The following list of activities are eligible under this element. Where required further technical information is provided to help you undertake this activity in the required manner.
Trees that you plan to establish and manage under this element must be made safe and protected, from disease, machinery and grazing.
Tree surgery and maintenance activities
- Undertake a survey of existing tree health and condition. This must be undertaken on behalf of the beneficiary by a qualified tree surgeon, arboriculturalist or chartered forester. The survey must include information on existing health of the tree/trees, current and proposed management activities to expand the tree lifespan and any specialist requirements for veteran trees are identified including planned tree replacement, retention and rejuvenation.
- Fell trees, pruning of limbs and crown thinning to make safe, restore, improve the health and secure the longevity of trees. For reasons of public health and safety felling of trees must be carried out by a qualified tree surgeon.
- Where relevant, coppice, thin branches and planting to encourage the regeneration and rejuvenation of an appropriate shrub layer within or associated with small woodland features to maintain their longevity.
- Erect protective fencing for individual trees to prevent damage by stock or vehicles, with an enclosure design appropriate to your local historic or landscape character.
Establishment or replacement of trees:
- Planting trees - you must use standard or semi-standard stock. These must be staked at ground level and watered, mulched and fertilized with granular fertilizer following the instructions on the label at the recommended application rate.
- Maintain new trees and mulch, water, beat up and fertilize at the recommended application rate, annually for the first four years.
- You must protect new trees from stock, deer, voles, rabbits and hares by the use of appropriate tree guards or fencing. Wooden post and rail fencing or metal tree guards may be used to protect trees that are not within livestock or deer fences. Other materials may only be used for fencing where these are characteristic of the local historic or landscape character.
Establishment of replacement of shrub species
- Planting shrubs - you must use 60 - 80 cm (1 + 1) bare root plants, established at 1 meter spacing in prepared ground. Up to 25 % open space allowed within layout. Shrubs must be watered, mulched and fertilized with granular fertilizer following the instructions on the label at the recommended application rate.
- Maintain new shrubs and water, weed, beat up, mulch and fertilize at the recommended application rate, annually as appropriate for the first four years.
- Shrubs must be protected from stock, deer, voles, rabbits and hares by the use of appropriate tree guards or fencing. Wooden post and rail fencing or metal tree guards must be used. Other materials may only be used for fencing where these are characteristic of the historic or landscape character.
If you are erecting protective fencing to prevent damage by stock or vehicles to individual trees or shrubs your fence design must be suitable to the historic and landscape character of your area. Where possible extend the bit inside the fence to include the ground under the tree canopy. This will reduce the risk of damage to the root system.
When suitable, plant a shrub layer as part of your annual tree maintenance. If you are replacing unsafe older trees you must plant a replacement tree for old trees which are unsafe or senescence. Dead or dying trees are valuable habitats and must be kept in place unless they are a danger to the public.
In your application you must identify that your tree/trees are either
- Visually prominent - Mature trees growing in open farmland or pasture, on top of knolls or in other elevated locations and can be seen by the public.
- Accessible to the public - Mature trees that are close to roads, access routes, or near to settlements and visitor attractions and can be seen by the public.
- Of other cultural, biodiversity, historic or landscape interest - Mature trees of cultural, biodiversity or historic interest, that are important to the local community or have associations with local, national history or legend. These can also be favoured roosting or nesting sites or ancient veteran trees designated or protected because of their amenity or heritage significance.