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Scroll down the page for details of other ways to obtain free woodland.
This is the page for the most unique opportunity for farmers in the Wrexham County Borough, Conwy County Borough, Flintshire and Denbighshire counties of North East Wales, to obtain FREE trees sufficient to plant a negotiated acreage of land.
Farmers/landowners can obtain free tree saplings if they have a public footpath/bridleway crossing it. Such rights of way do not have to be on the same land as where the woodland is planted - it could be on land elsewhere so long as it is in the same person's ownership.
The path must be at least 150 yards in length.
On fairly level ground.
On land which is not used by cattle or pigs.
The land must be in private ownership.
SNR has a project where it will give farmers/landowners, free trees, in exchange for consent to line one side or two sides (to form an avenue) of the public footpath length with poplar trees spaced at 15 feet intervals.
THESE TREES MUST BE SAFE FROM ANY FELLING PLAN. Once planted, they should be left to reach maturity and live on.
The woodland planting in this scheme is ultimately financed by individuals and businesses which support SNR. In return for this support, SNR will plant a poplar tree which will be tagged with an identification number and a name. This tag will advertise an SNR supporter. The idea is, that footpath users will be able to read who has supported SNR. Also, supporting individuals/business owners can see the tree devoted to their support.
SNR will give one acre's worth (1250 saplings) of new woodland for the right to plant 25 poplar trees in a single line per 125 yards of footpath length, or half that length in a double line.
Permiting SNR to plant 25 poplar trees (125 yards/375 ft divided by 25 = 15ft) which are to be left in situ permanently, will give a farmer/landowner an acre of new and very free woodland. No paperwork, grant system or other administrative nightmare.
50 poplar trees in a single line (250 yards/750 ft) or double row (125 yards) of footpath planting will give two acres worth of saplings for woodland creation. And so on.
The length of footpath available and agreed upon determines the acreage of new woodland. This scheme does not normally include tree protection measures and recipients may need to ensure that rabbits are controlled. SNR can arrange this if required.
Farmers etc interested in this scheme should contact SNR as above described. An on site visit will be arranged and if land is suitable, an agreement will be reached to suit both parties.
The land to be planted does not need to be the same land as that being crossed by the footpaths. A farmer owning two separate farms for instance can have the woodland on one and the footpath trees on another.
The numbers of saplings supplied equates to a planting density of six feet x six feet. Normally, these would be thinned out by up to 50% several years later to allow growing on of the remaining trees. Alternatively, the plants can be sited at say 10ft x 10 ft and left to grow on much longer before selective thinning. This would give a slightly more open woodland which would cover a slightly larger area initially.
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NO FOOTPATHS BUT YOU'D LIKE A FREE WOODLAND?
Farmers in the counties of Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham can obtain saplings for brand new woodland on their lands if they have ponds which are not currently used for angling and which are not subject to any existing conservation management arrangement.
Farmers can assist SNR to raise valuable funds by letting it use ponds in exchange for SNR providing saplings, for farm planting schemes.
Generally, 1250 saplings at 6ft x 6ft spacings will plant 1 acre of woodland. Every farm is different, and therefore, each is taken on its merits. A deal is arranged to suit each individual farmer.
SNR will give a minimum of 0.50/1/2 an acre of woodland (625 saplings) per pond. This will equate to the smallest sized pond SNR can use and the acreage can increase per pond depending on its area and volume.
Trees can be used to form new woodland, or shelter belt or planting up to enhance existing woodland. Or just a scattering of individual trees - the choice is yours.
It is a straigthforward swap of resources.
Virtually all ponds can be accommodated by SNR. Ponds used by cattle which have open access to the water and which can trample the banks are not suitable. Ponds used for shooting are OK and will not affect a fish stock or vice versa.
Generally, the arrangement is that SNR uses the ponds to grow on ornamental fish which, are then sold into the ornamental fish market to raise funds.
A farmer can depending upon the total of suitable ponds available, obtain several acres worth of trees absolutely free of all costs - SNR will deliver the trees directly or arrange for such delivery. The period of agreement is five full years. Thereafter the arrangement ceases unless the farmer wishes to obtain more woodland.
There is no financial outlay or other expenditure incurred by a recipient of trees.
SNR does not however supply tree shelters or protective fencing. These are not always required.
Trees damaged through disease, vermin or severe climatic conditions will be replaced free of charge during the next planting season.
At the close of the five year period, all fish are removed and the ponds revert back to the farm.
This is an ideal arrangement for farmers to get new woodland, without applying for grants from normal agencies.
To apply,
Simply contact SNR by telephone or email to arrange an informal on site discussion and without obligation. Everything will be taken from there.
Please note, that the planting season commences in the late Autumn through to the following April inclusive.
Applications are welcome at any time. Ideally, applications should be made in the Spring to allow for on site inspection and if matters move forward, to negotiate terms before the planting season commences.
Please note,
that virtually all ponds can be used to accommodate this project. Farmers etc should not assume that a pond is unsuitable without consulting SNR.
An example of a hybrid poplar tree just two years old.
This facet is also available to landowners or tenant farmers with at least 30 years of leasehold remaining and who are situated within the county boundaries of Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire in North East Wales.
Telephone Stonecat Nature Reserves on
07981 508297.
If your call goes unanswered, please leave your name, the subject you are calling about and a land line telephone number. You will be telephoned back in due course.
View of a double lined pathway.
A view of a single line of poplar trees.
Stonecat Nature Reserves will enter into agreement with landowners to plant and manage an agreed acreage of new woodland in exchange for a 20% share in the crop, to be recovered at an agreed time in the future.
Each project would be subject to individual negotion with the landowner. SNR would supply the trees, plant them and maintain them for their formative years.
SNR will provide tree protection but not fencing. All plants are guaranteed and will be replaced in the first three years.
The landowner can choose his desired species. SNR will choose its species.
SNR will fund the felling of the first crop of thinnings. 20% of the thinnings would belong to SNR.
For any landowner wishing to explore this further, please contact SNR.
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