Woodland Today

Looks like a proper woodland not a garden one.

Thanks Siris.

I wonder with what you could carpet the 'forest' floor?

Get your thinking cap on Siris. ?. The canopy is quite dense. The snowdrops and bluebells in spring are great before the trees get their leaves. Remember it's about two acres so quite a bit area. It took years for the grass to cease growing under the trees when they were small. To think we planted the tiny whips 14 years ago. ???

So beautiful. I think a few ferns...evergreen ones for the winter would be lovely.

Sounds good Karen.

Now thats what I call a woodland, you have done well there....plenty of ideas on the web, re planting woodland floors, but I think as long as you have plenty of spring planting, that is the main thing....and you obviously do!

To think 14 years ago it was a field! Thanks Dd, I will do some searching but spring colour is very special like you say, the snowdrops are really special after a long winter.

Agreed! :) do you remember me planting three Silver Shadow from Blubell Dawn? Well, they have made it above the hedge this year, and I am hoping to see just a little white bark this winter!

I do Karen, brilliant! They are going to be super, love Betula especially the really white ones. I bought two very specials trees last year from Bluebell after visiting their arboretum, I couldn't get them from anywhere else and expensive, I picked them up and they were only about 50cm tall, yikes. Bluebell are brilliant if you want specials but not cheap. ?? Post a pic when you get chance. ?

Yikes indeed! But little trees do grow fast. :)

won't be long until there will be a lovely yellow carpet. I love walking in the woods in autumn..the smell is delicious..and there are all manner of interesting fungi. I have a golden birch which was in a thicket of poplar...I've removed 80% of the poplar and the birch has filled out amazingly. Also have two little oaks that I planted from acorns three years ago...only about 2ft. tall after three years. I haven't been up the hill for almost a month now...I'm sure there are more deadfalls as the drought has weakened most of the species up there... most noticeable on the oaks on the very high ground.. thin soil on rocks and little moisture is a concern.
are your birches reforestation...or the start of a woodlot?

BEAUTIFUL JUST beautiful i envy you!

Thanks Vjd ?
Lori, yes I agree, the woodland feel is beautiful.
The land was just a field so we planted the trees to create a woodland, we are now at the stage where they need thinning out, so those that are cut will be useful for burning on the stove. We aim to have a woodland of mature trees in the future. Hope you haven't lost too many on the hill.

Have been preoccupied with work on the house and digging (re-digging) (again) the pond... but I plan to go up on the weekend to see what's doing. There is so much work (cleaning and clearing) to be done that I return home exhausted. I admire your foresight and planning. A forest is a unique wealth.. and the wildlife that come with it, fulfills a basic human need to feel a part of it all. When I question my sanity for trying to do all this at my age...a trip up the hill is a reality check. :-)

You work hard Lori but like me, it's a labour of love. I need to de-reed our pond next month. Yes, the woodland is one of the best things we've done and like you say, it's a sanctuary to be amongst trees. Enjoy your weekend up the hill.

Our friend Amy sent me some bluebell corms...they have been planted near the edge of the woodland and have come up and bloomed three years in a row! would they be a nice underplanting for trees?

Hi Lori. I have planted lots of Bluebell and they are spreading well. Snowdrops are also doing well now.