Why conserve?
To conserve: Protect (something, especially something of environmental or cultural importance) from harm or destruction. (Oxford English Dictionary) Habitats are in a constant state of change through naturally occurring dynamics and human influence. But while natural [...]
Basic Safety in Conservation Work
Practical conservation work should be carried out as safely as possible. Being aware of various safety points not only reduces the risk of accidents or illness but also enables groups to work more effectively - [...]
Coppicing – why cut down trees for conservation?
Coppicing is a traditional form of woodland management that has shaped many of the remaining semi-natural woodlands in the UK. Periodic cutting actually prolongs the life of the tree as well as creating a rich [...]
Why plant trees?
In recent decades there have been a number of important stimuli for tree planting, including the loss of hedgerow elms to disease, the millennium and, perhaps most dramatically, the estimated 15 million trees uprooted during [...]
Laying hedges – the whys and wherefores of this ancient craft
In the post-1945 period of agricultural expansion, many thousands of miles of hedgerow were destroyed to enlarge fields, and for building development. The rate of destruction has now slowed, and between 1990 and 1993 the [...]
Dry stone walls – why build and look after them
We have lost more than 5,000 miles of dry stone walls in England and Wales since 1947, mainly due to neglect after damage by livestock, dogs and walkers dislodging capping stones, and vibration damage from [...]
How to build a fence
Fences are sometimes used to protect newly planted trees or to enclose areas which need to regenerate. They control access of people, wildlife and grazing livestock and are often built in conjunction with footpaths or [...]
How to improve access in the countryside
Access work makes it easier for people to get around in areas of open space or countryside. It includes building and repairing paths and trails, waymarking, constructing steps, stiles, bridges, gates, boardwalks and doing drainage [...]
How to select trees for new native woodland
If you're planting a new native woodland, you'll need to decide what species to plant. With native trees, some may be readily available from a local nursery, while others may not - but you could [...]
Why plant native trees of local provenance?
Ancient woodlands represent our closest link with the ‘wildwood' of prehistory. The small fragments of ancient semi-natural woodland that still exist in Northern Ireland provide a home for our natural flora and fauna; the birds, [...]
How to create a wildflower meadow
Most of our wildflower meadows have been lost since 1950, mainly due to changes in farming practice. With a little bit of space, time and patience you can create a wildflower meadow in your own [...]
How to manage sand dunes
Dune management involves restoring eroded areas and stabilising others using vegetation and fencing. The idea is to help, not obstruct the dune-forming processes to conserve the dune ecosystem. Access work, building boardwalks to steer people [...]
How to fell trees
Felling non-native species to retain the character of a woodland can involve anything from pruning and removing saplings to full-scale felling of a mature tree. The trunks are snedded before being logged up to provide [...]
How to manage ponds & wetlands
Neglect is the main reason for the loss of wetlands in the UK. Managing them to halt the succession processes that will change them, involves clearing ponds and ditches, repairing and maintaining banks and, sometimes, [...]
How to plant trees
The process of planting a young tree is not difficult or time-consuming. But it must be done properly and with care. The success of planting will depend on choosing the right species for the site [...]
How to coppice trees
Coppicing, either for conservation or to produce timber involves periodic cutting of trees using traditional felling techniques, stacking the timber afterwards and leaving some brushwood to rot down. Tree identification Correct tree identification is important. [...]
How to lay a hedge
The many miles of recently planted, established, or derelict hedgerows need managing. It is important to check the regional style to be adopted. The techniques on this page follow those appropriate to the Midland Bullock [...]
How to build or repair a dry stone wall
Learn the art of dry stone walling... Building with dry stone is one of the earliest skills developed by humans. Dry stone walls are durable because they contain no mortar, but are held together by the [...]
