Plant a Tree in '23!!!

On 12^th November, Hawick Rotarians finally managed to plant their ''Trees for '23''! They were taking part in a wider Rotary project called 'Plant a tree in '23, plant some more in '24', but completion had been much delayed. First hurdle had been to get agreement from Hawick Common Good Fund Sub Committee which oversees Hawick Moor, an area of common land on the outskirts of the town. The committee was approached for approval in November 2023 but questions were asked by the committee and it had not been realised that there would be four months between their meetings. With approval granted in February, a date was set for planting, only for the weather on that day to be awful and the work postponed. However the planting season runs from October to February, so a date was targeted for this week, and prayers said for good weather.

Everything went well. The weather was dry, calm and sunny, ideal for the workers who gathered. There were ten members of Hawick Rotary along with spouses and friends, and a large group of volunteers who work with Borders Forest Trust on such days. Anna Craigen of Borders Forest Trust, and Becky Chenery who led their volunteers, took charge and demonstrated what to do, with all tools, trees and equipment being provided by BFT. The task of planting 120 trees – native hardwoods such as alder, birch, cherry, rowan and crab apple – took three hours and was much enjoyed by the team. Gordon Muir and Ruth Lyle of Hawick's Hornshole Greenway project had brought 20 small oaks for planting on the higher drier ground but the other trees were planted in a wetter area which has proved of little use for other activities.

The trees are cell-grown and about one foot high, but are protected by plastic sleeves and by two stakes. The sleeves will be removed in due process.