First Fruit Trees Planted!
Saturday, 3 December 2022 witnessed the second ‘Field Day’ at Forbes Field. Building on the success of our first event on 12 November, no fewer than 35 volunteers were involved in planting trees, in clearing back more scrub and in making our tools and equipment store ready.
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Once again, a happy band of local villagers was reinforced by a splendid section of RE:ACT volunteers. We also greeted four visitors: Helena Darragh from the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Beauty, which is generously supporting the project; Elizabeth and John Forbes, niece and nephew respectively of the late Diana Forbes, who gifted the field to the village; and Toby Wicks, the CEO of RE:ACT. All kindly lent a willing hand to the work during the course of the day.
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Under Johan Denekamp’s skilled direction, in just over two hours villagers planted no fewer than 22 fruit trees, ranging from Apples, Cherries and Pears to Damsons, Quinces and Plums. This means that half of the slots in the orchard have now been filled, leaving the balance of 22 fruit tree to be planted in early 2023.
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We also planted a donated Willow at the north-western corner of the Field which forms the first of an intended line of Willows and Alders to run along the northern edge. Do take a look at the Field, noting not only the trees we have planted, but also at the areas now cleared of scrub by RE:ACT members and others. At last we can now see our vision for the Field taking shape. But a lot remains to be done over the next couple of years to complete the project, and maintaining it thereafter.
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In the meantime we heard in early January 2023 that the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Beauty wishes to use Forbes Field as a case study for illustrating its work under the aegis of the government’s Farming in Protected Landscapes Scheme, from which we are benefiting in terms of professional advice and financial support.
We look forward to seeing volunteers from both the village and RE:ACT returning to our next Field Day, which, on current plans, will take place on Saturday, 11 February.
During the Field Day, we greeted a number of visitors including the niece of Diana Forbes, Elizabeth Forbes, and her brother, John Forbes. Both assisted in the work underway in the Field. After his visit, John Forbes wrote to us: "When I drove into Chilmark on Saturday, around lunchtime I saw at least half a dozen people walking home carrying spades. I thought I know why, but I asked one of them and they proudly told me they had planted 22 trees. And working through the afternoon I could see the support the project is getting. As a family we were obviously aware that the field belonged to the village, but for some years it just sat there, being occasionally grazed. The Forbes Field Project is precisely what should be done with it, and precisely what Diana would have wanted, so I congratulate you on the vision and determination to see it through. So apart from being a good idea which Aunt Diana would have liked, this project is evidently actively being supported by the community, which she would have liked even more. I was impressed and moved by it, and very happy to have taken part in a small way.
Toby Wicks, the CEO of RE:ACT, who also joined us to work with his team, was also impressed by what we are doing and commented: "Delightfully in keeping with the local environment and landscape; an excellent vision coming to life, representing a fitting investment in nature, which is having a catalytic contribution to the community".