There is an old saying, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is now.”
Whether this is really an old Chinese Proverb (as indicated by Google), or can be attributed to somebody else, makes no difference as to the truth of the statement. Of course, the proverb can also be used to describe much in life other than trees, but for this blog, we are going to only look at trees, and those trees planted in the last couple of years at River Valley.
Why only the last couple of years and not 20 years?
You don’t need 20 years to make a difference.
In the photos below will show you just how quickly you can make a difference in a short period of time.
Plantings After Two Years
Freshly planted native trees autumn of 2016
The same planting in Autumn 2018
Isla Harrison planting a Cabbage tree in the winter of 2016
The same planting in 2018. Trees now starting to beat the grass.
Planting After Three Years
Brian with a 3 year old Pittosporum tenuifolium, part of a riparian planting. Brian is about 1.86m tall, so this tree is now heading towards 3 metres in 3 years!
I hope this handful of photos inspires you to get planting now. The earth needs more trees.
Brian Megaw
