NATIONAL Trust gardens may be closed at the moment but the hard work goes on - as three workers found when they had to plant 700 trees between them.

For the last three years the garden team Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal have been building up to replace one of the longest stretches of yew hedge bosquet in the water garden.

More than 700 specially grown yews were waiting in biosecurity, ready to be planted but with no specialised nursery for them to go in as a temporary fix, and the planting area needing further work, the pressure was mounting.

The team were also faced with the prospect of having to water them individually – a tough task for a depleted team.

Despite these challenges, and fewer people available to do the work, the three remaining gardeners rolled up their sleeves and got the job done.

Having completed the work last week, head gardener Michael Ridsdale said: “It’s at times like this that nature gives us a reminder of who is really in-charge.”