The Challenge
The first phase of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Wood was planted in 2012, with a further tranche of planting work taking place in 2019/20. The very wet planting season delayed the start, so there was some concern over getting the trees established quickly and creating a good visual impact as soon as possible. Understandably, The Woodland Trust benefactors like to see the results of their generous donations in terms of woodland creation.
The other concern was the number of smallish planting plots – some plots adjoined waterways and other plots filled in corners or sections of existing farmland. The existing wooded areas and hedges harboured rabbits and muntjac deer, which would have made protecting the plots difficult using traditional fencing methods. Also, with public access and visual impact both important requirements, this ruled out the option of a full-height deer fence which would have been obtrusive and not funded under the appropriate woodland creation grants.
Biome Technologies plc (LON:BIOM) Biome Bioplastics and Suregreen partnered to create biodegradable tree shelters. The Vigilis Bio tree shelters are made from biodegradable biomaterials and have specifically been designed to guard and protect the first 5-7 years of a tree’s life.
