Planting a New Native Woodland
This page is designed to help you establish a small scale new native woodland.
Typically a woodland of this type will contain 60% Broadleaf trees such as Alder, Ash, Beech, Birch, Cherry, Lime, Oak, Rowan and Sweet Chestnut, 20% woody shrubs such as Hazel, Hornbeam, Field Maple and Goat Willow and 20% Open space.
Firstly, consider what your objectives are for your new woodland. Do you want a harvestable crop or something for simply amenity value? Do you want to produce woodfuel, provide cover for game or a habitat for wildlife.
Consider where you are going to plant. Soil type, aspect, altitude and hydrology will all influence what species grow better than others. For example, if you plan to plant in a north facing, high altitude location with an acidic soil, than your species choice will be severely limited. It is often better to start with a smaller range of species. Don’t expect to create an Arboretum. A simple mixture of native shrubs and trees (such as Guelder Rose and Cherrys) can give an abundance of colour particulary in the autumn. Looking at what is already growing in your area is the clearest indication of what is likely to grow well.
keep it simple don’t be tempted to include as many species as possible. Birch and Alders can provide colour and grow quickly, whilst Oaks and Beech will grow more slowly but produce large dominate trees.
Plant in pure groups of between 9 to 21 plants making sure that species blend in to each other. A straight line of plants will be easier to manage but a random planting pattern will produce a more natural effect.
Typically trees should be planted about 2.5 metres apart which amounts to 1600 trees per hectare. Planting at 2 metres apart (2500 trees per hectare) will help to establish a canopy more quickly and prevent competition from weeds etc, but is more costly, and will demand higher levels of management at a later date when trees need “thinning out”.
Good ground preperation will help to improve initial success and growth rates. If planting a small area it may be possible to plough the ground helping to suppress grasses and aerate the soil allowing roots to establish. On larger scale planting, Spot spraying with a broad spectrum herbicide in the autumn before planting will provide a clean area to plant into. Plants grow 3 times faster in weed, free conditions.
Tree planting is carried out between late October to March when bare rooted dormant tree saplings are available. Trees should be “notch planted”. To do this make a slit in the ground with a spade and dab the plants into it making sure that all roots are pointing downwards and the slit is firmed together with the heel of a boot. When planting larger trees it is necessary to dig out a hole roughly a foot square, place the roots gently in the hole up to the root collar, firm in the roots and then replace the turf upside down around the tree. Tree protection from rabbits and deer is vital if the area has not been fenced.
The first five years are crucial for establishing a woodland. During this period plants are vunerable from attack from both pests such as Aphids, Deer and Rabbits and diseases such as Fungus, Mildure and Rusts. Plants will continue to suffer from competition from weeds until a canopy is formed.
During this five year period it is essential to have a management plan in place which includes periodic spraying of weed competition, typically a 1 metre squared area around each tree.
