Planting Autumn 23 Spring 24

Planting Autumn 23 Spring 24 

There were to be two areas of planting winter 2023 both were disrupted by the exceptionally wet winter.  Planting in the Autumn happened in the area that had been felled of Poplars and Alders. This was to replace the Taiwania and eucs that had died the previous year. Eucs were planted in T1 both Rodwayi and Glaucescens, the later were disappointing when they went in. All these died during the winter almost certainly due to the near constant high water table and flooding.  Though -5C at the start of December and again in January may have contributed. Oak planted there after the floods have survived as have some Eucs. See  winter dec 2023 and After the Flood. A very few Taiwania appear to have survived on the higher land near the Euc block. Robinia planted with the Oaks are struggling. The damp ground may be a factor but snails may be the main issue and one may have been voled.

There was also supposed to be planting in Cairn Wood. The area where the first Eucs had been planted at the far end. Only a few had survived the 10/11 winter and mixed willows had been planted to provide material for replanting should other species prove impossible to establish. This willow had been cleared and chipped. See Cairn-chipping .

The Eucs had been pollarded and stacked track side. ( If they had been blown down they could have impacted the track). The intention was to plant Oaks with E. rodwayi nurses. Knowing how difficult it is to plant into the clay some planting holes were dug and the "soil" put in a pile to get broken down a bit by the frosts. There were vey few air frosts after the cold snap at the start of January and the holes were full of water. Some additional spit trenches were dug to aid the surface water to drain away. The holes were still full of water come March and some heaps were created and initially Oaks were planted into these piles as the Oaks started to break bud. Once the ground stopped being saturated they were planted into holes just the size of the pot, mainly pint pots and the ground around the hole levered onto the compost with a trowel. There were fewer Eucs than anticipated as some had been used to beat up the autumn planting at Pit Wood. 

Oct 24, most of the E. vimnalis just out of the guards but the oaks not.

The north and east side have brash, mainly eucalyptus, barriers while the road side has a barrier of bent hazel or where the hazel stops bent willow with willow woven rods  and hazel brash. the barrier is continuously worked on.

December 24 evidence of deer eating Eucs.

January 25

                     

Work is being done on the perimeter hedging but it is not a priority as most of the Oaks are still in their shelters and the Eucs have been nibbled.