December 13th, 2019

ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2019
 
Perhaps the overriding theme of our work in the Pinetum this year was “Back To Basics”.  Some of our major projects were on hiatus and our resourcing meant we concentrated on the regular tasks and smaller projects that also enhance the Pinetum but that sometimes get overshadowed by the big ones.

So, for instance, we cleared the bank behind the Entrance Hut that had become overgrown with brambles, grass, sedge and tree of heaven suckers and planted snowdrops, primroses and ferns. 

Things rot and wear out, so we replaced dead hedging along the front and river side edges of the Entrance Area and around the Woodland Garden.  We like to use logs from our own trees (Redwood preferably) to make steps on the path running up to the Leat behind the Entrance Hut.  A dead tree covered in ivy runs attractively across the path but it needs propping up and the support poles had to be replaced. 

Other repairs have included renewing the posts and pallets surrounding our compost heap and replacing a gate post on our picket gate into the Woodland Garden.  The Woodland Garden is becoming a nice tranquil spot but needs regular maintenance: grass cutting, weeding, bracken putting on the paths.  This year, we have planted a good many new ferns and seem to be winning in our battle to establish snowdrops.

The main path round the first Giant Redwood had become a bit narrow for our tractor and trailer – partly because we put some attractive edging round the base of the tree, so we dug further into the bank to widen it.  Brambles were encroaching badly on the open grassy area above the summer house base.  These have been removed, giving a more spacious feel to the area.

A bigger enhancement was made in the Grotto.  In the slope of the bank we have brick, stone and flint tiers in which ferns have seeded themselves but it was missing a retaining wall at the bottom.  So, courtesy of Eric’s volunteers we had a foundation, then a wall topped with flints and now a variety of ferns planted above it, all blending in very well, I think you’ll agree.

Perhaps the part of the Pinetum on which we spent the most project time this year was The Annexe, the area opposite the main entrance.  Many years ago, we cleared it of sycamore and ash and laid the trunks around the perimeter.  We did try to sell the wood but without great success and the wood was deteriorating.
 
So, we cut much of it up into lengths and the rest that was too far gone, we gathered into habitat piles in the surrounding woodland.  We already had a demonstration cord of wood (a standard cubic measure of firewood), so we thought another one, with a difference, would be a good idea.  After levelling the ground for the new cord, the cut logs were placed between retaining posts and built up in tightly packed layers to its full size.  A job well done!

We always do a bit of tree felling every year, to create more open space or to free up conifers that are being crowded by hardwoods.  But at the moment, we are in the middle of a big programme of felling to create major new spaces at the far end of the Pinetum in Old Firs and Pine Wood and Sycamore Coppice. 

Sometimes we can use hand saws for the thinner trees.  There is something that boys in particular seem to like about saws and trees.  It’s always a popular activity!
 
Or, you can go the full monty with chainsaws and ropes. Felling trees means lots of clearing up afterwards. There is much transporting of wood about the Pinetum.  We use trunks for path edging, stakes, poles, adding to our fungal clock or cutting into smaller billets to season and sell.  And the bigger trunks can be made into planks. ​

Felling trees also means bonfires.  We only burn the smaller branches; anything we can’t use, is put in habitat piles to rot down.
 
The main reason for all this felling is to create space to plant new trees.  And after a bit of a gap, we have planted some new trees this year.