In 1982, artist and environmental activist Joseph Beuys began the planting of 7,000 oak trees around a city in central Germany. Beuys conceived 7000 Eichen (oaks) as a way of re-connecting the traumatised citizens of Kassel with their natural environment after the damage inflicted on the city during the Second World War.
Last year an artist Brian and his partner stayed at The Lint Mill and he asked if we would collaborate in the planting of a woodland. Whilst not remotely on the scale of Beuys, the nature connection we encourage here was definitely in his spirit, so we were delighted to begin the discussion of what the project might involve. There was a great deal to negotiate: Which species of tree would thrive best? How could the project help to mitigate the increasing incidence of flooding? How would we protect the growing trees from our livestock?
We were keen to develop a planting along the riverbank especially as our riverbank is subject to flooding. Trees can help to reduce flooding by slowing down the flow of rainwater, absorbing the rainwater, and reducing erosion, so we though it was a good idea to plant along the bank. Brian seemed attracted to the flat plain that offers an opportunity to experience the shape of the planting and the 'bridge' motif between the trees that he was playing with.
Trees that produce poisonous fruits (e.g. holly, yew and laburnum) were unsuitable for use where animals graze, so Brian's first choice of holly was not going to be the best one here.
We suggested that we copy nature by planting trees already successful on our site and to choose species in keeping with our existing woodland. Also to choose a species that is happy to have its feet in water – willow, aspen, alder – and could withstand seasonal flooding. Brian saw some magnificent oaks on our lane just past The Lint Mill - this oak sessile known as the Irish Oak, likes the damp and cold, is much smaller then the English Oak but the leaves are bigger. It has all the benefits of the English Oak, wonderful for wild life, especially birds and loved by red squirrels. The wood will also provide much needed shade and cover for our livestock.
Brian thought that Aspen would make a great backdrop for the Oaks and as a species that like to sucker, the aspen suckers will be happily grazed off by our sheep and goats as they are highly nutritious.
The shape of the planting - for the tree planting scheme to be effective, we needed to consider more than just the native tree species. The majority of natural woodland has three distinct layers: tall trees providing the canopy layer, the shrub layer and the grass layer. Each layer is an important structure as far as biodiversity is concerned, as the canopy and shrub layers provide food and shelter for invertebrates, birds and mammals and the field layer provides a variety of different flora throughout the season. So, we always include shubs in our tree planting– for maximum biodiversity. The design that Brian has created ideally establishes a mosaic of small groups of two species and the underplanting of hawthorn and dog rose is reflective of natural woodland conditions. The design is broadly linear as the trees build up along the riverbank. If the aspens are clones, they will all leaf up together, their leaves will change colour together and their leaves will fall together. The effect could be quite spectacular.
Protecting the growing trees - cactus tree guards looked like a brilliant solution for protection from livestock and we know people who have used them very successfully, so we priced up a starter pack of five. Now that they are in situ, we will see how they fare with our horned beasties. If all goes well, we will add five more in the autumn. They are certainly robust, unobtrusive and rather sculptural.
A former student of Beuys, recalls being present with Beuys during planting. 'Once the tree grows tall, the planter will be long gone,' he reports hearing the artist say, wistfully. We too will be long gone when this project comes to fruition (although we did make the decision to begin with mature trees to get a slight head start!) but there has never been a more important time to plant trees.
Of his artwork, Beuys told Scottish artist and and promoter of the visual and performing arts, Richard Demarco: 'I wish to go more and more outside to be among the problems of nature and problems of human beings in their working places. This will be therapy for all of the problems we are standing before.'
*with grateful appreciation to Brian for his conception, design and financial support for this project
