Margaret Cliff writes: a lovely spring day, Matt Trevelyan of Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) took us to Swinton (in the Ure valley) for a day of volunteering. Seven guests and two volunteers were picked up from Leeds and driven to Nutwith Common where we were joined by a small group from Pateley Bridge and greeted with a pile of jackets, boots, spades, hammers and 300 trees to be planted.
Brian, the estate tree man, explained what to do. Many trees planted the previous year had died because of the dry spring and needed replacing. So we got to work. After an hour and a half, 200 had been planted and it was time for lunch – delicious chicken and risotto prepared by the Swinton Estate Hotel chef.
We then walked through the beautiful Hackfall Wood with its 18th century follies including a hand pumped fountain – which we did not master. A shower of rain and slippery mud added to the fun before our return to Leeds after an exhilarating day. Apologies to the remaining 100 trees….
