David Appleton (Coordinator) Suffolk Tree Wardens Network davidappleton@suffolktreewardens.org.uk and Garry Battell of Suffolk County Council came to visit the wood and prospect the land for planting September 20th 2022.
I’d met Garry before, but did not realise in fact twice before. I’d last seen him walking around the Benacre Estate with a rep from Natural England, talking about the effect of climate change on this coastal woodland. But in fact he’d been at the auction back in 2014 when I bought the wood, and remembered the two other parcels for sale went for over the estimated price. ‘You got yours for a good bargain’, he said. He’s a force to be reckoned with. Founder of SDG.org, small woods, and friend of Oliver Rackham. As Suffolk County Council, he supports Suffolk Tree Wardens with funding to spread trees. David, from Suffolk Tree Wardens, was the connector who organised this visit. Unexpectedly he rocked up in an electric Telsar.
I am an environmentalist, innovator, empathic visionary, woodland advisor who cares for humanity, culture and altruism. I have worked for the Forestry Commission, the National Trust and Suffolk County Council. I was a founder of the Ancient Tree Forum (ATF) and a director and Trustee for Smallwoods for fifteen years. I am sustainability advisor to Partners for Change Ethiopia (PfC). I am also on the regional committees of the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Forestry Society. In 2017 I was given the Peter Savill Award for services to British forestry. My ambition is to support development of the Blue Nile Centre and make sure the breakfast club and PfC support continues in Gende Tesfa.
https://independent.academia.edu/GaryBattell
Garry first first observed the 4-6 dying oaks near the wood entrance. Most probably root decline, he said, no doubt aided by the stress of this years drought. The oaks were expressing themselves with natural retrenchment, shooting along tree branches rather than at the ends, which were too far away for the water and nutrients to reach in such a year as we’ve had. A Solution is to cut back the dying tips, which is in effect future proofing,
My wood is semi mature, he reads it well. Far too closely planted, far too thin and tall, the tops far to far for the water/nutrients to reach, and so they ahve naturally suffered with a continued drought.
Regarding funds for tree planting, there were two main ones, Forestry Commission and xxx. Many who took government grants this year have failed. Planting in this way would be high risk on this dry land, he suggested. Therefore do a mix of natural regeneration and deliberate planting
He was the second person to recommend a visit to Arger Fen, to see natural regeneration and succession in practice, now 20 years old.
Yes he liked the idea of a final rotivation.
Involve kids, he said, set up experiments, with kids direct sowing some areas, with Gengard fencing. Set up photo fixed points and take images throughout the year as photographic evidence, with a time line. Observe the power of nature. Ask the question How will this look like in 5 or 10 years time?
He was very keen on Green lanes.
Regarding the future vision of a part to become a woodland burrial place – speak to Alice Martin – he would put me in contact with her.
We all collected acorns. The larger heavier the better. It was a maste year. No doubt the response of the oaks to this year of drought
Crab apple crop
Should I reinstate the ditch? Tough question. Water born disease argument against. There is evidence of a plough pan and previous land drainage – do you want to drain further? Probably not.
Down in the south eastern boundary mixed fern, oak and blackthorn, he noticed oak bleeding. Acute Oak Decline? (The disease is characterised by the trees bleeding or oozing a dark fluid from small lesions or splits in their bark. Unlike chronic oak decline, acute oak decline can lead to the death of trees within 4 to 5 years of symptoms appearing.)
Liked the idea of a hedge along the Western North South boundary, and make it irregular and indeed wide. A green land beside?
Wood pasture – of course
A gift was willing received at the end: Garry invited me to go round Staverton Thicks with him. I must find out about courses he still does in the spring at Flatford Mill.
Kaliwood 