Back Dane - The Woodland
Back Dane Environmental Update 2019
Work has started on the nature trail, story telling circle and development of the wild flower meadow below the house. A quick success was the identification of double lady's smock (cuckooflower) in the meadow and the arrival of 2 pairs of pied flycatchers that took up residence in the bird boxes made and erected by Wincle School.
Back Dane Environmental Update 2018
Our trees continue to do well although some are struggling for light and so we have worked with the National Park Ranger to perform selective thinning over the winter 2018/2019. We are also using this opportunity to create a story telling area and to open up some of the woodland to groups.
In parallel a land management scheme is being developed so that we maximise the wonderful natural surroundings at Back Dane.
Back Dane Woodland Report 2014
A long, wet winter and early spring saturating the ground and water table, followed by some prolonged warm weather helped continue the previous year’s substantial growth. Some parts of the woodland are still difficult to get around in because of low tree branches. However, because some of these branches are now in almost continuous shade, they, especially on our birch trees, are beginning to die of, easing movement between those trees. These branches have been left where they fell, as food and shelter for the many insect species that will, in turn, become food for some of the many small birds that now regularly inhabit our woodland.
Blackthorn is still a nuisance; although some has been uprooted most working weekends, it is still spreading, albeit at a slower rate. We probably need a weekend devoted solely to reducing this pest. Young trees of ash and wild cherry are also appearing and even an occasional oak. As our oak trees are still too young to produce more than an occasional immature acorn, these are most likely the offspring of some of the long-established oaks on and around our land. Some necessary thinning out was undertaken at the end of the year – mainly along the front of the woodland to tidy up the frontage. Some of the smaller trees were clearly being badly affected by their larger neighbours keeping them in perpetual shade. These were removed before they died off.
Early in the spring we put up a couple of bird boxes and a bat box. However, this proved to be a little late as many birds start looking for nesting sites in January and early February. Possibly because of this they were not used. Hopefully they will be occupied this year. As a result of transplanting bluebells to the upper part of our woodland, bluebells are now spread throughout it, albeit still somewhat patchily. They had already colonised the lower slopes unaided by us. Because the area is fenced off, many other species of flower are also able to thrive unbrowsed by local herbivores. As well as the ubiquitous thistles, nettles and bramble, there are also Harebell, Wood Sorrel, Wood Anemone, Lesser Celandine, Buttercup, Sneezewort, Tormetil, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Purple Vetch and Knapweed. The latter being particularly attractive to several of the butterfly species that now inhabit this woodland.
When we took over Back Dane, it had few trees growing on it – it was, after all, a former 75-acre farm where trees, other than along boundaries, were unwanted. In the years following its abandonment as a farm, a few trees established themselves and, now some 55 years since it was last farmed, many of them have survived to become mature trees. Since originally taking over the running of Back Dane, we have planted many more; most noticeably 1,200 in 1999.
Back Dane Forest – An Interim Report (from 2005)
Way back in the last Century, it was decided, for various reasons, to afforest part of our ground at Back Dane. Accordingly, an area of 0.47 hectares was eventually set aside for this purpose and, in 1993, duly fenced off. A Forestry Commission grant was then sought to pay for the trees. Due to various hiccups (ours and theirs) this was not received until 1998. Thus, early in 1999 we purchased 1,200 assorted trees of eight species in the proportions determined by the Forestry Commission. As it happened we’d picked an extremely wet weekend for this. Because of the incessant heavy rain we rapidly dug two trenches, temporarily planted all our trees in them and retired to somewhere more hospitable, leaving the trees to wait for better weather. On our next two weekend visits to Back Dane the weather was much improved and we were able to steadily replant the trees over the entire field, staking protective tubes around them as we went.
Of course the Forestry Commission doesn’t give out grants without imposing conditions on them. In our case we had to plant the trees at a density of 2,500 per hectare in a mix determined by them as being representative of the natural woodland cover for the area. Also at least 44 per cent of them should be alive ten years after planting. Not meeting these conditions could result in our having to repay the grant.
Having finally planted the trees, we then had to protect them. Our first indication, that our measures were not adequate, was noticing that several trees, poking above their tubes, had been chewed. We realized that while our fencing was sufficient to keep sheep and cattle out of our afforested area, it wasn’t adequate to prevent the local deer from getting in. In fact, one weekend we discovered a young fallow deer (Dama dama) hiding at the bottom of the field. Apparently female deer often leave their young in a place of safety during the day whilst going off to browse. While it had got in without any apparent difficulty, it was unable to jump over our fences to get out again. We had to cut the fence in one corner and drive it out through the break. This caused much amusement to one of the local residents, who had turned up towards the end of this episode. He complained about “townies” not knowing what they are doing in the countryside. After this incident we erected old bus stop poles (courtesy of Nottingham Transport) around the field and strung two stands of wire – one at head-height, the other about 40 centimetres higher – across them in an attempt to make the fencing more “deer resistant.”
