This was just one of the whispered objections to our Woodland Trust-funded woodland creation on Fremington Edge. But heyho, we did it anyway. And what an uplifting sight it is at this time of year (in our opinion anyway). When the trees are in the leaf but the bracken is yet to come up, you canContinue reading “Don’t spoil our view”
Tag Archives: rewilding
Right tree, right place
Since forming in 2019, we’ve focused much of our efforts on woodland, scrub and hedgerow creation, putting each project through a careful consultation and design process, to ensure we’re planting only the most suitable areas, using only the most suitable species mix. Yes, we love trees, but only in the right place: Our long-term visionContinue reading “Right tree, right place”
Before… and after
In 2020, the Tees-Swale: Naturally Connected project purchased a small bracken crusher for use by landowners/farmers across the area. It can be pulled behind any ATV with a tow bar, making it handy for sites with restricted access (just like ours!). Though much of the bracken at Heggs-Castle is on steep, rocky slopes and canContinue reading “Before… and after”
The rise and fall… of the Arkle
Why is natural flood management so important in our neck of the woods? For those of us who lived through the devastating effects of the 2019 floods, the answer seems obvious. But some aren’t aware of just how regularly the Arkle Beck breaks its banks. This is very easy for us to observe on theContinue reading “The rise and fall… of the Arkle”
Beavering away…
We spent Wednesday and Thursday last week learning how to construct leaky barriers at three different locations across the cluster; each where channels begin to flow in the wetter months. The idea is to let ‘normal flow’ pass through unobstructed, but temporarily hold water back during periods of high rainfall. This water is then releasedContinue reading “Beavering away…”
“Mighty oaks from little acorns grow”
At least that’s what we’re hoping will happen as a result of Saturday’s workshop — when a group of 12 volunteers met outside Heggs cow byre to get hands-on with nature restoration. Led by Carol Douglas from the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, as part of the Growing Trees Together initiative, the aim of the workshopContinue reading ““Mighty oaks from little acorns grow””
Size does matter
So we soon learned as many hands made light work yesterday removing tree shelters on The Cluster. Done alone, it can be a slightly soul destroying task. Done as part of a group and it immediately becomes tolerable… enjoyable even as you work together to liberate each tree from its outgrown PPE. This time ourContinue reading “Size does matter”
Alder Alder everywhere…
Will reducing the grazing pressure on the Cluster make a difference? Like everything we do and don’t do on our site, we simply won’t know until we try. This summer marks our third officially stock-free year and it’s definitely been the most flora-filled yet. Alder is naturally regenerating along the banks of the Arkle Beck,Continue reading “Alder Alder everywhere…”
‘Calling all volunteers!’
Winter is in full swing and we’ve finally sat down together and planned our list of volunteer days for the remainder of the season. Between the end of January and the end of April, there are plenty of exciting tasks to get involved with, along with the ‘mundane but necessary’. All are incredibly beneficial forContinue reading “‘Calling all volunteers!’”
Heggs-Castle Renaturing Project 