Trees—21 years on

I found a photograph the other day with the date 28 March 1985 on it. It was the day on which our society started its serious tree-planting: 20 oaks with stakes and guards on Wick Hill, at the northern end of Maidencroft Lane.

This was the beginning of the large planting programme, which, over the next 12 years put more than 200 trees — oak, beech, Scots and Corsican pines — on that hillside. They stretch in a row for more than 1½ miles: up the hill to the old pines, down to Gog and Magog, and on down to Wick Lane.

Shown in that 1985 photograph, digging and planting, are Ian Tucker, Geoffrey Brunt, John and David Tucker and Toby Beaumont. Not shown, but nevertheless working hard digging holes, humping stakes and laying out trees, were John Brunsdon, Kevin Redpath, Barry and Vera Matthews, Brian Dicketts, Rachel Beaumont, Aaron Miller, Jack and Gwynn Tucker and your correspondent.

Do walk up and have a look. Go up the High Street, and straight ahead all the way: up Bove Town, up Wick Hollow, straight over Maidencroft Lane and over the stile into Paradise Lane. Walk about 200 yards along Paradise Lane — and there behold the view. Pick a sunny day, and you can see Wells cathedral and the Mendips, and near to you our great row of trees. You may also be lucky enough to see, from above, a soaring buzzard.

The whole experience will happy you mightily.

Several members met on July 22 to visit, by car and by foot, several of our tree sites. First call was the now established planting by the carnival sheds at Common Moor. Then to the more recently planted Jubilee Wood at Wick. Rain interfered, so we retired to Ian and Carol Tucker’s kitchen for tea — with thanks.