Planting and restoration
The Forestry team have been very busy over the last quarter of the year watering young trees planted over the preceding years.
Woodland management works relating to a thinning programme have been underway in the Parkland and on the wider Estate woodland. Such thinning works are vital to maintain and improve the health of woodland whilst also allowing light and warmth to boost the ecology on the woodland floors.
As we enter the autumnal and winter period of the year, this forms the busiest period for the Forestry Team where tree planting forms the main focus. This planting season approximately 3,000 designated trees will be planted across various parts of the Estate alongside planting close to 8,000 trees in two new woodland plantations.
At the same time 2.8km of new hedgerows are now planted consisting of 17,000 hedge plants with accompanying trees.
At the same time, pond restoration work has been undertaken to support the Wardens team. This has involved felling dense growth suppressing the level of light whilst also de-silting ponds to improve water quality and encourage a wider degree of biodiversity.
Following Luminate, a Parkland Restoration plan will begin working on controlling bracken and introducing further younger trees to provide a wider age profile of trees for future years, whilst introducing enhanced management techniques to preserve and maintain veteran trees.