Holywell Dene, Northumberland
"All the prepratory work was carried out on the 28 November in the worst possible conditions (an inch of rain, sleet or snow), however the planting day itself (29 November) turned out clear and sunny with a moderate northerly wind and a maximum temperature of two degrees. At least the site has good drainage!
In all, 75 children from Sleaton Sluice First School, aged 7-9, walked from their school, with two groups coming in the morning and one in the early afternoon.
They were given a demonstration of a tree planting and told about safety and then, in groups of three with an adult volunteer helper, each child planted at least two trees and put on tree guards.
A total of 155 trees were planted which included the 145 purchased and 10 oak, grown from local acorns.
This very successful day was the latest in a number of children's tree planting days organised by the Friends of Holywell Dene over the last six years. In all well over a thousand native have been planted to replace the ravages of past years and, I am pleased to say, the success rate of the trees has been very high with many of the trees now in excess of two metres. This means that children who were seven or eight are now in there teens and can begin to appreciate the results of their labours."
Russell Pannell,
Chairman friends of Holywell Dene
