Blast – no photo! Perfect timing for Gary to come to the land and add to the basket of knowledge for one who is not land savvy. He not only contributed to the ‘what now’ land, but invited a wider vision both for the and and Halesworth.
Woodland Trust – Esther Rosewarne, may advise /fund agroforestry
Varieties of trees: (Ted Bullock, Felbrigg Hall head gardener). Native grasses always dominate, just keep it cut, and once the rides established, cut only a central path allowing the flourishing of biodiversity at the sides, into conservation as the sward thickens. (Such a long time since I’d heard the word sward). After years of arable crops, the land may have what is known as a plough-pan., a base compacted.
Fruit trees – yes, Wakelyns planted old varieties, but do not shun new varieties, they often taste better!
Deer protection? Fallow on the increase – as soon as you plant you will attract more.
Think strategically and long term, beyond your own life. As the new woodland grows, migrate from the established wood to this one, leaving the old wood to become a place more of nature, less disturbed, more contemplative perhaps. In 10-12 years this land will be a wood. Begin the migration now.
Halesworth – develop a strong all round purpose, linking land, self assessing, extending to all, (not just the middle classes!) no one left behind . Link in with sustainable development goals (SDG) Eg Bristol.
Suggested a conversation with Nicky – a great strategic thinker.
Pole barn near community garden, with main purpose to collect water for garden. RSPB and SWT have developed successful solar water pumping.
EMAIL from Gary – Hi Rachel
I do look forward to everything you are planning come to fruition.
I want to emphasise the points I made:
- Kaliwood need thinning. 20-30% of the oaks could be thinned and this would pay for relocating the buildings in the wood to the new woodland area.
- The Holton Hall Park wood on the other other side of the road needs a thinning. A contractor would give a higher price for a larger parcel of trees. Perhaps both woods could be thinned at the same time?
- I would speak to Trevor Wright about a forestry agent who could pull together a felling licence and a standing timber sale, along with management of the contract and H&S.
- Some of the wood could be used in the new pole barn.
- It would be best to relocate the buildings to their new locations before the trees have been planted and established in the new wood.
- You could consider linking the sheds up to a solar main from the pole barn.
- I have attached a pdf on clump planting for you to consider. My figures are very out of date, but the advice stays the same.
- I would not undertake anymore cultivation to the new woodland area. Please see attached pdf.
- I would not spend money of grass seed as the native grasses will do what comes naturally to them.
- If you reduce the number of rides/tracks in the new wood, then you should be able to create a larger open space in the centre of the wood.
- Open spaces and rides/tracks look wide when the wood is newly created, but as the trees grow, they can become very small! I would create 15m-20m rides, of course they can vary in width.
- Do plan some new variety of fruit trees as they evolved to produce better fruit; this is no different to how heritage apples evolved.
SDGs and Halesworth
- Any adoption of the SDGs should be done through Halesworth Town Council
- Please see the Bristol and the SDGs pdf.
- I am happy to meet and discuss.
Keep up the great work.
Best regards
Gary
Kaliwood 