Box & Colerne

Despite the bramble dominating one area of the site and some flooding during the winter, our surveyor was pleased to see that many of the trees were well out of the tops of their guards and growing strongly. The survival rate of 80% is on the low side, but within our guaranteed limit. The Forestry Commission has offered 500 trees to expand on the north side of the road to fill the open spaces created by ash dieback disease so there is no need for us to restock this site at the moment.

There is some maintenance needed here, mainly straightening or replacing broken guards and stakes. The landowner is happy to oversee this with support from local Cotswold Warden volunteers, so we are content to leave it in their capable hands for now. We will continue to monitor the site.

We were pleased to see some of the trees poking out of their guards, although some showed signs of heat stress. Although the ground is dry, many of the young saplings are sheltered by more mature trees which will have helped them to survive. The Woodland Trust donated 50 trees here, bringing the survival rate up to 73%.

The site has been well maintained, with guards and stakes straightened or replaced where necessary. Thorough weeding inside the guards has also made a difference, preventing trapped grass and weeds from rotting against the bark. Although we noted minor deer damage on some shelters, deer pressure does not appear to be a major concern.

Looking ahead, this planting will act as a vital wildlife corridor, connecting an established woodland and adjacent hedgerows directly to the larger Box Woods. While it will take time to fully mature, the route is already showing early signs of wildlife activity, evidenced by animal droppings, the shelter of uncut grass, and natural tree and shrub regeneration taking hold along the lower edge of the site.

The trees at Wadswick Green are doing really well in general with a survival rate of 90%, with an excellent variety of tree species, predominantly hornbeam, birch and oak trees. The trees planted under the canopy of other oak trees are not doing so well with 20% losses, mainly amongst the new oaks, but the field maple, the wayfaring tree and the birch present seem to be doing well. In one area there is a fair amount of the bramble cover, which is not stopping the trees from emerging.

Whilst our surveyor was there he observed a buzzard overhead, and lots of blackberries, planted previously, seems to be creating a great understory. All in all, there is no need to do anything further here at the moment.

Our surveyor visited Grove Farm to carry out this survey on a very wet day in September, just before a yellow weather warning came into force, so he wasn’t able to appreciate the beautiful views from this site.

All trees seem to be doing really well. They were surrounded by grasses and some thistle, but with no other shrub encroachment. Overall, the trees on this site had a 70% survival rate.

The Cotswold Warden volunteers planted 2000 trees here on another of our farms in the Box and Colerne area, this time near Chippenham, to form a 500m hedgerow. Hedgerows have been disappearing in the English countryside since the 1940s, and are only recently starting to make a comeback. This hedgerow will act as a barrier and shelter for livestock, as well as providing food, shelter and safe passage for many species of wildlife from mammals to invertebrates, and of course it will help to sequester carbon. Twelve larger trees were also planted to begin a small coppice which will expand over time.

We have helped the Cotswold Warden volunteers to plant trees and hedgerows on various farms in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to help improve biodiversity in the Cotswold area.

On this farm near Corsham we supported the planting of a hedgerow with 600 trees and shrubs to create a valuable wildlife corridor which will also provide food and shelter for birds, mammals and invertebrates.

This farm lies just outside the AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) near Box. Their 20-year-old woodland had been badly affected by the devastating ash die-back in the last few years. In partnership with the Cotswold Wardens and their volunteers we planted a more varied mix of 500 broadleaved native trees to replace the ash trees lost. All trees were planted with stakes and guards to give them the best possible chance of thriving over the next few years. The maintenance will be carried out by local volunteers from the Cotswold Wardens.

We joined forces with the Cotswold Wardens to create a hedgerow on this farm. Our planting day was cold with an early frost, but fortunately the sun came out and warmed the soil sufficiently for us to plant the saplings. Together we planted 240 trees and 60 shrubs. Planting this little corner between two existing woodlands helps to create a wildlife corridor for the benefit of wildlife.

A fence will be erected to protect the young saplings before allowing livestock back into the field.

On New Year’s Day some slightly sleepy volunteers turned up to plant a hedgerow on this farm near Marshfield. Despite the late night for most, together with the Cotswolds Wardens we planted 250 metres of native mixed species hedge and some individual tree planting, a lovely New Year’s gift for the farmer.

The mix was 75% hawthorn, 25% mix of hazel, dogwood, wayfaring tree, purging buckthorn and crab apple at four saplings per metre for a stockproof hedge using spiral rabbit guards for protection and bamboo canes for support. Other hedges in the Box/Colerne area are a similar mix, so this one will fit in nicely.

A small coppice of larger trees was also planted which should expand naturally over time.

This was the second of two Wiltshire farms planted on New Year’s Day in conjunction with the Cotswold Wardens, a very positive start for 2022. We planted 320 mixed species trees and shrubs, predominantly hawthorn, to create just shy of 100m of hedgerow. The mix of trees matched other hedgerows in the area. The new saplings were protected from rabbits and other gnawing mammals by clear spiral guards and were supported by bamboo canes.

This farm near Box is run by a charity which host farm-based residential and day visit programmes for young people in partnership with their schools and youth organisations at 7 locations across England and Wales. The young people are able to experience the countryside, work on the farm and enjoy some peace and quiet.

The hedgerow here was rather sparce so needed some infill planting. Once that was done we extended the hedgerow by a further 100 metres. We planted a mix of native trees and shrubs, protecting them with spirals and guards, creating a natural barrier for the farm, and a corridor with food and shelter for wildlife to improve biodiversity.