Sunday 15th Dec saw 5 Goodgymers head out into the wooded depths of Gedling Country Park with a small army of volunteers to help finish their 2024 tree planting programme. Hannah and Nigel were joined by debutants Diana and Theo and Emma who we have been fortunate to acquire from our colleagues in Newcastle. We started with a highly informative talk from the local naturalist who explained, amongst other things that the Purging Buckthorn we are planting was butterfly friendly but poisonous to humans. Fortunately tea and cakes were laid on at the end of the mission so no one was tempted to have a chew. First job was to plant beech saplings in the corner of the cow field - no need for any artificial fertiliser in that space. We were then asked to spread out and venture into the woods, find a small clearing and plant out the remaining beech trees. When we returned to the path Diana and Theo were missing - the Park is nearly 600 acres so we started to get concerned and were just asking the Duke of Edinburgh candidates if they had done their search and rescue training yet when our two latest recruits appeared, safe and sound. Onwards to the butterfly meadow to plant out the aforementioned Purging Buckthorn in the hope that next summer Brimstone Butterfly will return to the park.

Thank you to the regular volunteers and trustees who made us very welcome and invited us back any Sunday to support their impressive and valuable work.