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Cheshire farmer plants new woodland and dynamic hedge
A farmer in Macclesfield, Cheshire has planted 8,977 trees and shrubs on his land as part of a planting scheme funded through the Trees for Climate programme.
The planting took place in five separate blocks across the land, including two hedgerows, and covers 1.9 hectares.
Planting was completed over five days with assistance from professional gardeners. The Landowner is trialling planting some trees with guards and some without.
Three areas of the new woodland link to existing woodland, expanding the diversity of tree ages on the property which the Landowner hopes will attract a variety of wildlife to the land.
The 35 ha farm, located near Macclesfield, rear dairy young stock and has the River Dane running through a section of the site. Owner, David Heath, had identified pockets of land that were facing north and weren't particularly productive due to them being prone to flooding or on steep gradients. Working with farm advisors, ELM Associates, and The Mersey Forest a plan was developed to plant in five separate blocks across the property.
Three areas of the new planting link the landowner's existing woodland and a neighbour's woodland. David explains: "We've tried to fill in the gaps. One woodland is a very old woodland. I have a woodland which I planted in the 1980s, which is in the middle, and now I've planted these three young woodlands surrounding it. With multiple aged trees, it'll be interesting to see if there'll be a real variety of animals and plants coming through due to the age range."
Two of the five blocks are hedgerows – one of which is a dynamic hedgerow measuring 450 metres and containing three rows of trees and shrubs (4,455 in total). Dynamic hedgerows are larger than the common hedgerow and have a much higher variety of species which are tailored in order to provide the maximum period of flowering and fruiting species for wildlife. They provide greater variety and quality habitats, nesting sites, and foraging sites. They are the "green highways" of the countryside and allow wildlife to travel from one woodland to another.
David said: "We thought we'd plant a hedge to sit alongside the bridleway. We were persuaded to plant a dynamic hedge, which has 20 different species in and is three wide. Hopefully it will attract birds and insects, providing a good corridor for wildlife and should provide a real feature, not only for me, but also for the wider community passing by."
Alongside the hedging, 60% of the planting has been done on a section that is on a hill on the property, which wasn't particularly useful for agricultural purposes or to care for. A section has also been left for wildflowers, helping to increase the biodiversity of the site.
David recently spoke to Woodland Advisor, Alice, to show her some of the newly planted areas that have been created on the farm - watch the video above.
The planting took place in five separate blocks across the land, including two hedgerows, and covers 1.9 hectares.
Planting was completed over five days with assistance from professional gardeners. The Landowner is trialling planting some trees with guards and some without.
Three areas of the new woodland link to existing woodland, expanding the diversity of tree ages on the property which the Landowner hopes will attract a variety of wildlife to the land.
The 35 ha farm, located near Macclesfield, rear dairy young stock and has the River Dane running through a section of the site. Owner, David Heath, had identified pockets of land that were facing north and weren't particularly productive due to them being prone to flooding or on steep gradients. Working with farm advisors, ELM Associates, and The Mersey Forest a plan was developed to plant in five separate blocks across the property.
Three areas of the new planting link the landowner's existing woodland and a neighbour's woodland. David explains: "We've tried to fill in the gaps. One woodland is a very old woodland. I have a woodland which I planted in the 1980s, which is in the middle, and now I've planted these three young woodlands surrounding it. With multiple aged trees, it'll be interesting to see if there'll be a real variety of animals and plants coming through due to the age range."
Two of the five blocks are hedgerows – one of which is a dynamic hedgerow measuring 450 metres and containing three rows of trees and shrubs (4,455 in total). Dynamic hedgerows are larger than the common hedgerow and have a much higher variety of species which are tailored in order to provide the maximum period of flowering and fruiting species for wildlife. They provide greater variety and quality habitats, nesting sites, and foraging sites. They are the "green highways" of the countryside and allow wildlife to travel from one woodland to another.
David said: "We thought we'd plant a hedge to sit alongside the bridleway. We were persuaded to plant a dynamic hedge, which has 20 different species in and is three wide. Hopefully it will attract birds and insects, providing a good corridor for wildlife and should provide a real feature, not only for me, but also for the wider community passing by."
Alongside the hedging, 60% of the planting has been done on a section that is on a hill on the property, which wasn't particularly useful for agricultural purposes or to care for. A section has also been left for wildflowers, helping to increase the biodiversity of the site.
David recently spoke to Woodland Advisor, Alice, to show her some of the newly planted areas that have been created on the farm - watch the video above.
