Tree Planting at Denholm Dean

On Tuesday 5th December, George Hogg, Gus Neilson and Ron Smith went along to Denholm Dean to help locals and Borders Forest Trust volunteers in their transformation of Denholm Dean. This area to the east of the village was a popular attraction in the later 1800s and continued as a location for walking and dog exercising throughout the 20th Century. However it had become rather overgrown with coniferous trees, some latterly diseased, and a condition of the bequest made by local man Michael Braithwaite was that the spruce be removed. This was done in November 2023 and the replanting of the area with native hardwoods began in June 2024. On Tuesday, there must have been around 25 volunteers planting, clearing, burning brash across the extensive site.