Year after year, we continue to plant new trees, our attempt to enhance the countryside and positively encourage biodiversity.
Thankfully, we are now all more aware, than ever before, of the devastating impact of plastic on our oceans and the need for more trees to filter air pollution and help eliminate carbon & other greenhouse gases, in order to reduce the ozone levels that have a damaging effect on the climate.
As well as developing new plantations and following on from large scale independent tree surveys across the Estate, which identifies areas of improvement, the Estate has successfully implemented and established a forestry scheme. Work in the Estate’s woodland areas involves the clearing of fallen timber, diseased and dangerous trees and selective thinning. Recent pollarding of the willows along a stretch of the river banks, which grossed in excess of 120 tonnes, has seen the timber and soft wood thinning transferred for biofuel and the fallen trees are used for logs at Alscot Park.
Since 2019 we have made a concerted effort to purchase and plant mostly UK grown trees and where possible species that encourage biodiversity. Our hedging follows the rule, set as a guide by Natural England with a view to encouraging Biodiversity, to plant an 80/20 mix of field maple, dog wood, hazel, midland hawthorn, spindle, wild privet, blackthorn, purging buckthorn and hawthorn making up 80% of the planting.
We can all help our environment against negative effects, and by way of accountability, in more recent years, we record the planting of trees and hedgerows:
Whitehill and Hook End, Dormant Season Nov 2008 - March 2009, Trees Planted 1,500 - Although records are unclear we planted around 1,500 trees of mixed variety in this new wooded area.
Bermondsey Wood, Dormant Season Nov 2011 – March 2012, Trees Planted 2,500 - This relatively new plantation was originally planted in January 2012, with an equal mix of British Oak, Hornbeam and Ash. However, following the outbreak of Ash Die-back, the ash trees were removed to prevent the spread of the disease, and replaced with more British Oak and Hornbeam. Bermondsey Wood now acts as a nursey site, from here established trees can be transported and replanted to other parts of the Estate.
Hedging, March 2012 – ongoing, Hedging Planted 18,000 - An approximate amount of 18,000 bare root hedging plants have been planted in and around the estate, as gapping and to create new rows, since 2012 to date. We follow the rule set as a guide by Natural England, with a view to encouraging Biodiversity, to plant an 80/20 mix of species. 80% Hawthorn and the remaining 20% made up of field maple, dog wood, hazel, midland hawthorn, spindle, wild privet, blackthorn and purging buckthorn.
The Captains Pond and River Bank, Dormant Season Nov 2017 – March 2018, Trees Planted 16 - New Willows were planted in this area and along the river to replace trees that had been lost due to natural deterioration.
The Holts/Hutted Site, Dormant Season Nov 2017 – March 2018, Trees Planted 600 - This is an existing planation that has been rejuvenated after clear felling. New trees includes Red Oak, Field Maple, Silver Birch, Copper Beech, Italian Alder and Scots Pine.
Beech Hill, Fir Grove, Hawker Wood, The Larches and Top wood, Dormant Season Nov 2017 - ongoing, Trees Planted 800 - These existing woods/plantations are being added to during the dormant season. These woods are replenished with mixed species including firs, Silver Birch and English Oak, all of which are UK grown.
Atherstone Hill, Dormant Season Nov 2017 – March 2018, Trees Planted 19 - This double row of Hornbeam planted in January 2018 creates an attractive tree lined driveway on top of the hill.
The Orchard at Grove, Dormant Season Nov 2017 – March 2018, Trees Planted 5 - These new fruit trees, a variety of apple trees, were planted in February to enhance the existing orchard.
The Parkland (River Meadow), Dormant Season Nov 2018 – March 2021, Trees Planted 56 - Established trees of serval varieties have been planted in order to restore the land to its former glory. During war times, trees that once stood on this ground were felled to create land for essential crops. After the devastation of Dutch Elm Disease “Warwickshire Weed” in the 70’s, where over 800 trees were lost, Alscot is the first Estate in Warwickshire to plant a species of Elm, known as Ulmus New Horizon, that has been grown to be disease resistant. Thirteen new Elm trees have been planted in this Parkland location.
The Reservoir Atherstone Hill, Dormant Season Nov 2020 - March 2021, Trees Planted - 350 - This creates a new plantation belt of pine, Silver Birch and Hornbeam.
Ponderosa, Elm Belt and The Parkland Paddock, Dormant Season Nov 2020 - March 2021, Trees Planted 350 - The majority of these mixed species trees (198) were planted in Ponderosa after thinning and clearing took place over the summer and autumn months of 2020. Other trees of mixed species were planted by way of enhancement to existing woodland and parkland areas.
Lake Park Hedgerow, Dormant Season Nov 2020 - March 2021 - 44 Trees Planted - 40 Acer Campestre (Field Maple) and four Corsican Pine have been planted within the hedgerow in an attempt to thicken the hedge and attract wildlife.
The Grove and Whitehill Bank , Dormant Season Nov 2021 - March 2022 - 465 Trees Planted - These trees have been planted to combat the devastation caused by Ash Die-Back, a disease with disastrous results for the landscape and biodiversity. This method of forestry helps prevent major loss and counteracts the devastating impact on the woodlands and connecting habitats. Without action the disease will spread and we could lose more trees than necessary as well as connecting hedge rows and other trees on surrounding land.
The Larches, Dormant Season Nov 2021 - March 2022 - 275 Trees Planted - Part of the forestry management programme to combat Ash Die-Back, we have cleared and felled diseased trees and replanted 275 Silver Birch and Western Hemlock.
Cutlin Mill, Dormant Season Nov 2021 - March 2022 - 9 Trees Planted - In November we replaced a Common Walnut Tree that had been lost to disease and in addition planted 8 mixed local fruit trees to create a micro orchard. We look forward to watching the orchard, planted by local school children, develop over the years to come.
Total trees planted since 2009 - date = 6,988
Total hedging planted since 2012 + 19,358