Help with environment project needed.

[Echo]

Hi

This sounds like a really good project - quite rare these days. As this will obviously be a long-term thing, at a later stage it might be worth thinking about bat boxes. Once the trees are of a certain height, and the hedgerow mature - it is likely that bats might be attracted to the insects. Installing a few bat boxes would be great educationally - an evening bat watch.. the kiddies will love it! Let me know if you need any more info on this, id be happy to help. :P

Cheers

Echo

[odonata]

how's the planting coming along wild woman? Have you made "ladybird hotels" before? It might be something to do when the trees and hedgerow grow a bit, but it's great fun to collect handfuls of twigs and leaves etc, then tie the bundles together with string. You can then post them into hedgerows or tie them onto branches of trees. Ladybirds, lacewings spiders and other small creatures will hide in there over winter and provided its kept in a frost free place will give the kids something to look at in spring when they open them up and give your wild area a bit of a boost invertebrate-wise.

[lol geoff]

How are you getting on with this project Julie a year down the line?

[Mr Mag00]

hey, great project, only just stumbled on the thread. these guys may be able to help.

http://www.internationaltreefoundation.org/

also like the idea of mown paths as these can be different every year.

[Jez]

Give some thought to Earth Mother herself-Elder that is!

[Blackbrook Eye]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

With the Alder trees, is it possible to get a British species? I've got Italian,Common,Grey and Red. Which one of these? Common?
The birch-would Silver birch be best? It says European so that must include Britain.
I like the Hawthorn idea and the hedge, that would separate it nicely from the field.
Thank you for your ideas so far Lincs and Alan-very helpful. Julie

Be particularly careful if you decide to plant Silver Birch, they will require protection from strong winds as they are very prone to blowing over due to weak root structure and for this reason can be quite dangerous when they have grown to a large size. The very best of luck with your project it is great to hear of something positive being done to involve children in conservation.

[Dan Salter]

Im not sure how old this thread is or how i managed to miss it but good luck with the project Julie...sounds brilliant im very jealous.

When looking for "natives" its always safer to go by latin names and match those with the ones in any native list...

I have seen various "Wildlfower" seeds for sale but when you check the details...i.e...latin names of native wildflowers i have found some of the seeds being sold are not actually correct...some kind of cultivar...
I presume you got help with the trees now anyway...

[Jez]

Darn it. I have near on 200 oaks looking to be planted jut haven't the money to post them to you Julie