National Forest Company Hedgerow Tree Pack Guidance Notes

Purpose

This guidance is set out in the form of questions and answers. If you can’t find the answer you need, please contact Charles Robinson on 01283 551211.

1.  Why is the National Forest Company, in partnership with the Woodland Trust, providing these hedgerow packs?

We are offering free hedgerow tree resilience packs for planting new hedgerow trees in response to ash dieback and other threats to our existing hedgerow trees.

The hedgerow tree packs provide landowners with new hedgerow trees for existing hedgerows in The National Forest. This is primarily to replace the expected loss of ash trees, currently common in our hedgerows, as they succumb to ash dieback, but also other species affected by old age and disease. This will ensure hedgerow trees continue to benefit our landscape and wildlife well into the future.

2.  Can I have more than one pack?

Yes, subject to demand

3.  What will I find in my pack?

Each pack will be pre-packed in a box (59cmx39cmx150cm or 2 feet x 1.3 feet x 5 feet) and will contain:

·  45 young trees of 3 species (15 of each): Oak, Silver Birch & Wild Cherry

·  45 1.2m plastic treeshelters

·  45 treeshelter stakes

4.  What shall I do with my pack when I have collected it?

You will need to store the trees in a cool place and open up the pack to check whether the trees need watering: they will be small cell-grown trees and if the compost appears dry, please water periodically until you plant them.

5.  What are these trees like?

Oak – common large tree which hosts the widest range of wildlife of any UK trees

Silver Birch – common medium-sized tree, slender with striking silvery bark

Wild Cherry – common medium-sized tree which blossoms and produces fruit – good for wildlife

6.  When should I plant my trees?

Please plant your trees during the dormant season (end November-end March) when the trees have stopped growing. Avoid frosty days, frozen or snowy ground when the soil can’t be properly firmed back around the root plug and the tree may be at risk of drying out. Protect the tree roots from drying out until just before planting by keeping root plugs covered in a container or plastic bag.

7.  Where should I plant my trees?

You must plant the trees within the boundary of the National Forest – there is a map at http://www.nationalforest.org/forest/whatis/where.php

Please plant the trees in an existing hedgerow, which can be any age or size.

Plant your trees where there are fewer existing hedgerow trees or between the existing trees.

Please do not plant your trees in existing woodland.

Please plant your trees according to the map provided with the application.

8.  What sort of things should I consider?

Take care to:

·  not plant below powerlines or over underground services. You can check the presence of services at http://www.linesearchbeforeudig.co.uk/

·  only plant in a gap in the hedge (particularly mature bushy hedges where small trees could easily get swamped)

·  not plant too close to houses, roads or other features where a tree could become a problem in time

If you haven’t planted trees before:

1.  find a suitable spot in the hedge-line (preferably a small gap) and scrape away the surface vegetation to create a planting spot

2.  use the stake to create a small hole big enough to accommodate the root plug at the bottom of the tree (width and depth), or

3.  create a notch using a spade, wide enough and deep enough to accommodate the root plug at the bottom of the tree (lever the spade from side to side to widen the notch, if necessary)

4.  place the tree into the hole/notch so that the top of the root plug is at ground level

5.  gently firm the soil back around the root plug so that the tree can’t be easily removed (test with a gently tug on the stem) ensuring the tree is as near upright as possible

6.  make up the tree shelter if necessary (flat pack) and carefully place the tree shelter over the tree, making sure it is the correct way up

7.  slide the stake alongside the shelter and knock into the ground then fasten the shelter to the stake (if the shelter has built in ties you make need to knock the stake in and slide the shelter over the tree and stake)

8.  test that the shelter and stake are firmly attached and not likely to fall over/come off easily

9.  Do I need to do anything after I have planted my trees?

Yes:

·  keep the area around the tree (1m or 3 foot diameter) weed free for at least 3-4 years to allow the tree to establish properly without competing for water which will seriously slow its growth – this can be manually (removal, not cutting) or with suitable weed killer, taking care to avoid damaging the tree itself. An alternative is to use a mulch mat eg square of old carpet

·  periodically check the shelter and stake and base of tree to make sure the soil hasn’t shrunk away from the root plug

·  if it is a particularly dry spell immediately after planting, consider watering the newly planted trees

·  mark with a hi viz tag once the trees grow up to avoid accidental flail damage