Story: Douglas Johnson
It wasn’t a promising day – Saturday 8th November on Nottingham Rec was wet and overcast – but people gathered to carry out improvements to their park.
With Leonie Kapadia, Burngreave’s new Community Forester, the group planted three new trees in the park – an Indian Bean Tree, which should come out with splendid flowers in the spring, and two different eucalyptus varieties.
Also present were Young Advisors and Streetworx, to emphasise their stance against gun and knife crime, Green City Action and Rock Christian Centre members, along with Councillor Jackie Drayton and a lot of children. This good mix of people all got a hot dinner afterwards, courtesy of the Young Advisors’ mutton and rice.
At another tree-planting on Tuesday 11th November at Burngreave Rec, Leonie had help from Byron Wood School’s Fresh Start Group.
Leonie said:
“Our green-fingered students back-filled soil around the tree roots and learnt about the nutrients needed to ensure healthy root growth – in volcanic rockdust. They mulched the trees to keep the weeds down, and finished by ensuring the strapping support was well and truly screwed onto the tree-stakes. Not only did our students demonstrate their understanding of the need for oxygen producing trees, they also showed their skills using tools, and their dedication to getting the job done! Thanks to each one of you for working so hard for your area – we will all appreciate your work when the trees are blossoming in Spring.”
