Hi

I am looking into the options for a 1/4 acre plot of grassed land that
I own at the rear of my garden. One possibility is to "cultivate" it
into a small wood, and this really appeals to me.

Unfortunately, I'm totally ignorant on most things botanical....so I'm
in need of some guidance as to how I might get started. My objectives
are

i. relatively low cost & maintenance; i don't have much spare time
outside weekends
ii. attract wildlife
iii. a variety of trees, with emphasis on quick growing species (NOT
the dreaded leylandi !)
iv. maintain a small grassed area in the middle where one could
"escape" with a good book
v. encourage wild flowers to grow .

As I say, I'm pretty much clueless on this and am looking for advice on
how I might get started. Any good web links or organsiations would be
usuful.

thanks in advance,

Dr Who

In article .com,
wrote:

I am looking into the options for a 1/4 acre plot of grassed land that
I own at the rear of my garden. One possibility is to "cultivate" it
into a small wood, and this really appeals to me.

Unfortunately, I'm totally ignorant on most things botanical....so I'm
in need of some guidance as to how I might get started. My objectives
are

i. relatively low cost & maintenance; i don't have much spare time
outside weekends
ii. attract wildlife
iii. a variety of trees, with emphasis on quick growing species (NOT
the dreaded leylandi !)
iv. maintain a small grassed area in the middle where one could
"escape" with a good book
v. encourage wild flowers to grow .

As I say, I'm pretty much clueless on this and am looking for advice on
how I might get started. Any good web links or organsiations would be
usuful.

A damn good idea. You can do all of that, easily, but there is a
conflict between quick-growing and low maintenance. Good plants
include most native trees - I would recommend getting some that
are sold bare-root for hedging, and letting them grow. You should
also be able to get hazel, chestnut and others, plus finding some
seedlings of oak, ash (watch out), holly, yew etc. Most can be
coppiced, which will provide you with firewood and keep them from
getting out of control.

And don't be scared of planting more than you need (if they are
cheap or free) and letting them fight it out. That is what happens
naturally.

To start them off, dig a 1' square hole, stake them so you can find
them, and keep the grass from smothering them for a year or two.
If you have hares or deer, you need to buy protective sleeves
foresters use them, and you are going in for small-scale forestry).
You will probably want to buy a decent bilhook to keep them under
control, but that is about all.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In message .com,
writes
Hi

I am looking into the options for a 1/4 acre plot of grassed land that
I own at the rear of my garden. One possibility is to "cultivate" it
into a small wood, and this really appeals to me.

Unfortunately, I'm totally ignorant on most things botanical....so I'm
in need of some guidance as to how I might get started. My objectives
are

i. relatively low cost & maintenance; i don't have much spare time
outside weekends
ii. attract wildlife
iii. a variety of trees, with emphasis on quick growing species (NOT
the dreaded leylandi !)
iv. maintain a small grassed area in the middle where one could
"escape" with a good book
v. encourage wild flowers to grow .

As I say, I'm pretty much clueless on this and am looking for advice on
how I might get started. Any good web links or organsiations would be
usuful.

There is some very basic information on the Woodland Trust's shop site
at http://www.native-tree-shop.com/
A very good start would be to read Chris Baines' 'How to make a wildlife
garden' which includes a list of native trees, their growth habits and
the degree to which they support insect species and by extension other
wildlife. It also discusses the all important woodland edge and
suitable wildflowers.
--
Robert

In message , Robert
writes
In message .com,
writes
Hi

I am looking into the options for a 1/4 acre plot of grassed land that
I own at the rear of my garden. One possibility is to "cultivate" it
into a small wood, and this really appeals to me.

Unfortunately, I'm totally ignorant on most things botanical....so I'm
in need of some guidance as to how I might get started. My objectives
are

i. relatively low cost & maintenance; i don't have much spare time
outside weekends
ii. attract wildlife
iii. a variety of trees, with emphasis on quick growing species (NOT
the dreaded leylandi !)
iv. maintain a small grassed area in the middle where one could
"escape" with a good book
v. encourage wild flowers to grow .

As I say, I'm pretty much clueless on this and am looking for advice on
how I might get started. Any good web links or organsiations would be
usuful.

There is some very basic information on the Woodland Trust's shop site
at http://www.native-tree-shop.com/
A very good start would be to read Chris Baines' 'How to make a
wildlife garden' which includes a list of native trees, their growth
habits and the degree to which they support insect species and by
extension other wildlife. It also discusses the all important woodland
edge and suitable wildflowers.

