A notice had been placed near the River Ock to say that The Carbon Cutters had permission to plant ten Alder trees alongside the River. They were put there as part of church twinning.
Seven of the ten trees were thriving in May (when the picture above was taken) and a few days ago when I last walked that way. A lot of the field had been cut for hay, but a wide border had been left near the River.
Returning that way this morning, I saw that the field had been cut much closer to the bank, an area used by wildlife, and all the alders had been cut down.
These trees were planted to help the environment and provide a habitat for wildlife. But instead, they have been cut along with a strip of wildlife habitat.
The landowner is the Vale of White Horse District Council. They need to make sure that whoever leases their fields protect wildlife.
Very sad this has happened.
So what happens next?
My house backs onto the Ock meadow and we saw the hay baled up and taken away, presumably for silage. Then the next day a tractor came and trimmed the edges coming very close to our fence. This used to be the practice years ago when winter wheat was grown in the field – we’re wondering if the farmer intends to work the field again?
There was talk of leaving it as a wetland site…not now I fear.
Whoever was contracted just cut everything down without a single care.
We were supposed to have “no mow May” on the green near us, but contractors were out strimming and mowing it regularly anyway. (even last Summer when they didn’t need it and the grass was dying or dead!) Big communication fail between the VOWH and the contractors again presumably. It’s very frustrating.
Perhaps only way to protect future sapling trees in places is to put a tall trio of wooden stakes / supports plus mesh around the trees until they are big enough to be noticed, otherwise it’ll just happen again.
Meanwhile I’m wondering how we can actually have no mow May near us next spring…
Thankfully though, having things like this contracted out is much better value for money though, so… 👍
i’ve heard from someone who heard from someone ( read into that what you will) that the whole field is to be fenced off, the person cutting explained that unless they do that they won’t be able to do what they plan to do… to be continued presumably.
Sounds rather tenuous.
The fencing rumours have been around for a while…
Some hypocrisy going on here, where the shock-horror response from the Carbon Cutters is concerned. They seem to have completely forgotten about the trees they hacked down by the weir back in 2015, as part of their ‘Abingdon Hydro’ plans.
10 tress…..its not exactly enough to save the world is it. They planted them on land which is leased to someone else – unless stipulated in the lease condition he can presumably do what he wants
There is a statement from the Vale of White Horse Council in today’s local paper saying “The council is committed to the maintenance of trees that are located on our land and the tenant has agreed to pay to replace the trees with new saplings during the next tree planting season.”
Let’s hope he doesn’t cut them down again a year later.
@ Colin
The trees were planted with planning permission; presumably the leaseholder would have been informed.
Ten trees may not save the world; but if we all planted ten trees (perhaps one each year for 10 years), we might begin to re-forest these islands. To think that our little bit won’t make a difference and so do nothing is not really a solution.
Alternatively we could just leave the land alone, which will turn into scrub – a vital habitat for song birds and small mammals.
Then, through ecological succession sycamore and elder will grow and after 200 years an ancient woodland of beech and oak.
Seems a lot better than littering the land with plastic tubes, inappropriate tress and countless dead saplings.
Perhaps it’s time to embrace the scrub.
Good thought, Rik. But does one thing rule out another? Saplings can be protected without plastics being used.
It’s OK…the plastic tubes are biodegradable. Phew!
Planning permission let them put the trees there – it doesn’t guarantee that they will be left there
If the field is leased it is because someone wants to use it for commercial purposes e.g. crops, grazing etc. They should be able to do this without constant scrutiny of randoms who have no information on what the terms of the lease are or what their plans are.
Isn’t this public land Colin? I may have misunderstood, but if so I think it’s fine for ‘randoms’, ie me and you to question what’s going on
not public land.