames Chase Trust took place on 7th January.   The Long Shaw sub-committee was formed and comprises of Jacqui, John, Brent, Phil and Philip.  Alex arrived at about 2pm with his colleague James, and we walked around the club grounds to discuss the existing trees and the possibilities for planting some additional trees to replace those lost through damage and those we had removed as a precaution.  As a result, we were able to come up with a proposal for 32 new trees which as the project developed became 36 trees.  Twenty were proposed for the Long Shaw, eight to the south boundary and eight behind the pool pump house and kitchen.   The initial proposal was submitted to TCT in late January and we were offered a fairly sizeable financial grant to carry out the project.  The grant is in two tranches, capital and establishment.  The capital grant not only provided for the trees, supports, protection tubes, and compost/mulch, but also allowed us an amount of money to spend on other beneficial items for us to deliver the project.  The establishment grant allows for replacement trees where they don’t survive, and also a further amount of money for us to look after the trees until such time as they are established and can look after themselves.  All the trees are indigenous to UK and include, amongst others, Wild Cherry, Crab Apple and Dog Rose.  The species chosen will promote wildlife, but were also chosen to provide fruit, nuts, flowers and fragrance.

The full proposal was submitted to the club council by the Long Shaw sub-committee on 24th January.  Approval by the Council was given at the council meeting on the 2nd February.  At a later meeting with TCT on 7th February, we were given a ‘Tree Planting Day’ of 14th March.

The council also gave permission for a Tree Adoption initiative, whereby members adopt a tree and commit to caring for it until it becomes established.  This amounts to not much more than keeping a tree well-watered in the hot summer months, and keeping it well mulched with compost, bark chippings or leaves.

This gave us about five weeks to cut back where necessary and to clear the grounds of leaves and deadfall, not only in the Long Shaw but also to the South boundary and behind the kitchen and pump house as well as re-establishing the ‘Greenglades Nature Trail’ though the wood.  This was carried out by John (T), Brian (R) and Philip (J) throughout February, with support from many other members.  It seemed an insurmountable task but thanks to the members attending the last work party on the 8th and 9th March, we managed to just about get it all done.  The team also managed the capital grant fund and by making use of ‘what we had’ and after making changes advised by TCT, were able to purchase new tools, gauntlets, a new wheelbarrow and new secateurs.  The crowning glory, however must be the provision of a new teak bench within the woodland walk, where members can sit and enjoy the peace and quiet of the wood.

Tree planting day arrived, and Alex and James brought the trees, supports and protection tubes, and compost/mulch to the club.  We started planting at about 10.30am, with James and Alex showing us what to do.  The positions of the trees were determined and within a relatively short space of time, 20 trees had been planted in the Long Shaw.  All the trees have been tagged with a number, species name and the name of the member who has adopted the tree.  Currently 18 of the 36 trees have been adopted, so if you would like to take up the offer, please speak to one of the sub-committee members.  All the trees that have been adopted were planted by the ‘adoptive parents’ and the team planted the remainder.

The woodland walk is a carpet of bluebells which should be showing over the next month or so, and is also bordered by snowdrops and daffodils.  There is a nice laurel arch through the forest.

Later in the season, we will be planting woodland bulbs, various ferns, Wood Anemones, Rhododendron bushes, Foxgloves, wild flowers, Bluebells, Daffodils, Tulips and Crocus etc. along the Greenglades Nature Trail to add some colour and to attract more bees and butterflies.

The Long Shaw sub-committee.