Trees for the future

North Yorkshire Moors Week 6

Tree Planting

We first had a ride in the mini bus to an open field and then walked to a section of the River Esk.

The Pearl Mussel Project is designed to stop the banks of the river slipping into the water. When this happens this pollutes the river harming the wild life.

Our task was to plant 48 Oak and Hazel trees along the river bank to stop this happening.

We were given the correct tools and told how to use them safely.

First we put the posts into the ground and cut a square of turf out. We dug the hole deep enough for the roots. The tree was planted and the soil put back in the hole pushed down. The turf was replaced making sure it was placed upside down. Next the protective tube was placed over the tree to protect it from wildlife until it is established. We repeated this until all the trees were planted.

By Ben,
Stag Patrol

Fungi & Forestry in the NY Moors

Scouts at NY Moors 29 November 2014   

We arrived at the Sutton Bank Visitor Centre on a cold and foggy day.  We met Tammy, the co-ordinator of the North York Moors Explorers.  She told us our mission which was to chop down some trees, to make a new footpath and to allow the heather to grow.

First, we went for a walk looking for fungi.  We found quite a lot.  Tammy told us about them and we also had reference books to help us identify them.

We drove in a minibus to the place where we were working.  It was only a short way, but we had a load of equipment to take along with us.  We had our lunch, I was glad I had my flask of hot chocolate!

We got down to work, cutting down some trees.  We each had a folding saw and loppers, which are long handled cutters.  This tree chopping technique is called the notch and Back Cut.  We all worked very hard and finished a bit early.

At the end, we were dancing in front of the Centre webcam while we were waiting for our lift home.  I think we were all tired at the finish, but we had done a good job.

By Luke

Cobra Patrol

North York Moors Conversation Poject

North York Moors Conservation Project 1:

Sutton Bank Visitor Centre

On Saturday 27th September four Scouts and one scout to be went to Sutton Bank Visitor Centre as part of the first day of the North York Moors Conservation Project.

We cleared and resurfaced underneath benches and we also painted 44 sq metres of fencing.
When we all arrived in the morning we met Tammy, Explorer Club Co-ordinator for the National Park, who showed us the tools we would be using, how to use them properly and what we would be doing throughout the day.  First of all we used spades to clear out the grass that was growing too far onto the bench area and did the same to branches that were in the way but with secateurs. We then covered the area in wood shavings to stop the grass growing through. When we were eating our lunch we had to walk around in groups and find out what different types of tree bark and leaves look like. 


After lunch and the tree spotting we got dressed in protective suits and each got a roller and a paint tray and started to paint.
Everybody in the party from 1st Marston Moor really enjoyed it and we are looking forward to the next time we go.

Finn
Wolf Patrol.

This is the first out of 6 conservation days our scouts will be involved in with the North Yorkshire Moors.  During the project they will be learning about conserving a National Park for the good of the wildlife, plants, residents and visitors, plus working on various badges including the Environmental Partnership Award.