Tree Planting Land Preparation

AIM:  Clear the tree planting area of bramble & bracken.

TOOLS:

Slasher hand tool. To slash the brambles & bracken in half to stop them wrapping themselves around the wheels of the Rough cutter.

Pedestrian Tractor, Rough Cutter - To mulch the remaining stems of the bramble & bracken creating lovely planting ground.

EXPERIENCE:

It's taken a while to work out how we were going to actually clear the slopes we're going to plant on. We struggled with the idea of using a tracked vehicle. Being heavy underfoot is not our cup of tea. So we worked out a compromise. Being realistic about the time scale & bodies available we decided to do a mix of hand clearing with a clearing saw (like a strimmer but with a tri blade attachment), slasher hand tool, chain saw & the rough cutter.

It turns out that the clearing saw was an utter waste of time. This machine might have been running a bit rich but it ran out of 2 stroke within 1/2hr & was heavy, noisy & smelly. Not to mention the vibrations. We did an experiment, Leo used the slasher to "top" the long brambles & bracken & I used the cutter. In 1/2 hr we'd both topped the same area. So we ditched the clearing saw!

The chainsaw is for clearing the gorse. However so far its been done by hand, with a hand saw/billhook.

Sub Compartment 1or Big Scary Slope

This slope is by far the most daunting task. However, now we have worked out how to clear it it's just a matter of putting our elbow into it! There will be areas where it's too steep to use the Rough cutter. Not sure how we'll approach this yet. I think I'll just plant trees as best I can in un-mulched ground.

Scary Slope getting prepared!

The picture below is one of the areas where we are planting this weekend. It's going to be mainly shrubs/small trees like Hazel, Hawthorn, crab apple etc. I'll also be adding a few standards too, Oak, Ash, Birch, Aspen & Maple.

Sub Compartment 2 cleared!

We're getting the trees for this weekend from Exmoor Forest Nurseries. Tim from Exmoor Trees has worked his socks off to get us the order in time for this weekend. I am so happy with the help he's given. I can't recommend them enough! Buy trees from them now.. go on... go to their website & buy their trees! :)

Sooo.. I'm really excited to finally be getting stuck into the tree planting! Hopefully I'll be able to get past the problems with having people here to help with planting. As soon as I do you'll be the first to know!


hen xx

Felling Trees is Hard, Poo, Birch Tapping & Ruin Advice needed!

Been coppicing and chopping down Trees this weekend. Not properly, but in our own small way which is last minute & messy but with clean cuts and great reverence for the Trees! This might sound a bit soft to some of you but I can assure you I'm not as fluffy as you might think :)

Coppicing doesn't pose a problem to me but felling a Tree does. I spent some time sitting with how I feel about it and trying to understand why my needs were important enough to take down the Tree. Truth is they aren't really. However, in order for us to be able to afford the land we have to make a living. Leo makes incredibly beautiful things from wood that, if sold, could enable us to continue to care for the land. We also need fire wood for next winter and we need wood for building. [EDIT: Thanks Coyopa! I should have mentioned how, by felling these trees, we're enhancing the life of the coppice & the health of the standard trees we've elected to leave.]

Since humans began we have had this relationship with Trees. Treating them almost like a parent, taking them for granted until it's almost too late. Well, I think we're in the 'almost too late' part of our relationship with Trees.

My sense of this gives me the motivation to share as much of what we do on the land and with Trees with others. That way, I'm hopefully giving something back to the Trees, helping to fight their corner and showing them how grateful I am for what they give me.

Which is why I'm planting 6000 trees on the land! Exmoor 6000 Trees Project




I have to say that I wasn't sorry to see this giant Laurel go. It was dangerous to fell as it's very snappy & we didn't take the top heavyness off of the branches before felling. However... it's mostly down now and I'm excited to see what pops out of the ground now the Sun can get to it!




Leo found this little noggin in an Ash tree branch, where a small mammal sat and tested these nuts for nutty goodness. I don't know what little mammal made these holes... hopefully one of you can tell me! Click the picture to see it bigger.




I went for an explore along the river to see what I could see. I didn't see any sign of Otter sadly but it was very beautiful down there and there's a lot going on!

I found this poo amongst the Hazel trees next to the river. What did it come out of? Click the picture to see it bigger.




I also love trying to spot the female flowers of the Hazel tree ( I do like other, exciting, things too!)! You can just see it bursting out of the bud in the middle of the picture below. I remember the first time I saw one I couldn't believe I'd never noticed them before! Click the picture to see it bigger.




I tried Birch tapping for the first time this weekend and unfortunately my tap was pants. Luckily though we were felling some Birch so when we made a cut into one and the sap started to gush out I ran for my cup. That first spurt slowed down by the time I got back with my cup but it was still flowing!





I did drink some straight from the tree and it was very beautiful. Hard to describe but like very pure, subtly sweet, water with a hint of the smell you get when you cut green wood. I felt amazing after drinking it too, totally energised. I could get addicted to that!




That evening I collected some nettle tops & gentle warmed the Birch sap (I didn't boil it) and made some Birch sap and nettle top tea. It was beautiful and had the same effect on me as it did when I drank it straight from the Tree. I was energised!




The Laurel that was felled is growing on the bank opposite the old linnhe. So lots more light is getting to it now. It got me thinking about how to care for the ruin as I've got no idea about looking after old buildings. So I thought I'd post this photie and see if I could get some advice from you! Help!


Much love,
hen
xx

The Exmoor 6000 Native Trees Project!

Above is a part of where we'll be planting almost 6000 native trees! Its in the regeneration area of our land and covers about 2.5 hectares.

So yet again I've been absent on the blogosphere for a while! It's a great reason this time! Honest!

I was successful in getting a Forestry Commission Grant as part of the Woodland Creation Grant Scheme! It means that over an area of 4 hectares we'll be planting 6000 native trees. 6000!! Including Sessile Oak, Ash, Hazel, Hawthorn and many others! The Woodland Trusts MOREwoods team are also supporting the project.

My hope is to enable as many people who want to take part to come and help. If you don't feel like you can physically help then your support will be invaluable in other ways.. kind messages of support, the benefit of your ideas & experience & spreading the word!

I've created a new website to document the project and to inform anyone who is interested of how they can do what we are doing -

exmoor6000trees.org.uk

There's also a Facebook Fan Page to keep you supersonically up to date & interactive (!)

Exmoor 6000 Trees Project Facebook Fan page

Yip yip!!!!

Warmest hugs as always,

hen
xx