Planting trees is the easy bit! They need regular care through the growing months to make sure they are not swamped by undergrowth, particularly bracken and grass. There are over 2000 trees on the nature reserve, forest garden and in the orchard that need aftercare. More volunteers are much needed, particularly in the summer months.
Join as a volunteer to help in this project.
The Plan
The plan is to mark each tree at risk of being swamped with a bamboo cane tall enough to show above the bracken. We can then easily identify the trees in need of care when we return in summer months and the trees are hidden by high growth. The bracken grows tallest in the lower and more sheltered parts of the site.
March and April
Make bamboo markers – these need to be about 6 – 8 feet tall depending on how high the bracken will get (usually 4 – 6 feet). A small flag of white or other bright coloured tape or material at the top of the bamboo will help make them more visible.
Visit each tree to place a bamboo marker. Push the bamboo as far into the ground as you can – about a foot or more if possible – near to the tree. On the square guards, there are 2 small pop-outs for a cane stake – you could push the cane through these.
While at each tree:
- Check the tree is alive. If dead, remove guard and stake for re-use.
- Is the tree big enough to survive without a guard (ie overhead high and sturdy)? If so, remove guard and stake so they can be re-used. Most cable ties can be released and re-used. If the guard won’t go up over the tree, cut it in a straight line top to bottom and peel off.
- Check the guard and make sure the stake is in firmly.
- Check cable tie is pulled tight (round guards)
- Make sure the guard is the right way up – turn it around if not (at top: cuff on square guards and slight lip on round guards; holes in cardboard guards)
- On square guards make sure the stake is through the right stake slot – it should be a tight fit. If it i
s loose, remove the guard, pop out the narrower stake slot and replace using this. - The flaps on top of the cardboard guards need to be stapled in – flaps go inside the rim of the top.
- Trees planted in grass will need mulching.
s loose, remove the guard, pop out the narrower stake slot and replace using this. June – September
In the summer months (mid-June – mid-September) the trees will need checking and clearing about once every 3 weeks.
Visit each tree and clear a patch about 2 metres across around the tree using a slasher or scythe or by trampling the bracken. The cut bracken should be left around the tree as mulch. Check stake and guard and cane. If there is bracken, brambles or grass growing up through the guard try to remove them without damaging the tree.
October
Final check and clear before Winter. Visit each tree and make sure bracken is not falling over onto the tree (or if it hasn’t already started to fall, make sure there is a big enough clearing to the south and west of the tree so that when the bracken does blow over it won’t land on the tree).
Check stakes and guards as above. Keep checking through the Winter for any trees that have been missed and for any damaged/missing guards and stakes & canes that are working loose.
