A day out in the great outdoors.

June 4, 2010

A glorious, cold but sunny March day, that really felt like the beginning of spring saw our People and the DALES team out with a group, marking the start of a new season of visits.

Gail Smith, who is one of our People and the DALES Community Workers says: “The unpredictability of the weather at this time of year means it’s often hard for groups to come out, however certain activities, like tree planting, can only take place during the winter months”.

Eleven women from the Saheli group at Girlington Communty Centre in Bradford braved the cold with Gail and National Park Rangers Phil Richards and Richard Mainman for a days tree planting on the banks of the River Wharfe at Burnsall. The planting will help to minimise erosion of the bank adjacent to the Dales Way footpath.

The women planted 250 trees during the day and then had time for short walk along the river learning more about Burnsall, the National Park and the work the rangers do and a quick stone skimming lesson from Richard! 

Rubina Burhan a Community Worker at the Girlington Centre, who helped coordinate the visit, said “Thank you for giving us the opportunity to experience this environmentally friendly exercise which I am sure helped us to relax and enjoy the countryside.”

The women hope to return with their families to see how their trees are doing.