Hello Gareth,
Hope you have some measures inplace to deal with the exposure once the
trees are established, poor little bees don't like is so breezy
As for the steaks, the current thinking for trees to stabilise is for
the steak to go into the ground at an angle of 45°, low down - around
12in off the ground, as opposed to the old vertical steaks. A tree
buckle is used, the tree moves, which is important as it encourages
root development. The approach consists of digging a square hole, to
the required depth - governed by the roots, locate the tree in the
hole. Offer the steak up and knock it in, the set the tree around it,
back fill and fasten.
Steak size - have used 2-3in larch poles satisfactorily.

What kind of ground have you got and where r u?

Clifford
Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire