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Woodlea is a site that is near and dear to us at Protect Earth. We’ve been back quite a few times now, making sure to cultivate and encourage the growth of our saplings as much as we can. Our first planting was back in October ‘22. We were lucky enough to have the weather on our side, and were able to get all 454 trees into the ground in quick fire succession. We went for an 80:20 ratio of trees to shrubs respectively, with trees roughly 3 meters apart. We did this so that we can also encourage some natural regeneration in the areas between our planting.
Survival rate 82%. The 454 trees planted in October 2022 are faring well.
Loss seems concentrated in some patches.
Some of the fast-growing species are already above the protective guard level (i.e. >1.5m).
The field is doing great, and some saplings are shooting up from their guards.
However, the grass is also benefiting from these conditions, overgrowing the mulch mats.
On our third visit to the site, we brought along some mulch mats. We do this occasionally because sometimes the grass will have gotten super long and will actually be competing with the tree for the nutrients in the soil. The mulch mats smother the grass and weeds and actually keep in the moisture too, greatly increasing the tree’s survival chances during the hot, dry summers we seem to be getting more and more frequently.
Our second visit was by Phil, who, along with his machete and loppers, cleared out some of the rhododendrons that were encroaching on the ground. These plants, while superficially pretty, are actually quite the pain in our rear. They’re just too good at being plants, and thus will outcompete pretty much every other plant in the area for resources. We don’t want a monoculture, which is what the rhododendrons want! So, out went Phil with his tools!
Help us create and maintain new woodlands, hedgerows and wildflower meadows! We need volunteers to sow seeds, plant saplings, clear invasive plant species and pick up litter. No qualifications necessary; jobs for all ages and abilities. Come and turn climate anxiety into climate action!
With government funding for reforestation and rewilding tenuous, we increasingly rely on our amazing community to keep us growing regardless of political shifts. Help Protect Earth continue to restore ecosystems and improve biodiversity across the country.
Help us put down roots! Your donations to our Land Fund let us seize the moment when the perfect piece of land comes up for sale. Every penny helps us secure community woodlands, healthier ecosystems, and a greener future for generations to come.