We were back out in the wild last week continuing our environmental work, this time up at a site in Thirlmere owned by United Utilities. Ewen from Cumbria Woodlands and Conor from United Utilities joined us.
United Utilities have tried to establish woodland on this hillside for years, but young trees have struggled against bracken, drought, and hungry wildlife. An earlier planting attempt failed, and trees planted again two years ago have faced similar challenges, with many becoming buried by bracken or eaten.
That’s where we came in. Our task was to uncover the hidden saplings, clear the bracken from around them and mark each one with a cane. This will make it easier to see which trees have survived and identify where new trees will need to be planted.
This winter, new trees will be planted to replace those that have been lost. Next year, the team will carry out another bracken bash, helping to give the young trees the space and light they need to grow.
With this extra care and attention, the aim is to give the trees the best possible chance of establishing a healthy woodland. As the trees grow and form a canopy, they will also help suppress the bracken, restoring a better balance to the site.
A big thanks to the guys at Cumbria Woodlands for their continued help with our environmental work.
