(First post) Planting a native woodland, East Sussex

[spandit]

Hello,

 

I've recently bought an old farm with about 11 acres in 2 paddocks. Apart from some great trees around the edges (and some not so great!) there is no woodland to speak of (one of the hedges is about 5 metres thick in places).

 

Anyway, after some discussion with the Woodland Trust, I was approved for a grant under the MOREwoods scheme (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/help-and-support/) and eventually settled on an order of 1500 trees, of 14 native species. We're on sand here but there is a spring in the paddock where I'm doing most of the planting so it's pretty boggy all year round (someone told me once that you can get days in the UK when it doesn't rain ). I'm going for the following:

 

Alder (350)

Hazel (200)

Beech (125)

Hawthorn (125)

Oak (125)

Sweet chestnut (0 - had originally asked for some but they're out of stock!)

Wild cherry (125)

Field maple (100)

Aspen (50)

Blackthorn (50)

Crab apple (50)

Hornbeam (75)

Spindle (50)

Whitebeam (50)

Scots pine (25)

 

I'm hoping to create some pockets of woodland, mainly around the edges, that will support wildlife (including game cover), provide colour, soak up some water and eventually provide me with a few logs from the faster growing species. In addition to the trees I'm paying for, I've also planted a few hundred willows of different species, with the view of doing some weaving. I might also be planting some ash (which they won't provide due to the dieback) and some sycamore (which isn't apparently native, even though sweet chestnut, which was introduced by the Romans, is...). I'd also like pear because of the blossom and fondness for damp ground. Deliberately avoided birch because they rot so readily and we have plenty around the place so I'd imagine they'll self seed. Most of the species I've selected have counterparts established nearby. Robinia wasn't an option but having read up about on here, I think I'll look into it.

 

Planning on planting the alder at 6' spacings but with a few other species mixed in on the wetter parts. The shrubs and thorns will go along the boundaries or fill gaps in existing hedgerows and I'll dot the odd standard here and there at 3m spacings or thereabouts for the grandchildren to worry about!

 

They recommend spraying with glyphosate but I didn't want to, partly because of the cost but partly because all the water that runs off our land goes directly into a neighbour's lake. I've bought a load of weed matting which is going to be a pain to install but should hopefully give the trees a decent head start!

 

Should I worry about brambles encroaching or will they help to protect the trees (in addition to the tubes/spirals)?

 

I'm sort of dreading it as I know it will look pretty awful for a few years and it's an expensive way of providing firewood but more woodland has got to be a good thing and I'm very jealous of another neighbour's woodland next door.

[H-A]

Sound great, I am very jealous.

 

How about planting some Walnut as well, grows quite quick, nuts in 8 to 10 years.

 

Also some cob nuts, could be worth a go.

 

H-A

[spandit]

Didn't realise cobnuts were distinct from hazelnuts - will look into that.

Not sure if walnut was an option on the species list - is it warm enough to grow successfully here?

[ShooTa]

as im now learning form 60 years of mis management on the ground (rather than the planning) you really need to stay ontop of any initial pruning , thinings and bramble/braken clearance whilst the trees are maturing - Also make sure you have things such as planned landings, extraction routes, skid routes and so on already determined prior to planting as in 15+ years you will thank yourself for doing it.

[spandit]

It's so wet that getting machinery up to clear the bracken/bramble is not easy at the moment. Got a farmer coming round this morning to look at it.

 

Don't know what planned landing is - do you mean an open area where the trees can be felled into?

[wrsni]

I'm in my second winter after planting out about eight acres (just short of 6,000 plants) a year ago. Similar species list to yourself but a different mix and a few extra things.

 

It looks so much worse than when I planted it but I planned a lot of pathways and access routes all through it and I content myself with keeping those nicely cut and tidy.

 

Been told that I'll just have to grit my teeth and bear it for a year or two till they get up a bit. I have it planted at 2m across the board so should get a bit of shade to stiffle the undergrowth as soon as is possible but to be honest there is little pleasure from it at present.

[Acg128]

Where in East Sussex?

[sandspider]

Hello,

 

I've recently bought an old farm with about 11 acres in 2 paddocks. Apart from some great trees around the edges (and some not so great!) there is no woodland to speak of (one of the hedges is about 5 metres thick in places).

 

Anyway, after some discussion with the Woodland Trust, I was approved for a grant under the MOREwoods scheme (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/help-and-support/) and eventually settled on an order of 1500 trees, of 14 native species. We're on sand here but there is a spring in the paddock where I'm doing most of the planting so it's pretty boggy all year round (someone told me once that you can get days in the UK when it doesn't rain ). I'm going for the following:

 

Alder (350)

Hazel (200)

Beech (125)

Hawthorn (125)

Oak (125)

Sweet chestnut (0 - had originally asked for some but they're out of stock!)

Wild cherry (125)

Field maple (100)

Aspen (50)

Blackthorn (50)

Crab apple (50)

Hornbeam (75)

Spindle (50)

Whitebeam (50)

Scots pine (25)

 

I'm hoping to create some pockets of woodland, mainly around the edges, that will support wildlife (including game cover), provide colour, soak up some water and eventually provide me with a few logs from the faster growing species. In addition to the trees I'm paying for, I've also planted a few hundred willows of different species, with the view of doing some weaving. I might also be planting some ash (which they won't provide due to the dieback) and some sycamore (which isn't apparently native, even though sweet chestnut, which was introduced by the Romans, is...). I'd also like pear because of the blossom and fondness for damp ground. Deliberately avoided birch because they rot so readily and we have plenty around the place so I'd imagine they'll self seed. Most of the species I've selected have counterparts established nearby. Robinia wasn't an option but having read up about on here, I think I'll look into it.

 

Planning on planting the alder at 6' spacings but with a few other species mixed in on the wetter parts. The shrubs and thorns will go along the boundaries or fill gaps in existing hedgerows and I'll dot the odd standard here and there at 3m spacings or thereabouts for the grandchildren to worry about!

 

They recommend spraying with glyphosate but I didn't want to, partly because of the cost but partly because all the water that runs off our land goes directly into a neighbour's lake. I've bought a load of weed matting which is going to be a pain to install but should hopefully give the trees a decent head start!

 

Should I worry about brambles encroaching or will they help to protect the trees (in addition to the tubes/spirals)?

 

I'm sort of dreading it as I know it will look pretty awful for a few years and it's an expensive way of providing firewood but more woodland has got to be a good thing and I'm very jealous of another neighbour's woodland next door.

 

Jealous! Sounds like a great plan. Trying to do something similar down here, but land is very expensive. Looks like a good grant scheme too... I'd love to see some pictures once the plants go in, and perhaps over time as they develop?

 

Best of luck with it.

[spandit]

Where in East Sussex?

 

I'll tell you but you'll need to come and help plant!

[spandit]

Jealous! Sounds like a great plan. Trying to do something similar down here, but land is very expensive. Looks like a good grant scheme too... I'd love to see some pictures once the plants go in, and perhaps over time as they develop?

 

Of course, I'll be taking regular photos. The grant scheme is essentially a 60% discount. For the 1,500 trees, plus stakes & tubes I'm paying about £1,000 which isn't too bad. The terms and conditions aren't too onerous either - they're happy for me to coppice when trees large enough.

 

I'm in my second winter after planting out about eight acres (just short of 6,000 plants) a year ago.

 

to be honest there is little pleasure from it at present.

 

I'm dreading 1/4 of your task! I'm hoping they'll give me some satisfaction in 3 years - the willow can be harvested for weaving in one year so that will keep me busy until the other stuff gets a bit bigger