Anderson's Primary pupils help Dava Way Association plant more than 50 oak trees near Dallas Dhu Distillery
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PRIMARY seven pupils from a local school have planted more than 50 seedlings grown from acorns they harvested two years ago.
Mr Chris Rutherford’s class from Anderson's Primary joined volunteers from the Dava Way Association (DWA) on a stretch by Dallas Dhu Distillery to plant the young oaks and wrapped them with tree guards.
He explained: “Anderson's takes part in the John Muir Award and our outdoor lead is P5 teacher Mr Nigel Sleaford. He took pupils out to gather acorns at Sanquhar last year and asked us to plant them this year. I hope to bring the class back here in June to see how much the trees have grown.”
DWA secretary Malcolm Campbell confirmed that Mick Drury from Friends of Forres Woods and Fields mentioned at a recent meeting of the Forres Green Spaces group that, having germinated at Christie Elite Nurseries, the acorns gathered by the P5s were ready to be planted out.
Malcolm said: “The DWA offered to take 50 to be planted after checking with landowners Altyre Estate. We agreed a date and acquired stakes, ties and sleeves, supplying spades and other tools on the day.”
Four DWA volunteers helped, including one of who spent years working for the Trees for Life charity.
The pupils were split into teams so that everyone could plant at least one tree.
“The pupils were enthusiastic, attentive and asked lots of questions,” said Malcolm. “They were also very well behaved!”
The saplings will be left to grow and their sleeves will remain in place until the trees are large enough that deer cannot kill them.
Young planters Mark Currie (11) and Ava Ward (11) are looking forward to seeing how the acorns grow into trees that could live for hundreds of years.
Mark said: “We’re hoping the trees will have their protective sleeves taken off in five to 10 years. My team - Alex Durrance, Ethan Maclean and I - planted 13!”
Ava added: “My team will be back in three or four years to see how much they’ve grown then.”
Mr Rutherford takes his class outdoors at least once-a-week.
He said: “Our pupils often do outdoor learning which goes along with the school ethos.
“The children enjoy identifying plants and building dens. We also help the community wherever we can.”
DWA chairman Neil Sinclair hopes pupils planting trees will generate more interest in the route.
He said: “The pupils, teacher, support staff and volunteers were a pleasure to work with. They were all very keen and polite and planting 55 oak trees took less time to complete than I’d imagined!”
Pupil Ava Farish (11) was familiar with the Dava Way before the planting.
She said: “It’s 25 miles long and used to be part of a railway track from Inverness to London. I did a sponsored walk along it last year to help raise funds for Forres Area Soccer Sevens.”
DWA volunteers arrange work parties on the cross-country path to Grantown-on-Spey on the second Saturday of every month.
Malcolm said: “We are well into Spring so the grass will shortly require cutting, vegetation needs to be cut back and drains have to be cleared after the winter storms.
“Our major focus this year will be to progress construction of a new access ramp from the Dallas Dhu Car Park.
“Help with all will be much appreciated!”
Visit www.davaway.org.uk for more information.
