Our broadleaf woodland is really coming along. Many of the trees are well above their tree guards now, and you can see the future woodland emerging. This means it’s time for us to set them free from their tree stakes…

Flexibility = Resilience

Volunteers have been working to untie the trees from the stakes that supported them to get established in this windy place. We haven’t removed the stakes yet, so it may look like a mistake, but it’s not! Now the trees are taller, they need to be able to bend in the wind. If they can’t bend and flex, they are likely to snap (probably a life lesson for us all).

They also need the chance to strengthen their roots and find their natural shape without the stakes.

A Multi-Layered Habitat

Taking off the stakes might mean some of the trees go sideways rather than upwards. Already, some of them are growing more along the ground than up to the sky. But we are looking to create a rich, multi-layered habitat here, so having some trees growing sideways is no problem. Actually, it will be helpful to wildlife. We do need our crop alley trees to be pretty straight, but these ones can go wild.

A Note to Our Mystery Volunteer

We have just discovered that a well-intentioned soul has been going around re-tying the trees to the stakes. We are moved by the time and effort that’s gone into this, and know it must be because you really care, but please can we ask you to stop, and get in touch with us at info@lauristonfarm.org to find out about the tree work that would help from now on.

Thank you Thank you Thank you

And please everyone continue to enjoy watching the woodland develop and come to life.