I was in the office today and happened across a booklet which may of
interest 'So you own a woodland' produced by the Forestry Commission (I
think it is a freebie). I don't think that it is on their website list
of publications at the moment but give them a ring on 0870 121 4180.
--
Robert

The message
from Robert contains these words:

I was in the office today and happened across a booklet which may of
interest 'So you own a woodland' produced by the Forestry Commission (I
think it is a freebie). I don't think that it is on their website list
of publications at the moment but give them a ring on 0870 121 4180.

Has anyone mentioned that you might get a grant for planting that area
of woodland? (Assuming it is agricultural land.)

Might i suggest that planting fast-growing trees (ash, aspen, sycamore,
chestnut, hazel, etc) is a good idea, and you can underplant them with
slower-growing species like oak, hornbeam, crab-apple, beech etc - *BUT*
when I looked into a similar plan, you had to get your trees from an
accredited supplier, and they had to conform to what amounts to EC
standards.

The way I read it at the time, this applied whether you were asking for
a grant or not, but - "I've really no idea how that durmast/sessile
hybrid oak got planted: it was probably squirrels wot done it innit."
would seem to be the answer.

If you can get a grant, there's probably nothing preventing you from
planting the minimum number of trees to qualify, and 'allowing the
phantom squirrels to play'.

--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
Separator in search of a sig

Rusty Hinge 2 wrote:
[...]
If you can get a grant, there's probably nothing preventing you from
planting the minimum number of trees to qualify, and 'allowing the
phantom squirrels to play'.

I once got a grant for planting trees on my property beside a public
path along next-door's field. I don't remember the details, except that
it turned out too late that I wasn't actually entitled for some reason,
but they didn't ask for the money back.

--
Mike.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi

I am looking into the options for a 1/4 acre plot of grassed land that
I own at the rear of my garden. One possibility is to "cultivate" it
into a small wood, and this really appeals to me.

Unfortunately, I'm totally ignorant on most things botanical....so I'm
in need of some guidance as to how I might get started. My objectives
are

i. relatively low cost & maintenance; i don't have much spare time
outside weekends
ii. attract wildlife
iii. a variety of trees, with emphasis on quick growing species (NOT
the dreaded leylandi !)
iv. maintain a small grassed area in the middle where one could
"escape" with a good book
v. encourage wild flowers to grow .

As I say, I'm pretty much clueless on this and am looking for advice on
how I might get started. Any good web links or organsiations would be
usuful.


Don't forget you may need planning permission if you intend to convert, say,
agricultural pasture land into a garden, even if it's a wildlife garden.

If you had plenty of time, you could just leave the grassland to its own
devices - excluding any grazing domestic stock - and it probably wouldn't
stay grassland for long.

You'd just need to mow your central area to maintain it as a clearing, and a
path to it. Mind you, the land probably wouldn't look very pretty, and you'd
be trusting to luck as to what species were to come out on top, eventually.

On 5/3/06 10:29, in article , "BAC"
wrote:

snip
Don't forget you may need planning permission if you intend to convert, say,
agricultural pasture land into a garden, even if it's a wildlife garden.

If you had plenty of time, you could just leave the grassland to its own
devices - excluding any grazing domestic stock - and it probably wouldn't
stay grassland for long.

You'd just need to mow your central area to maintain it as a clearing, and a
path to it. Mind you, the land probably wouldn't look very pretty, and you'd
be trusting to luck as to what species were to come out on top, eventually.

That might encourage skylarks, too.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
)

"BAC" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi

I am looking into the options for a 1/4 acre plot of grassed land that
I own at the rear of my garden. One possibility is to "cultivate" it
into a small wood, and this really appeals to me.

Unfortunately, I'm totally ignorant on most things botanical....so I'm
in need of some guidance as to how I might get started. My objectives
are

i. relatively low cost & maintenance; i don't have much spare time
outside weekends
ii. attract wildlife
iii. a variety of trees, with emphasis on quick growing species (NOT
the dreaded leylandi !)
iv. maintain a small grassed area in the middle where one could
"escape" with a good book
v. encourage wild flowers to grow .

As I say, I'm pretty much clueless on this and am looking for advice on
how I might get started. Any good web links or organsiations would be
usuful.


Don't forget you may need planning permission if you intend to convert,
say,
agricultural pasture land into a garden, even if it's a wildlife garden.

If you had plenty of time, you could just leave the grassland to its own
devices - excluding any grazing domestic stock - and it probably wouldn't
stay grassland for long.

You'd just need to mow your central area to maintain it as a clearing, and
a
path to it. Mind you, the land probably wouldn't look very pretty, and
you'd
be trusting to luck as to what species were to come out on top,
eventually.

Why do you need planning permission to plant trees on grassland? And he may
even get a grant to do so. He didn't say converting to a garden at all!

JS

In article ,
John Smith wrote:
"BAC" wrote in message
...
wrote in message
oups.com...

I am looking into the options for a 1/4 acre plot of grassed land that
I own at the rear of my garden. One possibility is to "cultivate" it
into a small wood, and this really appeals to me.

Don't forget you may need planning permission if you intend to convert,
say,
agricultural pasture land into a garden, even if it's a wildlife garden.

Why do you need planning permission to plant trees on grassland? And he may
even get a grant to do so. He didn't say converting to a garden at all!

You don't, though some bureaucrats may claim that you do. However,
you have to ensure that what you plant can at least be claimed to
the commercial forestry. But, as I posted, most native trees can
be coppiced for firewood, and that is a perfectly good agricultural
activity :-)

BAC is right that you need it to turn it into a garden.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"John Smith" wrote in message
...

"BAC" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi

I am looking into the options for a 1/4 acre plot of grassed land that
I own at the rear of my garden. One possibility is to "cultivate" it
into a small wood, and this really appeals to me.

Unfortunately, I'm totally ignorant on most things botanical....so I'm
in need of some guidance as to how I might get started. My objectives
are

i. relatively low cost & maintenance; i don't have much spare time
outside weekends
ii. attract wildlife
iii. a variety of trees, with emphasis on quick growing species (NOT
the dreaded leylandi !)
iv. maintain a small grassed area in the middle where one could
"escape" with a good book
v. encourage wild flowers to grow .

As I say, I'm pretty much clueless on this and am looking for advice on
how I might get started. Any good web links or organsiations would be
usuful.


Don't forget you may need planning permission if you intend to convert,
say,
agricultural pasture land into a garden, even if it's a wildlife garden.

If you had plenty of time, you could just leave the grassland to its own
devices - excluding any grazing domestic stock - and it probably
wouldn't
stay grassland for long.

You'd just need to mow your central area to maintain it as a clearing,
and
a
path to it. Mind you, the land probably wouldn't look very pretty, and
you'd
be trusting to luck as to what species were to come out on top,
eventually.

Why do you need planning permission to plant trees on grassland? And he
may
even get a grant to do so. He didn't say converting to a garden at all!


You don't need planning consent to plant trees on grassland, you do need
planning consent to change the land's use from agricultural to garden,
whether or not you actually describe it as a garden. It is the use made of
the land which counts. A plot adjoining a garden, with ornamental trees
planted as a screen, and an amenity area retained in the middle, to be used
by the householder, could be said to have been incorporated into the
curtilage of the dwelling, as garden land, which would require planning
consent.

Hence, if it is currently agricultural land, it may be worth the OP's while
to consider whether planning consent would be required in his particular
circumstances, and whether it would be likely to be forthcoming, before he
commits himself to a course of action which he might subsequently be forced
to reverse.

BAC wrote:
"John Smith" wrote in message
...

"BAC" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi

I am looking into the options for a 1/4 acre plot of grassed land
that I own at the rear of my garden. One possibility is to
"cultivate" it into a small wood, and this really appeals to me.

Unfortunately, I'm totally ignorant on most things botanical....so
I'm in need of some guidance as to how I might get started. My
objectives are

i. relatively low cost & maintenance; i don't have much spare time
outside weekends
ii. attract wildlife
iii. a variety of trees, with emphasis on quick growing species
(NOT the dreaded leylandi !)
iv. maintain a small grassed area in the middle where one could
"escape" with a good book
v. encourage wild flowers to grow .

As I say, I'm pretty much clueless on this and am looking for
advice on how I might get started. Any good web links or
organsiations would be usuful.


Don't forget you may need planning permission if you intend to
convert, say,
agricultural pasture land into a garden, even if it's a wildlife
garden.

Why do you need planning permission to plant trees on grassland? And
he may even get a grant to do so. He didn't say converting to a
garden at all!


You don't need planning consent to plant trees on grassland, you do
need planning consent to change the land's use from agricultural to
garden, whether or not you actually describe it as a garden. It is
the use made of the land which counts. A plot adjoining a garden,
with ornamental trees planted as a screen, and an amenity area
retained in the middle, to be used by the householder, could be said
to have been incorporated into the curtilage of the dwelling, as
garden land, which would require planning consent.

