7th February: Lepe Tree Planting
I was one of a group of NCI members who helped plant some 23 Corsican/Austrian pines (pinus nigra). It represented the first tranche of Phase 1 of a project which will result on over 200 trees planted in Lepe Country Park. On succeeding days more trees were to be planted by school pupils and by Friends of Lepe. The type of pine starts life in a conical shape but should, as it matures branch out in a similar manner to the established trees which are an iconic feature of the Lepe landscape.
I was glad to see more trees being planted since the present ones are decreasing in number through age or, in some cases, by becoming dangerously close to the eroding cliffs. These trees are planted well back but who knows, by the time they mature they too may be near the cliff edge!