Members of the Tree Group gathered today, in Covid secure fashion, to plant 6 trees, one set of four limes and a pair of hornbeam, by the shops near Allectus Way and King Edward Way on the Hatfield Road Estate.
The day started off frosty but by the time Allan had marked out the planting positions, a fine winter’s day was upon us, cold but sunny and clear blue sky. Better still was the soil, as this was not dry or stony or hard to dig as is sometimes the case, quite a relief for those in the group who had sat around too much during the Covid (Christmas) period!
Accompanied by new member Terry and a very helpful local resident with his two sons, to whom we are very grateful, the work was done within a couple of hours after which we all retreated to our Lockdown homes.
The trees we have planted this year will be totally unaware (being trees!) that this was the weirdest of years. So too were the black-headed gulls and resident starlings that had been kicking off in the background today as we worked away. Nature can be tragic and beautiful but that it carries on regardless of the turmoil we have found ourselves in during 2020 is also reassuring.
Happy New Year to all Witham, here’s to better times in 2021 – and more tree planting.
Jane – 30 December 2020