Planting Plan Version 1.0

So, as a chap with a lot more time on his hands than he is used to having, I was itching to have a go at a draft planting scheme. I wanted just a rough layout for now - without detailing which species goes where. 

Another slightly pressing issue involved a couple of dozen, one year old saplings, that are sitting in my garden in tiny pots. They either need re-potting into decent sized pots , or they need planting out. The seed was originally collected for a planting project near Longley Farms - they asked people to collect seed and sow them for planting - which I did (I love planting trees see) - but then the project went cold and nobody got back to me when planting time came. At the time I collected the seed, I never imagined I would end up planting them in my own field! 

These babies may end up being a bit sacrificial though, I spotted a lot of rabbits on my visit tonight, so these little nippers will be a test run, with spirals and tree tubes - to see which stand up to the bunnies the best (or the deer). The saplings are too young for planting really, but I can't help myself to have a go. 

Anyway, I digress, I was going to talk about a planting plan. 

I had a long list of "things I wanted to fit in" and I didn't imagine I would actually have the space for it all - the long list of requirements suddenly made 5.25acres look small. 

Once I started though, it wasn't too bad. Everyone is encouraging me to leave plenty of open space and not over fill the plot. Also, from my time at the Heart of England Forest , I learned how beautiful big wide rides can be and how much more wildlife you get in a tiered canopy. With that in mind, I actually put the spaces in first - in areas that I thought it would be nice to sit. It was a bit like when they teach you in art classes not to draw the actual object but to draw the space around the object first. 

Another challenge for the plan is that I am lucky enough to have a very beautiful view that I don't want to completely obliterate. Planning for this will be a little complex and will involve a theodolite to check all the heights at some point (I am looking forward to that geek-fest). For now, a rough plan was all I was after (so that I knew where I could pop the tree babies I mentioned earlier). 

It would be s shame to ruin this view wouldn't it? My bike photobombed ...

So, here is scheme version 1.0. 

The blue triangular area on the diagram was to denote a viewing point that would be unobstructed by large trees. The idea being that I could plant large trees at the bottom, but with the steepness of the slope, you would see over them at key points. 

I was happy with the layout on paper so took a cycle up the hill to view the reality. 

I don't think the draft plan is a terrible start, but I have realised that actually the view South is if anything , slightly more impressive than the view West. So my viewing points need to reflect that and currently they don't. This change also has the advantage of allowing me to block off more of the wind from the prevailing westerly direction - perhaps with some quick growing (and temporary) Poplars that will shelter slower growing trees that will be more permenant. 

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The Westerly View

All in all, it has been a little bit of progress that will be refined many times as the year goes on. 

I briefly checked on our new willow before I left for home (the new leaves of which have all aborted - but I am not too worried as yet , it was expected) I was treated to a bonus moon-rise. 

Moon Rise (with my bike photobombing again).