The task for The Friends of Hampshire Farm Meadows work party on Saturday 27th of May 2023 was to apply more mulch around the bases of the trees in the Ems Valley Memorial Arboretum.

Eight members of the group turned out to carry out this important job. Mulching is required to help preserve the moisture in the ground and for weed suppression. A good wet March and April had got the trees off to a good start, but May has been very dry and with June looking to be the same, watering will be required soon.

This new layer of mulch will help to retain the water, keep the weeds down and also as the mulch decomposes it releases nutrients into the soil to help the trees grow.