Preparing for Planting at Cairn Wood

 Preparing for Planting at Cairn Wood

The boundary wire. The height of the surrounding weeds
 can be seen. The area inside the wire was sprayed in the spring.

The strip of land next to the stream was the first substantial area to be cleared of willow and the first to be systematically planted. It was planted with Ash some bought in and some regen transferred from else where on the field. Hornbeam, Italian Alder, and Downey Birch were also planted. Downey Birch was planted as the birch most suitable for wet areas. It is a relatively slow grower but has grown very slowly. The Hornbeam grew well the first few years but is not bulking up now. The Italian Alder has out grown the others and is shading out trees under it, so it has been topped. All the ash  has Chalara most are dead or dying, some more slowly. 

When most of the Ash at the site was replaced ,because of the disease in 2016 and 2017, some areas which had significant numbers of other trees and could not subsoiled were left.  Many were of local regeneration from boundary apparently healthy trees, it was hoped they may have some tolerance. The dead ash will be removed and replaced with Eucalypts and London Plane. They may do better in the heavy clay, I am confidant they won't do worse!

An area for planting

Two small areas (very small areas in forestry terms) have been surrounded with brash to keep the deer out.   2m lengths  of chicken wire, that were surplus to a friends requirements  have been suspended from a rope, above the brash. 

A dug hole

Because the ground is so heavy planting is difficult. The recent rain now means that a spade can be put into the ground and holes have been dug. The spade has also been put in at right angles around the hole to help with drainage any provide weaknesses for the roots to get into.

The soil from the hole has been left to one side where it will hopefully break up a bit. Otherwise back filling the hole is a case of one lump or two. Another reason for choosing cell grown trees, establishment of bare rooted trees was not great, in the early stages of the wood. Root contact with the soil can not have been good. The hole will also fill with water and enable a trowel to dig a deeper hole for the incoming trees.