Farming Talk: Our tree-mendous offer for Welsh farmers
For centuries native trees and woods have provided services and benefits to farmers and society. And many farmers and landowners are recognising the benefits of trees and woodland as part of the farmed landscape.
The Woodland Trust is keen to help those farmers who recognise the benefits of woods and trees. It offers not just advice and support, but also trees. One way they can do this is by providing packs of trees for farms at just one third of the cost price.
These packs are available for planting on agricultural land in Wales. There are packs of 210 trees to create a native tree belt. There are also special pollinator packs of 210 trees and shrubs designed to benefit bees and other pollinators, with species that flower at different times providing nectar, pollen and nesting sites. The trees are 40cm to 60cm in height and they should be sufficient to create a wooded strip 10m by 125m. They all contain a mixture of native trees carefully selected to fulfil their particular purpose.
The trees are UK-sourced and grown. They come with spiral guards and canes to protect them from rabbits, but the landowner will need to provide stock proof fencing. The trust is making this offer as it is keen to encourage landowners to plant trees.
Finally, there are wood pasture packs with 20 larger trees with guards to create a grazed pasture area with tree cover. These are suitable for creating woodland pasture grazed by sheep, but not cattle or horses.
One farming couple who have planted trees with the Woodland Trust is Gaynor Lewis and Kevin Taylor, of Hafodlas in Talysarn, Gwynedd. They have a 10-acre smallholding on which they keep 15 badger face sheep and three horses, grow fruit and vegetables and keep bees. They planted a Native Tree Belt pack from the Woodland Trust during the 2012/13 planting season, to provide shelter from the harsh westerly winds, to provide a nectar source for the bees and because of their huge value to wildlife. They plan to plant another pack this coming season.
The Woodland Trust's Farm Tree packs contain a mixture of native trees including oak, birch, rowan, cherry, goat willow and crab apple. They are available for £55 plus VAT for the native tree belt or pollinator pack, or £79 plus VAT for the woodland pasture pack. They need be ordered by October 31 for delivery before Christmas.
More details from 0330 333 5303.
Rory Francis, The Woodland Trust, Wales
