Tree planting on the Apley Estate
Beech tree planting on the Apley Estate, March 2016
The Apley Estate has 1000 acres of managed woodland & the beautiful Apley Park. To look after these woodlands & parkland there is a continuous tree planting, thinning & felling process. We plant both hardwoods & softwoods & in mid March, we planted 500 oak & beech trees (the ‘whips’ [small, young trees] were sourced locally from Prees Heath nurseries in Shropshire).
Whilst the ground is still cold, the trees are dormant & not trying to grow, this is the perfect time of year to plant. As the soil warms up & during Shropshire’s usual damp spring, the roots should grow. Also, planting at this time gives the trees the longest possible growing season of about 9 months, to get their roots established before the next winter.
These oak & beech will reach maturity in about 100 years’ time – it’s funny to think what the world will be like in 2116 ! Just as funny to think who was around when our biggest trees were first planted …
I hope the Apley Estate will still be in good shape, well managed & as beautiful as it is now. I love this Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
Good news and my father would have been the first to admire the work you and Gavin have done at Apley.