We still have far more trees then we need to meet the Forestry Commission’s target. We have, perhaps, lost some ten to fifteen per cent of them. However, we now have more Blackthorn than we started with. Because of their thorns, they have not needed much protection and they started flowering as early as the year after we planted them. In a few, favourable sites, seeds from them, in more resent years, have produced new trees. As yet these trees are quite spindly and might not survive, but it is an encouraging sign. While they are not yet flourishing to the same extent, our Hawthorns are also doing well.
However, the species that is currently doing best is the Birch. In the more favourable spots, some of them have already grown to a height of three metres with a diameter of about eight centimetres at their base. During the last few springs they have been producing catkins. Some of our Hazel trees are also flourishing well. Being a smaller tree they have not grown anything like as much as our birches. However, like the birches, they have also been producing catkins. In 2004 a few of them started producing nuts – of rather nutshells, the nuts inside did not develop as these trees are, as yet, too immature, but many are now taking on the characteristic bushy shape of this species.
Our Wild Cherry trees survive, but without any spectacular spurts of growth. The two types of Ash are also slow growing, tending to go for height rather than girth. (Unfortunately this makes them a favourite target for having their tops snapped off.) Our Oaks are the slowest growing of all at the moment. They springs into life much later in the year than the others – in fact, it’s often late May before it’s possible to be certain they are still alive and didn’t die off during the winter. Unfortunately they have been infested from the start with the parasitic wasp that cause them to form protective oak apples.
A bonus from fencing off this area is that wild flowers can thrive in it. Until a couple of years ago, one of the local farmers was stocking the land quite heavily with sheep and cows, which were eating everything in sight. Wild flowers stood little chance of flourishing. Within our field they can now grow to their normal height and we are now beginning to see more butterflies. Although, so far, only two species are seen in any abundance. In mid-spring, the attractive Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines) is, in some years, present in large numbers. Only the males have orange tips, the females lack them, but otherwise their markings are similar. In summer, the Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) is usually present in sizeable numbers. In calm conditions both species can be seen over most of our afforested field. In windy conditions they confine themselves to the lower parts, which are less windswept.
Although half-a-dozen other species have been observed, they have yet to appear in any large numbers. Hopefully as the years go by the numbers of butterfly species will increase and, as the trees become bigger, they should also start becoming home to the smaller species of birds. Despite all the problems we have encountered, our trees are doing well, and one day we should have a woodland area that all can enjoy.
Work has started on the nature trail, story telling circle and development of the wild flower meadow below the house. A quick success was the identification of double lady's smock (cuckooflower) in the meadow and the arrival of 2 pairs of pied flycatchers that took up residence in the bird boxes made and erected by Wincle School.
Back Dane Environmental Update 2018
Our trees continue to do well although some are struggling for light and so we have worked with the National Park Ranger to perform selective thinning over the winter 2018/2019. We are also using this opportunity to create a story telling area and to open up some of the woodland to groups.
In parallel a land management scheme is being developed so that we maximise the wonderful natural surroundings at Back Dane.
Back Dane Woodland Report 2014
A long, wet winter and early spring saturating the ground and water table, followed by some prolonged warm weather helped continue the previous year’s substantial growth. Some parts of the woodland are still difficult to get around in because of low tree branches. However, because some of these branches are now in almost continuous shade, they, especially on our birch trees, are beginning to die of, easing movement between those trees. These branches have been left where they fell, as food and shelter for the many insect species that will, in turn, become food for some of the many small birds that now regularly inhabit our woodland.
Blackthorn is still a nuisance; although some has been uprooted most working weekends, it is still spreading, albeit at a slower rate. We probably need a weekend devoted solely to reducing this pest. Young trees of ash and wild cherry are also appearing and even an occasional oak. As our oak trees are still too young to produce more than an occasional immature acorn, these are most likely the offspring of some of the long-established oaks on and around our land. Some necessary thinning out was undertaken at the end of the year – mainly along the front of the woodland to tidy up the frontage. Some of the smaller trees were clearly being badly affected by their larger neighbours keeping them in perpetual shade. These were removed before they died off.
Early in the spring we put up a couple of bird boxes and a bat box. However, this proved to be a little late as many birds start looking for nesting sites in January and early February. Possibly because of this they were not used. Hopefully they will be occupied this year. As a result of transplanting bluebells to the upper part of our woodland, bluebells are now spread throughout it, albeit still somewhat patchily. They had already colonised the lower slopes unaided by us. Because the area is fenced off, many other species of flower are also able to thrive unbrowsed by local herbivores. As well as the ubiquitous thistles, nettles and bramble, there are also Harebell, Wood Sorrel, Wood Anemone, Lesser Celandine, Buttercup, Sneezewort, Tormetil, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Purple Vetch and Knapweed. The latter being particularly attractive to several of the butterfly species that now inhabit this woodland.
