The planting of the forest garden in Fox’s Field is well under way. The planning, mowing, baling and designing has been done, saplings have been bought and two days of planting have taken place. Volunteers from the Wellington community came along on both days and helped to get 150 plants and trees in the ground.

Join us if you can for the next day of planting, on Saturday (January 15) from 1-3pm, when we hope to establish another 70 shrubs and trees. These will form part of a windbreak, which will protect the blossom from blustery weather in the spring. Having a sheltered site will increase yields within the forest garden, and the windbreak will itself provide nuts and fruits.

Containing cherry plums, elders, cob nuts, large edible haws, an edible and beautiful dogwood (Cornus kousa), autumn olives and nitrogen-fixing pea shrubs, it won’t just be about protection, but will provide food for people and wildlife, and create nutrients for other plants. If you would like to help with this, come along with a spade, if you have one, and cardboard with any plastic sticky tape removed.

Directions to Fox’s Field: Locals will access the field via The Basins but as the footpath is currently closed for health and safety reasons, we cannot officially direct you from this side. You can also enter the field from the Millstream Gardens side but please walk or cycle for environmental reasons. If you have to drive, please do not park in the residential area - the car park to the left of One Stop should hopefully be available for us to use again. If you have the What3words app, the entrance to Fox’s Field on the Tonedale side is phones.card.corrupted. The nearest postcode to there is TA21 0DH. You’ll see a children’s play park across the little bridge from Millstream gardens at the top of the field, and the planting will be at the far end.

SUE RICKARD