Under-planting Scots Pine
This area shows a couple of our challenges and opportunities at Dronley Wood.
About this Stand
Monocultures
The stand consists of Scots Pine only. Monocultures (especially Scots Pine) are very susceptible to damage by insects and diseases. That stand is affected by both. We have lost several trees to needle blight and bark beetles. Look out for broken-off, hollow Scots Pine shoots. These are feeding signs of the Common Pine Shoot Beetle (Tomicus piniperda). Storm Arwen damaged the stand further in November 2021.
Underplanting
The area looked devastating but also presented an opportunity to develop the Scots Pine into a mixed wood by under-planting. After clearing the timber, we under-planted the resulting gaps with Oak. Scots Pine and Oak grow very well together. We also expect Silver Birch, Rowan, and Larch to establish on the site (natural regeneration). The planted trees will develop this area into a diverse, mixed stand.
Heronry
If you are there between February and July, listen out for our noisy heronry nearby. You can hear the herons in the early morning and late evening.