NEWS

Fencing and tree maintenance

Lead organisation: Sgoil an Iochdair agus a'Choimhearsnachd

In the past, we have undertaken two tree planting projects. We used a mound technique, to overcome the problems with drainage at the sites. The older of the two areas is next to Rubha Chlachainn. These trees are doing extremely well, so well that they have needed thinning. Several volunteers have helped me with this; Our youngest helper in March was 2 years old. He was helping me tidy up some very small branches from the thinned trees.

We have used Awards for All funds to purchase tree pruning equipment and at the same time purchased netting for wind-breaks. The fencing was upgraded round the new trees at the school, and we have some spare netting for ongoing repairs.The MacPhee brothers undertook the fencing work, with their usual quiet style.

For those of you interested in our stock list, we chose mostly native trees, choosing varieties to suit the environmental circumstances. We sourced them all through a company called Alba Trees.

• Alnus glutinosa (common alder)
• Alnus incana (grey alder)
• Betula pubescens (downy birch)
• Salix aurita (eared willow)
• Salix caprea (goat willow)
• Salix cinerea (grey willow)
• Quercus petraea (sessile oak)
• Corylus avelana (hazel)
• Pinus contorta (lodgepole pine)
• Sambucus nigra (Elderberry)
• Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan)
• Cytisus scoparius (common broom)
• Myrica gale (myrtle)

In the future, we are planning on further developments with the tree planting areas. In the plantation at the school, we hope to create exploration paths through the trees, allowing pupils at the school to gain real practical experience of ecology, biology, and other investigative projects. The idea for the paths came from watching how children already use the open space, developing pathways to explore, to reach special areas, to follow along, and to chase each other.