Environmental Benefits

Christmas trees impart huge environmental benefits both as a wildlife habitat and by reducing global warming. Each tree removes about 10 kg of carbon dioxide from the air each year - so our plantation removes an amazing 100 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

At our plantation, we are proud to operate an environmentally sound policy, to produce high quality trees using the minimum of artificial aids, with the aim of encouraging local wildlife.

Insects

Aphids and spider mites will cause the trees to become brown if left unchecked. Our policy is control these pests with a single insecticide applied during the winter, when most other insects are hibernating. This means that any insect pests which arrive in the spring or summer are eaten by natural predators. This allows other insects to flourish and provide food for our resident linnets, tits, blackcaps, nuthatches and goldcrests.

Holly berries. Berries also provide winter food for the birds.
Weeds and Fertiliser

Weeds will cause the trees to become misshapen and brown due to competition for light, nutrients and water. We control our weeds with highly selective weedkillers which we apply in the winter. These weedkillers are non-toxic and will not drain into ground water. If we do need to remove weeds such as thistles or docks in the summer, then this is achieved with a very accurate folia "spot" sprayer to minimise the area treated.

We apply fertiliser only when analysis of the conifer foliage shows that the tree is falling short of particular nutrients. We then correct any nutrient deficiency with carefully selected fertilisers applied to just keep the trees healthy, without allowing surplus nutrients to drain through the soil.

Woodland. We have planted broadleaved trees to add to biodiversity.
Diversity

In our Christmas tree plantation we have self-seeded ash and oak broadleaved trees scattered around the field. These are relished as cover and as perches by many species of birds.

We maintain grassy rides between the blocks of trees. These provide a habitat for field mice, voles and shrews. These small rodents are appreciated by our resident buzzards and kestrels which compete with Tiger (our cat) to grab these tasty morsels.

The plantation is also favoured by our local badgers, who use the specially-constructed badger gates to visit their latrines, or pass through on their nocturnal journeys.

Badger Gate. Hinged at the top, and opened by a push with the snout.

Early summer sees us engage in Operation Duck. Oddly, one or two of our local ducks regard the Christmas trees as an ideal nesting site. This is no problem for them, as they can fly in or out. However, when the ducklings emerge, their frantic mother cannot find a way through the rabbit-proof fencing. It is our role to spot this dilemma and open all the gates whilst preventing Tiger from stalking the ducklings.

Autumn sees the start of the shooting season. The local pheasants have cottoned on to the fact that our plantation is a no-go area for the shotgun, and have adopted it as a weekend sanctuary.

The plantation was originally a cider and perry orchard. We have retained three magnificent 150-year-old perry pear trees which provide plenty of insects for our visiting green woodpecker.

Perry pear trees. These three specimens are now over 150 years old.