Suggestion for shrubs underplanting in wet woodland

[woodfield10]

We have a very small woodland in our school in Bath. It has a gentle, small stream fed by springs and we have a number of wet patches where a small spring rises but does not flow. I would like some planting suggestions which must be safe for an area with children. It would be surrounded by mature trees.

thank you

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by woodfield10

We have a very small woodland in our school in Bath. It has a gentle, small stream fed by springs and we have a number of wet patches where a small spring rises but does not flow. I would like some planting suggestions which must be safe for an area with children. It would be surrounded by mature trees. thank you

Welcome to WAB.

There's an important 'first question' that needs answering in a case like this, and that is "what is the long term management arrangement ?" Has the school actually set aside an annual maintenance budget for this wild area, or is it the usual 'wing and prayer' arrangement ?

If the answer is 'wing and prayer' and all that's available is some one off money for plants I'd stick with a very conservative plan and just introduce a few hazel trees. If there's a clearer long term commitment then perhaps also dogwoods and osiers, but there needs to be a clear idea from the outset how these fit into an annual maintenance scheme.

CM

[Jez]

Am I right in that your thinking more along the lines of woodland flowers Woodfield10?
My apologies I didn't read the thread correctly, shrubs it is in which case as CM suggests through there are also climbers you may want to take into account!

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Jez

Am I right in that your thinking more along the lines of woodland flowers Woodfield10?
My apologies I didn't read the thread correctly, shrubs it is in which case as CM suggests through there are also climbers you may want to take into account!

I think flowers and climbers are very worth while thinking about. In fact my recommendation would be for the School to contact Avon Wildlife Trust and see whether their Education Officer or an AWT volunteer would be willing to work with the children on a plan that would maximise the opportunites that site offers. Wet locations on calcarious soils are often overlooked so potentially this could be an important location.

Here's some examples of the work AWT does with schools: http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/...er_June09.html

CM

[Jez]

Just wondering CM on your thoughts on planting Guelder Rose also!?

[woodfield10]

Thanks for the replies - we have budget set aside for maintanance by the BTVC for the next few years. We have made contact with Avon wildlife trust but their support comes with a price tag, still good value but we are trying to manage the budget as best we can.

The areas to be planted are in wet puddles which dont dry out due to the spring. We have hazel, holly, dog woods and other naitive woodland shrubs. It's the planting in the wet areas which are where I need help. There are already covered by mature trees, we need plants which are not to small as the children will be using the area. If I can plant good size plants then they wont get trampled I hope.

any ideas welcome

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Jez

Just wondering CM on your thoughts on planting Guelder Rose also!?

Guelder Rose would certainly fit, but as with dogwoods and osiers, I'd be concerned that in the absence of a long term management plan the shrubbery would quickly take over and the wet areas would dry out. Of course that is an entirely natural sequence, however development, agricultural drainage and high levels of water abstraction have greatly reduced the number of calcareous wet areas across much of southern Britain. In terms of habitat diversity, this may be a case where as far planting goes, less is more.

Schools frequently face difficulties including complicated land management schemes (complicated = anything other than machine cutting) because maintenance contracts have to be negotiated on an area basis with other schools, and often over a number of years. Often wht happens with this kind of project is that a particular teacher has the enthusiasm, and gets the money together to start the whole thing off, then when that teacher leaves, both enthusiams and expertise is lost. Involving an outside body like AWT can help give some longer lived support by involving the whole school.

CM

[Claire Fifi]

I am a gardener by profession - and I would certainly recommend dogwoods (Cornus sp). They are fairly easy to maintain with the bonus of colourful winter stems and insect-attracting flowers in the summer. Monty Don did a piece in the paper yesterday about them -

Monty Don: Even the most barren winter garden is brimming with beauty | Mail Online

If you are looking for evergreens that are non-spiky (bearing in mind that children will be using the area) how about some large ferns? some species are not evergreen but look at a good plant supplier's website for advice

Fernatix - UK Mail Order Fern Specialists

Elders are also good for damp soils. They have huge heads of white blossom which supplies loads of nectar, and lots of bird-attracting berries.

Good luck! Hope you post some pics of your project.

[davidbr]

If you want something to provide groundcover, probably the best I've seen is Wintercreeper, Euonymus fortunei. It's a low-growing evergreen (maximum height if untended is probably about 18 inches) but spreads easily with little fuss and seems to easily naturalise (it's well-established at the site I found it at in Somerset, anyway )

Here's a photo from my folder; this population is from Highbridge, Somerset, photographed in late April of last year.

[Jez]

I urge you woodfield10 to buy native shrubs and ferns, which I'm sure is the path your taking since your considering the BTCV, you may also want to check Hopes Grove Nurseries for native shrubs, I more than happy with the hedging I bought from them at a very reasonable rate (they come in all manner of sizes), also Naturescape (native wildflower,fern, climber & pond specialists).