Case Study:

Charlotte’s Wood

A mixed wet woodland planting scheme was designed using the Miyawaki Method, where saplings are planted at much higher densities to mimic natural regeneration processes. The species selection was tailored to the conditions onsite, and consisted of predominantly black poplar, alder, and willow species. Bird cherry and wayfaring trees were included to increase nectar and pollen availability for insects. A mixture of whips, feathereds, and standards were used to accelerate forest establishment by creating a vertical canopy structure from the outset. A pond was created in the middle of the site to attract aerial invertebrates and to aid water retention during dry periods, and a floodplain meadow mix was sown around the tree plantation areas.
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The estimated BNG uplift at Charlotte’s Wood is 10 units (94%). The trees have shown extraordinary growth rates due to the planting technique and the suitability of the species selected to the environmental conditions. Pond water sampling has shown a very healthy mix of aquatic invertebrates, and it is also home to numerous damselflies and dragonflies and rare water violet plants. The meadow has red campion, ragged robin, meadowsweet, and purple loosestrife, which has attracted a high diversity of butterflies including brown argus. The meadow area has supported a population explosion of voles, providing food for nearby kestrels and barn owls.