"Martin & Anna Sykes" wrote in message
...
If I remember correctly, a common way of using paulownia is to cut
them down
to the ground each spring so that you get *very* vigorous growth and
huge
leaves. So, I don't think there would be any long-term damage to the
tree.
Afraid I haven't got any info about preventing woodpecker attack.

By the way, where did you get seed? I tried to get a young plant to
use as I
described, but my local garden centres only had one between them
which was a
large tree.


I've still got some seed that I collected from a large tree in
Bergerac in France a few years ago. I can send you some if you'd like
to give it a try.

Jenny