For many years, our work at Sun Rising focused on the southern half of the site. The northern half remained grassland, cut for hay. A few years ago, however, we were able to begin the task of transforming this northern half into the developing the nature reserve.
No longer taking a hay cut was the first step, leaving thick tussocky grass for small mammals, birds, moths and invertebrates all year round. The next step was to address the northern boundary hedge. This is owned by our neighbour and is cut hard each autumn, which is not optimal for wildlife. What we wanted to do was create a broad, loose hedge of shrubs and trees that will actively and positively support wildlife throughout the year.
Last Sunday, with a glorious band of some 35 volunteers, we started the planting of almost 270 trees. Being heavy clay, we can’t plant with a quick cut-and-heel-in technique as you can on easier soil: each tree needs a proper hole dug, with our special soil mix then used to fill in around the roots, the tree protection put in place, and a good ring of composted bark as a mulch. It’s not a fast job, but further volunteers headed back on Tuesday. The finishing touches will be completed over the next few weeks.
The main hedge is a mixture of hawthorn, hazel, bird cherry, wild privet, crab apple, dog rose, guelder rose and dogwood, this being almost 240 little saplings. Behind that, there are another 20 or so, which will have space to grow into large trees, these being oak, small leaf lime, wild cherry, elm, field maple and wild service. Between these trees and the boundary hedge, we will allow the blackthorn to encroach, filling in the space, but managing it so that it regularly regenerates and never overwhelms the hedge.
As the trees grow, and the habitat develops, this loose hedge will become an invaluable corridor for wildlife, particularly birds such as yellowhammers, bullfinches, linnets, tree sparrows, greenfinches, as well as the more common robins, blackbirds, great tits and bluetits.
We’d like to express our sincere thanks to all who contributed to the creation of this new habitat: those who have helped fund the cost of the trees and materials, those volunteers who helped plant the trees, and those who funded refreshments for the volunteers as well! Thank you!