When we took over Back Dane, it had few trees growing on it – it was, after all, a former 75-acre farm where trees, other than along boundaries, were unwanted. In the years following its abandonment as a farm, a few trees established themselves and, now some 55 years since it was last farmed, many of them have survived to become mature trees. Since originally taking over the running of Back Dane, we have planted many more; most noticeably 1,200 in 1999.
Back Dane Forest – An Interim Report (from 2005)
Way back in the last Century, it was decided, for various reasons, to afforest part of our ground at Back Dane. Accordingly, an area of 0.47 hectares was eventually set aside for this purpose and, in 1993, duly fenced off. A Forestry Commission grant was then sought to pay for the trees. Due to various hiccups (ours and theirs) this was not received until 1998. Thus, early in 1999 we purchased 1,200 assorted trees of eight species in the proportions determined by the Forestry Commission. As it happened we’d picked an extremely wet weekend for this. Because of the incessant heavy rain we rapidly dug two trenches, temporarily planted all our trees in them and retired to somewhere more hospitable, leaving the trees to wait for better weather. On our next two weekend visits to Back Dane the weather was much improved and we were able to steadily replant the trees over the entire field, staking protective tubes around them as we went.
Of course the Forestry Commission doesn’t give out grants without imposing conditions on them. In our case we had to plant the trees at a density of 2,500 per hectare in a mix determined by them as being representative of the natural woodland cover for the area. Also at least 44 per cent of them should be alive ten years after planting. Not meeting these conditions could result in our having to repay the grant.
Having finally planted the trees, we then had to protect them. Our first indication, that our measures were not adequate, was noticing that several trees, poking above their tubes, had been chewed. We realized that while our fencing was sufficient to keep sheep and cattle out of our afforested area, it wasn’t adequate to prevent the local deer from getting in. In fact, one weekend we discovered a young fallow deer (Dama dama) hiding at the bottom of the field. Apparently female deer often leave their young in a place of safety during the day whilst going off to browse. While it had got in without any apparent difficulty, it was unable to jump over our fences to get out again. We had to cut the fence in one corner and drive it out through the break. This caused much amusement to one of the local residents, who had turned up towards the end of this episode. He complained about “townies” not knowing what they are doing in the countryside. After this incident we erected old bus stop poles (courtesy of Nottingham Transport) around the field and strung two stands of wire – one at head-height, the other about 40 centimetres higher – across them in an attempt to make the fencing more “deer resistant.”
We still have far more trees then we need to meet the Forestry Commission’s target. We have, perhaps, lost some ten to fifteen per cent of them. However, we now have more Blackthorn than we started with. Because of their thorns, they have not needed much protection and they started flowering as early as the year after we planted them. In a few, favourable sites, seeds from them, in more resent years, have produced new trees. As yet these trees are quite spindly and might not survive, but it is an encouraging sign. While they are not yet flourishing to the same extent, our Hawthorns are also doing well.
However, the species that is currently doing best is the Birch. In the more favourable spots, some of them have already grown to a height of three metres with a diameter of about eight centimetres at their base. During the last few springs they have been producing catkins. Some of our Hazel trees are also flourishing well. Being a smaller tree they have not grown anything like as much as our birches. However, like the birches, they have also been producing catkins. In 2004 a few of them started producing nuts – of rather nutshells, the nuts inside did not develop as these trees are, as yet, too immature, but many are now taking on the characteristic bushy shape of this species.
Our Wild Cherry trees survive, but without any spectacular spurts of growth. The two types of Ash are also slow growing, tending to go for height rather than girth. (Unfortunately this makes them a favourite target for having their tops snapped off.) Our Oaks are the slowest growing of all at the moment. They springs into life much later in the year than the others – in fact, it’s often late May before it’s possible to be certain they are still alive and didn’t die off during the winter. Unfortunately they have been infested from the start with the parasitic wasp that cause them to form protective oak apples.
A bonus from fencing off this area is that wild flowers can thrive in it. Until a couple of years ago, one of the local farmers was stocking the land quite heavily with sheep and cows, which were eating everything in sight. Wild flowers stood little chance of flourishing. Within our field they can now grow to their normal height and we are now beginning to see more butterflies. Although, so far, only two species are seen in any abundance. In mid-spring, the attractive Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines) is, in some years, present in large numbers. Only the males have orange tips, the females lack them, but otherwise their markings are similar. In summer, the Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) is usually present in sizeable numbers. In calm conditions both species can be seen over most of our afforested field. In windy conditions they confine themselves to the lower parts, which are less windswept.
Although half-a-dozen other species have been observed, they have yet to appear in any large numbers. Hopefully as the years go by the numbers of butterfly species will increase and, as the trees become bigger, they should also start becoming home to the smaller species of birds. Despite all the problems we have encountered, our trees are doing well, and one day we should have a woodland area that all can enjoy.