Biodiversity at Rails Farm
Winter is always the time to enhance biodiversity, laying existing and planting new hedges, harvesting willow and poplar cuttings and planting hundreds of new trees.
This time the range of trees does not only include fruit specimen, but also:
downy birches,
rowans,
hornbeams,
alders,
and basket willows.
Mischievous Animals
Having sheep and alpacas and the odd rabbit and deer, makes planting small cuttings so much more challenging. Of course, all the cuttings get their transparent plastic tree guard and a stick for stability, but also, preventing hungry sheep and alpacas from demolishing them immediately, sturdy fences. What better sustainable material than free pallets could be chosen? Using the principles of Physics all our new fences are built in either sinusoidal (wavy), semi-circular or zigzag shape. This improves withstanding high-speed gusts, which we unfortunately experience more frequently due to climate change.
Hedge laying
For the first time in my life I have laid hedges. We have about 1000 meters of hedges to do and I just managed to complete 10% of it. However, having practised it this year, I am sure I can make faster progress in the next winter. What made it really challenging is the fact that 99% of the plants were sloes and hawthorn, all having thorns up to 3 cm long. Very thick leather gloves are absolutely essential. In contrast, it was a doddle to lay a willow hedge we planted a few years ago. Our next article will deliver more details about the technique and significance of this traditional task.
Please contact me for any more detail or help with hedge laying, biodiversity, planting and pallet fencing. Thanks again to our reader who explained the differences between our hornet and the Asian intruder.
The answer to the question in the last edition i.e. What are the main differences between our lovely hornet and the Asian intruders? The Asian hornets are smaller, darker and preying on honey bees.
This edition’s question: When and where was the first hedge laid in the UK? Please email me at railsfarm@phonecoop.coop.
Cheerio,
Christoph