Deer fence goes up

With the plan to plant a substantial number of trees it has been clear from the outset that a deer fence is essential. This smart new gate has been installed alongside the fence.

Deer browse on trees & the newly planted saplings wouldn't last long if the deer continue to wander freely across the land. I captured this footage of a red deer browsing by the beck recently. More established trees can survive this but the smaller ones would not.

This young rowan has been nibbled by deer in previous years and there is fresh evidence of damage this year. I took this footage in August and wondered if the fence would come soon enough. I checked the tree today and it still has some leaves and although it looks sickly, with protection from the deer fence it should continue to grow. Having a range of ages of trees on the site will really help avoid that feeling of just having rows of sticks in spirals for the first 5 years once the new woodland is planted.

At this time of year the family groups of deer are larger with the young maturing rapidly. In winter and spring they would be delighted with thousands of saplings to feed them, so they need to be excluded while the trees become established

I have loved seeing Red and Roe deer both in the flesh and on the camera footage. I wanted the fence to be erected before the deer rut in October when the large red stags come down from the surrounding fells. Happily the grant (England Woodland Creation Offer https://www.gov.uk/guidance/england-woodland-creation-offer)  came through this summer and it has been possible to go ahead from the beginning of September.

         

The fence goes around the whole perimeter and has taken just under two weeks to install.

Machinery was needed to move the fence posts which then needed to be driven into the ground which, in some places, proved to be solid. 

Branches needed to be cut back to make space for the fence of 1.8m and in a few instances, trees have been removed where it was just not possible to erect the fence due to the location of the tree.

I like the way the new growth  is shooting up from the fallen tree

I have learned from all the work I have done on the land that, while this scarring looks shocking initially, very quickly the land recovers. With the bracken having been knocked back and with new routes created for the fencers' vehicles to be able to reach the perimeter of the land, it is now possible to walk comfortably around the whole site for the first time. This will be invaluable when the tree planting starts early in 2023 when the ground is likely to be wet and difficult to move over.

      

The contractors also helped to clear one of the large trees that came down in a storm earlier this year and has not survived. It had fallen in so many directions it was going to be hard to plant new trees through it. They have cut the logs and piled them up away from the planting area and this has created new habitats for wildlife.

With the bracken having been bashed as well the land looks very different. This week has felt autumnal with shorter days and lovely colours emerging.

There are a few problems to resolve still. A couple of sheep had wandered onto my land in the summer and I fear they are still there and will need to be shepherded home. 

Should any deer be inside the fence then they will need to be encouraged to leave by one of the gates. 

Other than that, the land is ready for tree planting in early 2023 once the saplings are dormant and therefore ready to be moved and planted. I have owned the land for 20months now and the planting will take place just after the 2nd anniversary of me owning it. I feel pleased with the progress and have learned so much. It is exciting to envisage the changes in future years.