This task made a wonderful start to my week. I met with a large group of volunteers on this fine bright morning. Friends of Wigmore Valley Park and Luton and Dunstable Conservation Volunteers were there, Sam from Luton Borough Council directed our efforts to orchard maintenance tasks. For me this meant working in the youngest section of the orchard, locating saplings planted two years ago, now up to their necks in tall grass. They are doing very well and needed weeding and mulching using jute mats and bamboo pegs. This helps both suppress the weeds and conserve moisture after rainfall so these tender wee trees can continue to grow into mighty majesties. They looked very grateful, as were we for the tea and biscuits at break time.