Increasing Tree Cover

Traditional tree-planting initiatives, whilst popular, come with risks:

  • planting on otherwise valuable wildlife habitat itself
  • disturbing the soil and releasing carbon
  • importing higher-carbon commercially grown trees with potential disease
  • wasting resources by failing to plant in the most beneficial areas, such as low-value habitats linking existing isolated woods

Nature New Mills aims to help increase tree cover in the best places for nature and people; with the most appropriate species, and using the most appropriate techniques. 

Strategic Principles

Nature New mills has a nature map, which attempts to identify the most suitable spots for increasing tree cover, and the sites where it should be avoided. In general, extension of tree cover is most valuable where it:

  • links existing areas of woodland, creating a network of wooded corridors
  • expands existing wooded sites
  • would use low-grade agricultural land with low biodiversity, such as agriculturally improved meadows
  • would not take large portions of land out of existing food production
  • would not jeopardise habitats for rare species, such as upland moorland birds
  • would interfere with critical infrastructure (such as electricity cables)

Purpose

Consider what you want the woodland to do: for example to attract wildlife, shelter livestock, prevent soil erosion, produce timber, reduce flooding, fuel.

This will determine the site location and design, regeneration techniques and species involved.

Techniques

Tree cover can be created or expanded in different ways, depending on circumstances:

Natural Regeneration

  • allowing plants to spread themselves using natural mechanisms
  • involves stopping or reducing grazing (requiring temporary fencing), mowing and ploughing, and reducing the thickness of the grass sward
  • Advantages include ease, lower costs, increased hardiness, no importing of diseases, and stronger ecosystems  
  • Disadvantages include the time required, and the need for nearby woodland to provide seeds

Artificial Regeneration (Tree Planting)

  • artificially planting seeds or saplings
  • may also require initial fencing off to exclude grazing animals (including deer)
  • advantages include less time taken to create the woodland, ability to introduce new species that are not present near the site, reliability, and more control over the eventual layout

These techniques can be used together; planting can be used to augment natural regeneration with new species, and natural regeneration can allow planting at lower densities.

Tree cover expansion can be and-in-hand with hedges, scrub, longer grass and wildflower areas for pollinators to create a mosaic of habitats allowing biodiversity to increase and adapt to threats. Indeed it is beneficial to wildlife to create or allow ‘buffer zones of less dense shrubs and scrub between woodland and other habitats. It can be at a variety of scales, from small numbers of trees adjacent to existing wooded areas, to brand new woodland sites.

Planning & Design Considerations

  • Function, size, shape, soils, aspect, buildings, pipes and overhead cables, shade, views, access, boundaries, flora, fauna, water, corridors and links, wet / dry areas, density, existing land use, Rights of Way (which will need access for maintenance), neighbours’ and stakeholders’ opinions, community use & involvement, permission from landowners, access for maintenance requirements
  • Avoid tree planting on archaeological sites, wetlands and heathland, peat, unimproved grassland, and sites with, or which could be strategically important for, rare species
  • In low risk areas and sites <2 ha  planning permission is generally not needed. Contact Forestry Commission about an Environmental Impact assessment otherwise, and High Peak Borough Council.
  • Consult the Environment Agency when planting near a river.
  • Trees and hedgerows planted in or on the boundary of grazing fields will need the protection of a fence until they are more mature.

Species

A broad range of native, broadleaf species found locally, either naturally regenerated or planted from seed or bare-rooted grown in UK or Ireland, are best.  

However, it may also be an opportunity to plant for incoming species whose ranges are known to be shifting due to climate change. This will require detailed local knowledge.

Plant small irregular groups of the same species together, 1-5m apart (30cm apart for hedges), leaving room to grow, and glades for diversity and wildflowers.

Rowan, crab apple, hazel and beech will attract insects, mammals and birds with nuts and berries

Blackthorn and hawthorn are good for insects, caterpillars, mammals and birds

Oak, beech and walnut are good for timber

Alder, willow, aspen and black poplar like wetter areas, can help prevent flooding and cool river water

Hazel and willow are good for coppicing, providing withies/poles and allowing more light to reach the woodland floor

Cherry, hornbeam, birch and rowan are useful fuels

Early flowering and ripening species useful for extending feeding seasons include crab apple, rowan, wild cherry. Later flowering plants include ivy, holly

More shrub-like species include ivy, honeysuckle, dog rose and guelder rose

Native evergreens comprise scots pine, juniper, yew, holly and ivy

Horses can be adversely affected by some species: 

Good species for horse fields are rowan, birch, willow, small-leaved lime and poplar trees, and hawthorn, elder,  hazel shrubs.

Species which may be harmful to horses include oak (acorns), sycamore, field maple, horse chestnut, yew, blackthorn, holly and ivy.

Woodland Trust have tree packs for the following circumstances and needs:

  • Hedge (30, dog rose, hawthorn, hazel, crab apple, dogwood))
  • Copse (30, silver birch, rowan, wild cherry)
  • Wild harvest (105/420, hazel, blackthorn, crab apple, elder, dog rose, rowan)
  • Year-Round colour (105/420, hawthorn, dogwood, wild cherry, silver birch, rowan, hazel)
  • Working Wood (105 / 420, field maple, rowan, silver birch, wild cherry, sessile oak, grey willow)
  • Wild wood (105/420, holly, hazel, crab apple, downy birch, hawthorn, goat willow)
  • Wildlife (105/420, hawthorn, rowan, blackthorn, silver birch, hazel, sessile oak)
  • Urban (15, crab apple, rowan, hazel)

Funding

Woodland Trust (free and paid tree sourcing options)

Woodland Trust Northern Forest (via Government’s Nature for Climate Fund)

Woodland Trust MOREhedges (for planting Nov 2024 – March 2025)

Woodland Trust MOREwoods

TCV  I Dig Trees

Forestry Commission England Woodland Creation offer

Forestry Commission Woodland Creation Planning Grant (up to £30,500 / project)

Tree Council Branching Out Fund (re-opening July 2024. £250-£2,500)

Natural England Countryside Stewardship grants (various habitats)

  • For farmers and land managers
  • Countryside Stewardship grants – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Local Authority Treescapes Fund

International Tree Foundation Community Tree Planting Grant (<£6,000)

National Highways Tree Planting

  • donations of saplings for planting each Winter through to 2028/29
  • National Highways can also provide 5 years’ maintenance (although these bids will be lower priority)
  • National Highways tree planting

Planting

Who will plant the trees?

Bare rooted trees are best planted late Autumn – early Spring, but not in frozen ground.

Spades, forks and a mallet may be required,

Longevity & Maintenance

Protect the site from other developments for as long as possible; decades at least.

Inform maintenance contractors where the trees are.

Water in dry weather initially

Ensure trees and guards are firmly pressed in.

Weed and mulch around the tree for the first few years

Avoid mowing

Check guards for pests and damage

Other Sources

Woodland Trust tree planting advice Tree Planting Advice – Plant Trees – Woodland Trust

How Can Nature New Mills help?

Nature New Mills can:

  • Help ensure sites help nature recovery and link to a network of sites and corridors
  • Help provide locally collected seeds and home-grown saplings
  • Offer basic advice and signpost to further resources
  • Help assess and plan your site
  • Source expertise for surveys, and monitor habitat changes
  • Help source, and in some cases apply for, grants 
  • Help plant and maintain the trees
  • Foster a supportive network of local interested landowners and managers
  • Establish links with local experts to track changes in species, and advise on the potential for new habitats