We were asked to plant 10 000 trees across three farms in Loddiswell in the season of 2022/23. This was a broad leaf mix, often planted as slower growing clusters of oak or sweet chestnut surrounded by faster growing species such as birch and cherry, all staked and deer guarded. In between these patches of trees we often planted caned and spiralled edge trees such as hawthorn and hazel. This gives the slower growing trees a chance to grow without being out competed, and mimics a natural structure of central high canopy trees such as oak, surrounded by progressively smaller trees giving a nice edge effect and a variety of well structured habitats for wildlife to thrive in.
We learned to work as a larger team for this job (organised splendidly by Tom Pinches of www.devonhabitatservices.co.uk) in order to finish the planting in time, and also how to structure the various jobs in the most efficient way possible. Spiking out stakes by hand, then driving the stakes in using mini post rammers followed by digging the holes, doing the cluster planting, infill planting, deer guarding, then spiking out canes, edge tree planting and spiral guarding. All these processes are more efficiently achieved if each stage is completed separately by teams of people following on from each other, rather than individual people doing all the stages for each tree.
Although planting this many trees can feel a little like a tree 'factory', I enjoyed refining the process and maximising productivity. I found listening to drum and bass whilst using the post rammer was effective, whilst the planting and guarding was much more efficient as a' talking team'. This variety of lone and team working suited me and I look forward to more planting this coming season.
