After a stormy night with gusting wind and lashing rain, the morning of 7th January gradually brightened on the volunteers who met at 11am, spades and pickaxes in hand.

The mission? To plant seven native cherry trees alongside the pedestrian/cycle path that leads from Butterfly Junction to Underfall Yard.

The trees are Bird Cherries (Prunus Padus standard and Watereri). They will not only make the area look more attractive, but will be useful to wildlife. The spring flowers provide an early source of nectar and pollen for bees. The bitter cherries are eaten by birds, including the blackbird and song thrush, as well as mammals. And the foliage is eaten by caterpillars of many moth species, including the orchard ermine, brimstone and short-cloaked moth.

FrANC would like to thank Guy Malkerson and Mo Mulligan for making the event such a success and the many other gallant volunteers who dug, planted and staked whilst also clearing away vast quantities of invasive brambles and ivy.

(click on an image below to view it larger)