Taranto Technical Support Engineer, Josh Cassidy, travelled over 50 miles from Liverpool to Waddington, near Clitheroe in Lancashire to help the Ribble Rivers Trust plant native English tree species saplings to improve the local environment. Read Josh’s account of his Volunteer Day experience:
After a lengthy three and a half hour journey from Liverpool, I arrived at the tree planting event. I was directed to a large field with rows of thin wooden posts lined up around the ends of it.
I made my way over and introduced myself. I was provided with a pair of gloves and a shovel, which was much appreciated as I had come somewhat underprepared. My bright red trainers weren’t really suited to tree planting in a muddy field and perhaps I should have worn a pair of strong boots. But it didn’t really matter too much, as the mud will wash off and I had a great time!
I met members of Ribble Rivers Trust, as well as other volunteers, and everyone was very friendly and welcoming. Among all the wooden posts referred to as “canes” in the field, there were some marked with bright yellow colouring. The idea was to take the bag of saplings, filled half with Hawthorns and the other half with Blackthorns, and plant them where any yellow marked post stood.
I was given a demonstration on the process of planting a tree: First, remove the post. Then, using your shovel, make four incisions in the soil to form a square. Next, you dig out a cube of earth from the square you’ve just made, flip it upside-down, and place it back into the hole. Flatten it out again with your heel, and then make another two deep incisions in the shape of a cross. Now slightly lift out the divided clump of earth with your shovel, and it will create a divide to place the sapling. Push the earth back down, ensuring it completely covers the sapling’s root plug, and flatten the earth out with your heel again until it is unbroken with the small tree protruding out. To finish it off, place the post back in the earth a couple of centimetres from the sapling, and cover them both together with long plastic tubes.
I got to work and took to it fairly quickly. There were two rows of yellow marked canes, each following a kind of arc shape around three of the four borders of the field. The work itself was great, in a beautiful scenic spot while working my muscles. Jumping on the shovel to force it down when the soil was too firm to push down with one leg never stopped being fun. The most difficult part was ensuring I didn’t harm any worms or other creatures that made their way to the surface when the soil was flipped.
While working away, I was able to chat to the Ribble Rivers Trust team and volunteers. One of the Ribble Rivers Trust employees, who had only been working with them for a few weeks, spoke about the different activities they do, such as willow cutting and river blitzes, and how much healthier he felt after just a short period of time.
After getting through my allocated saplings, I helped the other volunteers who still had trees left to plant. Between the five of us, we made short work of them and finished it in the hour.
It had been a fantastic day, and I felt fulfilled, having being commended again for my commitment by the Ribble Rivers Trust employees. I was offered a lift to the station, but I hadn’t had enough of the outdoors for the day. After saying our goodbyes, I started my 40 minute walk back to Clitheroe station, thankful that I’d had the opportunity to make my contribution to the environment. I hope to get another opportunity to volunteer very soon.
“The work itself was great, in a beautiful scenic spot while working my muscles.”
Joshua Cassidy is one of Taranto’s Technical Support Engineers. He joined Taranto in 2024 and is a member of the service desk team that supports Taranto’s clients. He has a degree in Computing from the National College of Ireland.