Hence, if it is currently agricultural land, it may be worth the OP's
while to consider whether planning consent would be required in his
particular circumstances, and whether it would be likely to be
forthcoming, before he commits himself to a course of action which he
might subsequently be forced to reverse.


Conversely, if it were planted with the sorts of timber which has commercial
value (say as firewood or fencing / shed making), and the local woodman
contracted occaisionally to coppice crops from it (which would either run
your own heating, or could be sold), the change would be from agricultural
pasture to agricultural coppice, which, as BAC says, would not require
permission. This could fit with the OP's original aims of quick growing and
attracting wildlife (including flowers, etc) - take some advice from the
local nature groups on the details.

If keeping chickens doesn't appeal, the "quiet" bit in the middle could be
loaned out occaisionally to a local sheep farmer to graze some animals. And
thus its all still agricultural.



However, I agree with BAC that if the approach were more ornamental, or if
there is no longer a clear boundary between the garden and the new land,
then planning consents will probably be required.
I think the main concern of the planning authorities are around extending
gardens (and hence developed area) into agricultural areas.
They are particularly looking out for "sneaky development" where the land is
extended, then a bit later planning permission for a building is sought, and
finally the land is divided again into two (or more) plots.


- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

"Nigel Cliffe" wrote in message
...
BAC wrote:
snip

Conversely, if it were planted with the sorts of timber which has
commercial
value (say as firewood or fencing / shed making), and the local woodman
contracted occaisionally to coppice crops from it (which would either run
your own heating, or could be sold), the change would be from agricultural
pasture to agricultural coppice, which, as BAC says, would not require
permission. This could fit with the OP's original aims of quick growing
and
attracting wildlife (including flowers, etc) - take some advice from the
local nature groups on the details.

If keeping chickens doesn't appeal, the "quiet" bit in the middle could be
loaned out occaisionally to a local sheep farmer to graze some animals.
And
thus its all still agricultural.



However, I agree with BAC that if the approach were more ornamental, or if
there is no longer a clear boundary between the garden and the new land,
then planning consents will probably be required.
I think the main concern of the planning authorities are around extending
gardens (and hence developed area) into agricultural areas.
They are particularly looking out for "sneaky development" where the land
is
extended, then a bit later planning permission for a building is sought,
and
finally the land is divided again into two (or more) plots.



Quite so - in the current planning climate it is exceptionally difficult to
refuse consent for 'brownfield' redevelopment of part of the garden of a
dwelling house. Hence the planners are very wary of garden extensions into
agricultural land.

In article .com,
wrote:
Hi

I am looking into the options for a 1/4 acre plot of grassed land that
I own at the rear of my garden. One possibility is to "cultivate" it
into a small wood, and this really appeals to me.

I would advise you not to hurry to plant trees too soon. There are many
new plots of woodland being planted, and there are fewer places where low
input grassland is retained, with the polarisation of the country to an
intensive grazing regime in the west, and intensive arable cultivation in
the east.

After a season, you will get an idea of the various grasses and emerging
flowers.

If you don't ever cut it it will very soon develop its own shrubs and trees
which in my view emerge into a better woodland than those planted in tubes.

Cutting the vegetation on a two or three yearly rotation may well be the
best option for the invertebrate communities which would support some of
the declining species of birds of farmland.

--
Regards from Robert Seago : http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/rjseago

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi

I am looking into the options for a 1/4 acre plot of grassed land that
I own at the rear of my garden. One possibility is to "cultivate" it
into a small wood, and this really appeals to me.

Unfortunately, I'm totally ignorant on most things botanical....so I'm
in need of some guidance as to how I might get started. My objectives
are

i. relatively low cost & maintenance; i don't have much spare time
outside weekends

Its quite easy to take a walk in your local woods and collect some seeds.
Probably a little late now, best to do it in the autumn. I've got oaks,
hazelnuts, rowan, crab apple and guelder rose this way. I just put the seeds
in a pot outside over the winter and plant them out in spring.
I also have ash, sycamore, beech, birch and hawthorn that just appeared as
there are a lot of mature trees bordering my garden. However these volunteer
tree seedlings don't seem to appear in grassy areas, they come up in bare
ground.
Willows may be another option for fast and cheap. They grow very easily from
cuttings especially if the land is wet, so you can usually take more
cuttings within one season to increase your stock.

m.