Ben's Vale Adventures

Hello! My name is Ben Rees, or as I am known to many 'the hairy, Welsh one over there'.

I joined the Trust in January 2019 as the 'Assistant to the Land Manager' where, for 2 mornings a week, my main function was to support practical conservation tasks on our fabulous nature reserves!

In January 2022 I accepted a full time position as 'Deputy Land and Development Manager' where I now assist with the general running of the charity, including undertaking practical maintenance and habitat improvement tasks, helping with and running work parties, looking for funding opportunities to help provide income for the charity, managing our donations pages, running our social media, and organising and attending public engagement events!

Below are just some of the adventures and tasks that I have undertaken in my time with the Trust, as well as some of the awesome wildlife sightings I have managed to get my camera out in time for! To keep up to date with my 'Vale Adventures' please head over to our Facebook page > https://www.facebook.com/valetrust ENJOY!!

P.S. Please hover your mouse over (or click on) each picture for the caption, this may not work on some smart phones (Sorry!!).

Thunderbirds are go! We had to rescue a cow and 24 hour old calf this week! They had managed to get themselves on the wrong side of the fence, but with a bit of tricky maneuvering and fence 'modification' mother and calf were safely reunited with the herd and are doing well!!

Planted a load of hedging whips this week and 5 beech trees donated to us by a local resident! :D
When planting young trees (rather than the whips) its good practice to give them a little boost!
1) Make sure the hole you dig is square rather than round or the roots will struggle to break into the more edge soil and end up forming a bowl!
2) Add a little bit of peat free compost, and a small around of bone meal (which is excellent for slow release nutrient! ;) ) you can also put the turf you dug back in the hole to rot down for more nutrients for the tree! :D
3) when putting the tree in the ground make sure its just deep enough so the roots are covered. Too deep and they will suffocate, to shallow and the tree will fall over!
4) once in, gently compact the surface, and cover with a biodegradable mulch mat to prevent nettles and thistles growing and out competing the tree :) 5) insert a sturdy stake and tie the tree too it. Not too tightly as the wind moving the tree strengthens the roots over time and if it can not move with the wind you will end up with week roots!
6) put a rabbit guard and perhaps a stoke guard around the tree to prevent it being grazes by rabbits, sheep and deer!
7) develop after care program! This is the most important step, new trees will need pruning and watering for years or will likely die!