FORESTRY > Planting
In-house speciality is planting:
New woods and copses
Re-planting woodland
Parkland trees
Avenues
Hedges
Etc.
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Woodland planted by John Handy c1973, nr Cane End, Reading
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Site of Woodland felled illegally c1980 (not by us!) and impenetrable due to head-high bracken, brambles and stumps. Ground prepared and replanted (11 ha) 1999-2001 |
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New golf course at Grey's Green, Henley on Thames
Left: Looking North
Right: Looking South East |
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Left: Stockade planting in park land
Right: 5 yr old hedge
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View of farm woodland planting scheme, Sulham Estate, next to Jct 12, M4 near Reading |
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The first few years are critical if a tree is to establish and thrive.
Good plants followed by good planting with the correct type of protection is the essential first stage.
Our plants come from a few specialist nurseries. Generally these nurseries are visited in the late summer to look at the quality of the stock. Frequently, native provenances are required and we have located nurseries to satisfy that demand.
Good plant handling and good planting means there is little deterioration from the time the plants are lifted in the nursery to when they are firmed in to their final position. Although we have used a planting machine on bigger jobs there is nothing better than a planting spade and a man's heel to get the best results.
Protective guards against voles, rabbits, hares, deer, horses and farm stock must be considered. Under-protection can lead to severe damage and high costs to rectify the situation. Being too protective can be unnecessarily expensive.
Weed Control
Planting has to be followed by robust weed control for the first few years. The perfect illustration of this came in 1989, when we planted about 15,000 trees on the Grey's Green golf course above and followed it up by spraying Roundup around each tree. Unfortunately, one short row of 40 trees was missed. That summer was hot and very dry. Overall we had and excellent take of about 98% except in that one row in which only three survived.
Other services offered by the forestry department include fencing, cleaning and brashing.
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