We were thrilled to hear from our local Shropshire Hills AONB officer just before Christmas that the application for funding for our tree planting via the Woodland Trust had been successful!
So, last week, contractors from Arbor Vitae arrived and spent around three days planting nearly 1000 whips at the top and down the West side of the field (the plan for the planting can be found here).
We have planted a native species mix, all Shropshire-grown, including Sessile Oak, Holly, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Hazel, Birch, Field Maple with some shrubby species around the edges, included such as Guelder Rose and Dog Rose etc.
The planting has been done as naturalistically as possible with wavy, scalloped 'edges' and gaps which will in time become meandering woodland rides.
Down the West side, on the field-side edge of the trees, we will have an area of 're-wilding' where we will let the grassland revert to scrub/gorse and eventually trees, to provide plenty of cover for wildlife.
The woodland and rewilded area will be fenced off from livestock in the spring. We have had to use plastic tree guards in this project, but we will find a way of re-using/re-purposing/re-cyling them when they are no longer needed.
The re-wetting/wet woodland (Willow/Alder) project at the bottom of the field still awaits the go-ahead but we are hopeful this will take place this winter/spring or later this autumn.
So a new woodland chapter opens for Stags Head field in 2020 and the learning curve continues!
