Mini Forest Tree Planting
In April 2024, Boughton under Blean Parish Council provided some land at Poplar View, to be used for an exciting experiment testing different ground preparation techniques for planting trees. Kent County Council (KCC) is leading the experiment and testing ways to get more trees to grow, with the aim of maximising benefits for people, wildlife, and the climate. Soil in recreation greenspaces is often of poor quality, which can make it difficult for newly planted trees to grow well, so KCC are trying different ways of improving the soil to see what difference it makes.
There are five trial plots at Poplar View, each using different approaches to tree establishment and soil health. KCC are testing a planting approach developed by Japanese botanist Dr Akira Miyawaki. He proposed that planting lots of different native trees into healthy, aerated soil would lead to faster tree establishment. The experiment is exploring his planting method whilst testing impacts on the soil.
Species Planted
- Acer campestre – field maple,
- Alnus glutinosa – alder,
- Betula pendula – silver birch,
- Betula pubescens – downy birch,
- Carpinus betulus – hornbeam,
- Cornus sanguinea – dogwood,
- Corylus avellana – hazel,
- Crataegus monogyna – common hawthorn,
- Cytisus scoparius – common broom,
- Euonymus europaea – spindle,
- Fagus sylvatica – beech,
- Ilex aquifolium – holly,
- Juniperus communis – juniper.
- Ligustrum vulgare – wild privet,
- Malus sylvestris – crab apple,
- Pinus sylvestris – scots pine,
- Populus tremula – aspen,
- Prunus avium – wild cherry,
- Prunus padus – bird cherry,
- Prunus spinosa – blackthorn,
- Quercus petraea – sessile oak,
- Rhamnus cathartica – purging buckthorn,
- Rosa arvensis – field rose,
- Rosa canina – dog rose,
- Rosa rubiginosa – sweet briar,
- Salix caprea – goat willow,
- Salix cinerea – grey willow,
- Salix viminalis – osier willow,
- Sambucus nigra – elder,
- Sorbus aria – whitebeam,
- Sorbus aucuparia – rowan,
- Taxus baccata – yew,
- Tilia cordata – small leaved lime,
- Tilia platyphyllos – large leaved lime,
- Ulex europaeus – gorse,
- Viburnum lantana – wayfaring tree,
- Viburnum opulus – guelder rose.
Did you know this part of Kent used to be all woodland – known as the wildwood? The nearby Blean Woods is a surviving fragment of this ancient woodland.
Trees and shrubs that were once widespread in the Kentish wildwood have been planted. These historic ghosts of Kent’s long-lost natural landscape include such gems as the beautiful Small-leaved Lime, Crab Apple, Sessile Oak and Purging Buckthorn. These trees will provide food and homes for Kent’s wildlife.
Trial Plot Map
Starting at the first plot (1) and moving clockwise,
- The ground in the first plot has been dug to a depth of a metre and turned by a mini digger, loosening the soil, creating very well drained conditions that are perfectly suited to rapid root growth.
- The soil in the next plot has been prepared using a rotavator – this churns and aerates the soil, improving drainage and enabling easier root growth.
- The plot at the back is the control plot, it follows standard planting practice, a smaller number of trees have been slot planted, with no improvements made to the soil.
- The trees in the next plot round to the right were planted directly into the ground – meaning that the surrounding soil was not decompacted or aerated before planting.
- The trees in the nearest plot on the right were planted into holes made by an auger – only breaking up the soil immediately surrounding the roots of each plant.
These plots are part of the wider Trees Outside Woodland programme. This programme is developing new ways to increase tree cover to address the climate and ecological emergencies, whilst maximising benefits for people and wildlife, ensuring cost effectiveness and reducing the threat from tree diseases.
The programme is funded by HM Government and delivered in partnership by The Tree Council, Natural England, the Department for nvironment, Food & Rural Affairs with five local councils. The trees will be closely monitored to see how well the establish.
