PROJECTS
WOODLAND PLANTATION
Habitat: Native Woodland
Location: South Devon
Size: 32 Acres
Species: Hazel, English oak, Holm oak, Hornbeam
This 17,500-tree mixed native woodland plantation was in hilly farmland bordered by Dartmoor on one side and the South Devon coast on the other. It was divided into four blocks designed to blend in and enhance the landscape by connecting with existing treelines and copses and will deliver several ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, restoring soil and preventing erosion and flooding.
In such open country avoiding potential wind damage was an important consideration. Building in suitable rides and access points for machinery was essential for watering, weed control and replacing trees during the establishment. Ed Nicholson explained. “With such a large-scale woodland planting scheme, many factors need to be taken into account including appropriate species, spacing of rides and clearings for access. For example, we planted evergreen holm oaks along the perimeter with trees spaced closer behind them as protection from the weather. When planning rides it’s also important not to create wind tunnels that can damage trees on the edge.”
The project presented unique challenges as the ground had to be heavily improved and worked before planting and a very wet winter made it difficult to access. Regular checks after planting were made to see how the trees were establishing.
AGROFORESTRY
Habitat: Agroforestry
Location: East Devon
Size: 15 Acres
Species: Apple, Pear, Plum
The aim of this agro-forestry project near Culmstock, East Devon was to establish an orchard from which the farm could take a crop of hay or silage in summer and harvest the fruit and graze livestock in the autumn. The tree spacings were more extensive than a standard orchard to allow room for the pasture and to make it easier to operate machinery.
As well as its agricultural value this kind of land use provides a range of ecosystem services. Traditional hay meadow is now a rare habitat in the UK so the project has great biodiversity value, providing space for traditional grasses, wildflowers and the insects that depend on them. Pollinators also benefit from fruit blossom in spring and the fruit provides a source of late-autumn nectar and food for farmland birds.
Other benefits include the carbon captured by the growing trees and the role they play in mitigating soil erosion, flooding and river pollution by holding water on the land. The soil will also improve from the layering of nutrient extraction. Trees have deeper roots than grasses so do not compete with them. In fact, they transfer nutrients to the upper soil layer which is then available for the pasture on the surface, establishing a virtuous cycle, which reduces the need for fertilizer.
Ed Nicholson consulted with the land owner to design a planting plan which tied in with the farm’s other revenue streams. He said: “The farm has holiday lets, so we came up with a mix of traditional apple and pear varieties that can be juiced or made into cider to sell to guests and the stone fruit will work nicely as a pick-your-own crop. The hay will feed the horses and Dexter cattle and the Gloucester Old Spot pigs can make use of the windfall fruit in the autumn.”