Planting a new forest: A tree planter's perspective

It was a sunny morning in mid-March when I met Mike from 9 Trees at a new tree planting project on a Dorset farm. The land owners briefly told us their hopes for the site: a peaceful space to share with rare birds, butterflies and newts. A stock of materials sat at the top of the field: stakes, guards and trees, where Mike had been ferrying them down the farm track earlier that morning. Volunteers walked up to join us: teachers, doctors, small holders and film makers; making for a small but diverse group, all with an interest in the benefits of woodlands, be it education, health, wildlife or aesthetics.

From where we were standing, the field sloped southwards towards a hedgerow boundary and mature oaks. In recent years, the landowners have transformed this field, re- contouring it to create a large lake in its centre. What had once been grazing land now had the nucleus of a much more diverse habitat. Speaking with the owners of the farm, I learnt that these efforts have already been rewarded, with a pair of geese recently stopping by on their migration north.

The birth of an oasis: a large lake dug in the centre of the field to encourage a greater diversity of species and create a wildlife haven.

The first slice of the planting spade revealed a heavy clay soil, rich with nutrients but restrictive to a young sapling’s roots. Because of this, we decided to plant the pioneer species first, dotting birch and willow throughout the site, so their tough roots could begin the work of breaking down the soil, with the willow focused in the damper downhill areas. To these areas, we also introduced alder, a tree that is not only well-adapted to wet ground but also has the rare ability to partner with microscopic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil. This nitrogen can then be incorporated into the leaf litter or shared through underground mycorrhizal networks.

By planting these pioneer species, we can gradually change the very soil itself: away from sticky clay and into a more friable state. Forming the bulk of the tree stock were English oaks, a robust slow growing tree which would tolerate the shade of the initial canopy. These trees will eventually break through to mature into standards with spreading crowns, providing a nutrient-rich layer to the soil each autumn and habitat for a wide range of wildlife. Hazel was interspersed with the oaks, trying to maintain non-uniform spacing as well as gaps, rides and glades. Throughout our planting, we had in mind the landowner’s broad aim to create a mixed temperate woodland with an unstructured canopy and a hazel understory. This hazel understory could then be divided into areas and coppiced on a 5-year rotation, creating ideal habitat for butterflies and dormice whilst also providing a carbon neutral source of fodder for the farm (read this for more on our woodland management). As well as these oaks and hazel, we planted poplars and field maples to increase the overall diversity of trees, forming a haven for all kinds of wildlife for generations to come. Along the rides and glade edges, we planted a higher number of the smaller woody species, such as hawthorn and blackthorn, with occasional wild cherry in the mid-ground before moving into what will be mixed temperate woodland beyond.

There is always a feeling of worry when planting on clay; without the proper aftercare newly planted trees can often die. While it is immensely satisfying to have the trees planted, woodlands require monitoring, protection, watering and restocking for many years afterward to ensure they develop into a healthy ecosystem. The first step to improving the health of the land felt complete. Fond goodbyes were said and planters went back to their other lives knowing that they had done something to contribute to the network of woodland habitats in Britain.

By Richard Swift - Tree planter and forester