Friday, December 12, 2014

A Great Achievement - replacing our lost tree avenue



Naturally Seated and Ready to Plant

Children from Kings Norton Primary School, pictured below, are naturally seated and ready to plant our new six standard giant redwoods.  You may recall we recently lost our original fir tree avenue.   We successfully managed to source funding from Birmingham Trees for Life for four replacement standard tress and Birmingham City trees department kindly funded two additional trees.

These six trees create one side of our avenue, which will run upwards along Colle Lane, the original historic walk up through fields which now form our park.  The lane once ran from the River Rea (known as the Cole in Angelo Saxon times) from a crossing from the former Kings Norton manorial mill, now the BP garage, and led to the north of historic St Nicolas Church.   Along the remaining part of the lane was planted a line of fir trees designed as a feature to enhance the experience of walking up and viewing the church.   The planting of the replacement new trees is a proud and historic moment for our park.

A very big thank you to everyone who took part in the vision, planning and planting on what was a very cold December day in 2014.


Kings Norton Primary School Children and Friends of KNPark  naturally seated receiving a health and safety talk





So tell me how old was this tree?

Fascinated children from Kings Norton Primary and Junior School being shown by a trees for life representative how to determine how old a tree is - sadly the best estimate is once the tree is felled by counting the rings inside the trunk.   Did you know these fir trees were part of the Kings Norton's original planting scheme.  Kings Norton Park dates back to 1924 and was a gift from the then embryonic Birmingham Civic Society and were possibly paid for our of monies donated by George and Elizabeth Cadbury who donated approximately £850 to landscape the park in the then popular more formal and ornate style.

The rings on this fir tree show it is approximately 90 years of age on felling - a sad loss but glorious in its day

Together we can achieve big things!

Children share in the filling in of soil around the new standard redwoods holes had been prepared by Birmingham City Council tree officers and rangers.    The work was strenuous but very rewarding for the children the soil is Merica Mud which is natural clay weighted with the rain of the last 3 previous days.   The timing appropriately added a sense of magic and magnitude as the children felt they were planting Christmas fir trees.   Hopefully, these trees will prosper into glorious redwood avenue and feature in the Park memories of local children as well as their children's children.



Heavy Mercian Mud (Clay) and top soil loaded with rainwater made the work strenuously rewarding
Mom's give a helping foot and children admire the roots and worms!

Protecting against adverse conditions

Secret wellie weapons ensure the soil is compact enough to hold the trees upright.  The trees have now been supported by stakes and protected by mess.   We hope that you help to protect our trees.  If you do see any adverse behaviour or damage due to weather conditions please do notify the appropriate authority.   Thank you!

Secret Wellie Weapons firm in the new trees

Special thank you's

A special thank you to James Gibbs Arboretum Officer Birmingham City Council,  Birmingham Trees for Life, our Lickey Hub Rangers,  Kings Norton Primary School and Friends of Kings of Norton Park .   Together we can make special things happen. 

Hopefully in 2015 a further 6 trees will be planted to complete this avenue and will be given the knowledge and skills to look after these trees.  We are soon to visit historic Brandwood Cemetery which has examples of redwoods to allow us to experience the atmosphere our avenue will create once it is fully established.


More pictures from Birmingham Trees for Life on the web at

https://picasaweb.google.com/102189186963151852649/KingsNortonParkDecember112014#

https://www.facebook.com/birminghamtreesforlife

http://www.btfl.org.uk/blog


Together we can achieve big things!


If you wish to become involved our activities in any shape or form, please do not hesitate to contact us

Email    info.foknp@gmail.com

Follow @kingsnortonpark


 


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