Help with environment project needed.

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

I forgot to mention Hazel in my original post

[Alan]

You mentioned above that they had to be European species, but I'd try to stick to British species if you can - or at least North Western European. If this is the case, Medlar and Horse Chestnut would be out as they originate from the Balkans and Greece area.

Sallow are very quick growing and don't have to be on damp soils like Common Alder, but I'd steer clear of the willows (Sallow is Goat Willow) if you are anywhere near services such as drainage pipes as they have a habit of damaging them.

Hazel for sure though - especially for the hedgerow, along with Field Maple and Dogwood maybe! Plus of course the mentioned Hawthorne, Blackthorn and Spindle.

'tis a good project

Alan

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Originally Posted by Alan

'tis a good project

Alan

It is an excellent project, theres a few areas in our part of the country that would make excellent nature reserves if the council was committed to doing it

[nightshade]

I forgot Bird Cherry and the little white star flowers of Spindle with its curious fruits and Woodbine/Honeysuckle,Pachysandra for the ground cover the nuts I mentioned would be the ever useful Hazel of course

[Wild-Woman]

Excellent help everyone. Certainly fired up the greenies at school with the ideas.
Measured out the area today. Got to draw up a plan showing trees etc already on site. Like the idea of a mixed hedge so it's definitely going to have that. I am also going to insist on Brtish species only. Going to see if the Woodland Trust can throw some trees/shrubs into the pot as Eeyore suggested.
The digging will be a joint thing/volunteers,my environment club,professional landscapers that deal solely with school projects.
I'm also thinking of some native wild flower seeds suitable for fairly heavy soil....help Tiggrx!

We're going for mown paths instead of bark chippings. Cheaper to maintain.

Still open to ideas. We're also going to include log piles for insect habitat and fungi btw.

Can't wait. Julie

[Gill Catton]

I'd even go a step further and suggest species of local origin, as hawthorn in Scotland (or worse the Balkans) is likely to flower at a different time than those that grow locally which may make them less useful to invertebrates and the rest of the food chain.

Always wise enquire where saplings you buy are from. Better still grow your own!

[nightshade]

Bark mulch would give invertabrates somewhere to hide
and the birds exercise in finding them
Post Code Plants will tell you what grows best locally

[Wild-Woman]

Good idea Nightshade. That's through the Natural History Museum isn't it? julie

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Has anybody mention Honeysuckle and Nettle both very attractive to species of Butterfly

[Wild-Woman]

We let the nettle go mad. I insist on it! I'd need a Brit species of honeysuckle. Any names?