Planting and Advice

Woodland Establishment

The early stages of creating woodland are the most important, requiring careful site selection, woodland design, fencing, species choice, planting methods, weeding, beat-up and vermin control, - all of which require detailed planning. Cheviot Trees is able to offer planning, advice and grant assistance whether planting for:-

• Commercial timber
• Landscape / Amenity
• Farm woodlands
• Wildlife
• Game
• ShelterBeat-up of neglected young plantations
• Golf Course Planting
• Hedge Planting

Maintenance and ongoing management

We will be happy to discuss any aspect of woodland management or hedgerow requirements you may have, including a maintenance package for the first 5 years.

Our complete contract service offers:-

• Woodland design - Enhance the landscape and increase the aesthetic value of the countryside.  Improve timber production, wildlife habitats, sporting aspects.
• Grant applications - Liaison with Forestry Commission or other bodies offering grant aid, where appropriate.
• Risk Assessments - Complete risk analysis and COSHH assessments included in all work.
• Fencing requirements - Materials and labour for rabbit, deer or livestock.  Existing fences checked, new fences erected.
• Supply of all materials and sundries - Plants, stakes, treeshelters and vermin protection.
• Planting labour - Top quality and experienced.
• Maintenance - Weeding by hand or chemical spraying done by experienced, fully qualified labour.  Beat up assessments and replacement carried out quickly and efficiently.  Stakes and treeshelters checked, maintained or replaced.  Weevil control measures.
• Vermin protection - Rabbit and deer clearance, and new Pine Weevil control measures.

Existing Woodland

• Requirements for thinning, selective or clear felling undertaken.  General advice and contracting package available.
• Existing woodlands - Application for felling and thinning licences, and restocking and underplanting grants.

All work carried out will be undertaken by top quality, trained and experienced labour. Jobs of any size undertaken. Nationwide service and contacts.

Grant Assistance Available

Grant Scheme		Available in
		England	Scotland	Wales
	English Woodland Grant Scheme - EWGS	Y
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - DEFRA	Y
	Scottish Rural Development Plan - SRDP		Y
	Natural England	Y	Y
	Better Woodlands for Wales - BWW - A grant scheme to improve the future of Welsh woodlands.			Y

Other grants and local assistance may be available for tree, hedge and wetland & river marging planting through:-

	Scottish Environment Protection Agency - SEPA.
	Local Councils.
	Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group - FWAG - England, Ireland and Wales.
	Scottish Natural Heritage - SNH
	The Environment Agency

Tree planting Grants, Advice and Assistance

As well as the current Forestry Authority grants, there are many smaller specific schemes relating to hedgerows, Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Native Plantings, Wetland Management and small tree plantings. These may be administered, according to locality, by SGRPID, FWAG, Regional Councils, Scottish Natural Heritage or Natural England.

The Forestry Commission

The Forestry Commission works with farmers, private landowners, local authorities, public bodies, environment and countryside bodies for the future of trees, woods and forests, through advice, grants, licenses and by setting standards of care and management.

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Cheviot Trees offers a full supply and planting service for your young trees.  If you would like advice of any kind, please don't hesitate to contact us. 01289 386755

Site Selection: Points to consider:

• Exposure: Will it survive? Is protection needed? Salt spray?
• Site moisture: Choose species to suit.
• Ground conditions: Preparation, avoid rocks and gravel.

Pretreatment: Helpful tasks to do:

• Loosen soil compaction:  Subsoil-plough if possible.  Topsoil-cultivate where necessary.
• Pre planting herbicide:  Grass,weeds - round up.  Broadleaf, dock, thistle spray or remove.
• Pre planting fencing:  Maintain fencing etc., erect new fencing if required

Species Choice: What is already visibly doing well in the area? Take into consideration:-

• Climate
• Moisture content
• Speed of growth required
• Is it for shelter?
• Other objectives - wildlife

Plant Size. This must take into consideration site exposure:-

• Biggest will not always do best!  Plants are available in 20-40cm and 40-60cm sizes, according to species.  Very often smaller sizes suffer less check at planting.

Planting Density varies according to species and desired effect:-

• is it matching existing hedge?
• either single row @ 4/m, or zig zag, staggered @ 6/m

Planting: Ensure all plants are fully wet before planting:-

• do not leave unprotected plants exposed to wind and sun while awaiting planting
• prepare suitably loosened hole of adequate size to accommodate the root plug
• be alert, avoid compaction and smearing in heavy soils
• insert the plant and firm down around it with your heel while ensuring the plant remains upright
• after firming in, make sure the root plug is covered by at least 3cms of soil otherwise it will dry out and become loose in the planting hole.

Weed Control and Aftercare: Post planting options for weed control are:

• herbicides - residual
• manual weeding
• plastic mulch
• organic mulch

These may be selected to suit your objectives and site conditions and effective weed control is essential for successful plant growth.

Periodically inspect for signs of stress, vermin damage, insect invasion or disease. Where appropriate, act on these. Top up weed control each winter for first 3 to 4 years.

Ongoing Maintenance: As well as normal aftercare remember to check for:-

• new weed growth
• wear and tear on shelters, stakes and ties
• fence breakage
• plant damage
• remedy and replace these where necessary

Pruning / Clipping:

• Although not essential, this will stimulate new growth and bushiness, and will begin to shape the hedge.

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