Using non-productive farmland for woodland creation

The Mersey Forest has worked closely with local farming advisors, ELM Associates for several years, and supported a number of local farmers to design and establish woodland on their land that works for both the farm business and local environment.

Graham Dimelow's farm is set on the edge of west Cheshire, near the market town of Malpas. His family have been farming here since the 1970's, when it was a diary farm, and it is now used to rear young stock.

Graham explained:

"When we finished with the dairy herd, we had a bit more time to consider what we could do with the land. We've always had a very wet corner of one of the fields, where there are a number of ponds, and we thought it would be an ideal place to create a woodland, without taking any of the productive land out of use."

In total 4,067 trees and shrubs have been planted over two sections. A shelter belt in the north and a larger woodland in the south. A mix of native broad-leaf trees were selected, including oak, silver birch, field maple and rowan. The new woodland, alongside the current ponds, will provide ideal habitat for local wildlife, providing a corridor for mammals and invertebrates to move along the valley.

Graham continued:

"It was great to have the support of The Mersey Forest's Woodland Advisors and Elm Associates, helping us with the tree species selection and design of the woodland. We even got a pedestrian gate onto the site funded through the grant, which was a bonus."

The Green Taskforce, an organisation that works with ex-service men and women, helped to plant the trees on this site.

For advice on woodland creation funding in the area visit our woodland advice and grants page.

ELM Associates are farming advisors that supported this scheme. Visit ELM Associates website to get in touch or call: 07794 082860.