Reepham Rotary have been planting things
500 trees for Reepham
As part of the Queen’s Jubilee ‘A Million Trees for Norfolk’ scheme, in January 2023 Reepham Rotary planted a total of 500 trees at four sites in or around the town. These were a mix of large and hedgerow trees including; English Oak / Hornbeam / Beech / Wild Service Tree / Alder / Hawthorn / Dogwood / Hazel / Wild Gelder Rose / Crab Apple / Spindle /Cherry / Plum
Recently we have been checking on the trees, since public plantings do not have a high success rate – often as low as 10% survival. Our trees were planted on four sites:
At Reepham Primary School 150 trees were planted in open ground around the perimeter of the playing field by a Rotary team with Kate King and some parents. There was competition from the grass and watering during holidays was difficult. However 85% of trees are now thriving.
150 more trees were planted by students at Reepham High School to form a long hedge around the allotment site. Again holiday watering was difficult but 65% success is well above average.
At Whitwell Hall, 150 trees were planted on two sites by the Rotary team. Those as an infill in a wooded area suffered from low light and boggy ground with a survival of 40%. Those planted in open ground reached 50% but were challenged by the deer who watched us plant them.
The final 50 were planted on Booton Common by Robert Buxton and neighbours. With a well cleared and mulched site 95% are now growing strongly.
These figures suggest that the project has had an overall success rate of approx 68% – well above the national average thanks to the care of the teams who planted and watch over the trees.
Purple crocuses for polio
For many years, Rotary has been leading a worldwide campaign to eradicate polio – with considerable success. The inoculation campaigns use purple dye to mark the fingers of kids who have ben vaccinated to avoid complicated record keeping. Clubs who send money to support the campaign plant purple crocuses as a reminder of our work.
This year we have planted 4000 more corms to add to the 8000 from previous years. 2000 of these were planted at the Primary School with the assistance of Kate King and her after-school Gardening Club pupils in the lawn adjacent to our Japanese Tea House.
More planting is being carried out in the Animal Pound this month and also, hopefully, in the lawn at Reepham Surgery. Many thanks to Sheila and Roy Sherlock and all other volunteers.