Planting Records
The planting records of Helen Manson (listed below) are extracted from diary entries and records
kept at the time. They contain a variety of information including lists of species,
the number of plants, planting/purchase dates, who was involved in the
planting and the source of the plants. For the location of names of woodland areas,
see the woodland plan.
Manuscript notes provided by Helen Manson, attached below, give more details of the plantings.
- 1961 Stephen Manson buys East Massetter.
- Early 1970s Helen Manson planted 4 small sycamores (bought at a kirk "sale of work") above
the pond by the burn. Three survived. This was the start of the tree planting along Oback Burn.
- 1976 Government grants were available for fencing by the burn. Helen and Stephen Manson fenced off 1 acre of land taken from a field, with strong rabbit-proof fencing. 400 Sitka Spruce and 400 Lodgepole Pines were planted in May 1976. That summer proved to be one of the hottest and driest for many years and there were a great many losses.
- 1976-1995. Some planting continued on the site.
- 1995 14th February. 75 Scots Pine planted by Helen Manson in the upper end of enclosure next to fence.
- 1995 17th February. 170 Scots Pine planted by Helen Manson, location as above.
- 1995 13th March. 20 small Cotoneaster, 30 large Cotoneaster and 50 other species planted by Helen Manson.
- 1996 23rd October. 75 trees in gaps, planted by Olav Dennison.
- See the manuscript record.
- 1998 Olav Dennison planted 37 species on the Cellardyke side of Oback Burn and
13 species on the Hestily side of Oback burn.
- See the manuscript record.
- 1999 23rd January. 400 trees arrived from Christie Elite Nurseries (Forres). Planted
over the next two months by Helen Manson, Edwina Cook and Olav Dennison.
- 1999 18th October. 33 trees (5 spp) planted by Olav Dennison.
- See the manuscript record for more details and a planting plan.
- 2000 11th February. 500 trees arrived from Christie Elite Nurseries (Forres). Planted over the next two months by Olav Dennison.
- 2001 March. 340 trees planted (50 behind stable, 60 below pond, remainder in the Triangle).
- 2002 3rd July. 20 trees planted (pond to rushes), also 25 oak at top end, early July.
- 2002 15th October. Maintenance of woodland behind stable, Helen Manson.
- 2002 26th November. 25 Goat Willow and other trees planted by Olav Dennison by the Brig, Lower Hamisquay.
- See the manuscript record.
- 2003 15th February. Olav Dennison brought some Sitka Spruce.
- 2003 23rd February to 21st April. Olav Dennison planted approx. 300 trees, mainly in the Triangle.
- 2003 13th October. 25 trees in Three Corners.
- 2003 5th November. 7 willows in the Triangle, 18 trees moved.
- 2005 May. "Woodland getting quite dense, but the Triangle has suffered severe wind-burn which, I fear, has terrible consequences".
- 2005 1st June. 5 spp planted by Olav Dennison.
- 2006 14th April. Willows planted by Olav Dennison.
- 2006 15th April. 10 Elder, 3-4 Willow back of stable, planted by Olav Dennison.
- 2006 19th April. 24 trees planted by Olav Dennison (12 in the Triangle).
- 2006 20th May. Olav Dennison planted Spruce, Rowan, Cedar, Monkey-puzzle, Cordeline and Rhododendron.
- 2006 5th June. Olav Dennison planted Yucca, plus, in the Triangle, Rowan and Whitebeam.
- 2006 13th October. Olav Dennison planted in Paul's Patch 20 trees.
- 2006 14th October. Olav Dennison planted 23 trees.
- 2006 24th October. Olav Dennison planted 19 Spruce (from side of Loch Carron)
in 4 clumps in top Triangle, and 2 Black Poplar in Paul's Patch.
- 2006 8th November. Olav Dennison planted 5 Aspen, 10 Willow and Hawthorn at Gordon's Corner.
- See the manuscript record for details.
- 2007 Spring. Olav Dennison planted 42 trees in Gordon's Corner (East side of Oback Burn).
- 2007 Other plantings not recorded.
- 2008 1st and 3rd May. Olav Dennison planted 23 trees in the Triangle.
- 2009 18th May. Olav Dennison planted trees.
- 2009 17th July. Olav Dennison planted 9 shrubs.
- 2009 12th August. Olav Dennison planted 2 Balfour Willows.
- 2009 18th September. Olav Dennison planted 31 trees near the gate at the top.
- 2009 19th September. Olav Dennison planted 31 trees near the Bridge.
- 2009 30th October. Olav Dennison planted 3 shrubs.
- 2009 9th November. Olav Dennison planted 28 trees in the Triangle.
- 2009 16th November. Olav Dennison planted 4 trees.
- 2009 20th November. Olav Dennison planted 5 shrubs near Paul's Patch.
- See the manuscript record for more details.
- 2009 9th December. 2 new additions - Honey berry (Lonicera kamtschatika) and
Goji berry (Lycium sp.).
- 2010 24th July. Another new addition - Tasmanian waratah (Telopea truncata).
- 2010 October. Planting at back of Cellardyke stables, including
Balfour willow, Arctic willow, Alaskan willow and Blackthorn (Olav Dennison).
- 2011-2013 Small-scale planting of individual trees (a variety of species) and other plants, especially in the upper woodland to cover ground. Considerable maintenance undertaken, especially by Andy Mitchell (including scrub clearance in the lower wood) and Stephen Manson (especially the creation and maintenance of paths).
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