Tree planting at Trewithen Estate: 30,000 in the ground this spring
We are on our way to sequestering 29,000 tonnes of carbon in the next 50 years, taking a major step towards our ambitious goals for habitat creation and nature restoration.
In May, we completed the first phase of our ambitious tree planting scheme of the Home Area of Trewithen Estate, putting 30,000 trees in the ground as part of a transformative project spanning over 60 hectares of the Trewithen Estate Home Area. Once complete, the scheme will see more than 64,000 trees planted, introducing a rich mix of predominantly native broadleaf, as well as conifer species, from Oak and Sweet Chestnut, to Willow and Douglas Fir.
Weaving woodland into the landscape
Zulu Ecosystems have expertly designed the planting, which reimagines the land for the future whilst enhancing the existing landscape, weaving the contours, the working farmed environment, and lines of sight, into the fabric of the design. Much of the planting is on steep valley slopes and marginal grassland, transforming these fringes and pockets of the landscape.
A large part of the planting is centred around the River Fal corridor, a scenic and ecologically special landscape. The new woodland areas just planted buffer and extend two ancient County Wildlife Sites: Pomery Wood and Golden Wood, and we’re already looking ahead to the next phase of planting in winter 2025–26, which will create woodland pockets including around Barteliver Wood, Creed Wood, and Higher Trestrayle. The planting will bolster ancient and replanted woodland with native (and naturalised) trees, creating habitat corridors for wildlife.
Right tree, right place
Far more important than the number of trees planted, our approach with Zulu Ecosystems has involved careful evaluation of species choices: from soil and climate conditions to resilience against climate change, pathogens and invasive species. The long term management of these woodlands cannot be overlooked, and careful planning has gone into how the thinning and restocking of these plantations fits in with existing woodland management plans in the Home Area across the next 10; 20; 50 years.
Bridging the gaps for wildlife
These historic woodlands are home to an array of conservation priority species, from lesser spotted woodpeckers to greater horsehoe bats and hedgehogs. By increasing connectivity between existing woodlands, we’re giving wildlife a better chance to thrive in extensive, healthy habitats. Hectares of new woodland habitat, particularly in riparian zones is very good news for red list species such as Marsh Tits, and goes a way towards helping to achieve Cornwall and IOS Nature Recovery Strategy aims.
Sourcing sustainable materials
Delta Forest led the on-the-ground planting, an impressively swift and well-coordinated operation. We are also grateful for the collaboration of our farming tenants and our gardens and parks team, who helped this stage of the project go smoothly. Following the very dry spring, we all breathed a sigh of relief when it rained the week before ground preparations and planting commenced, and have been grateful for the rain at the end of May.
The trees were planted with mulch mats made from sheep wool. Otherwise a waste material, it is fantastic to put this to use, aiding weed control and soil moisture retention. The trees are also protected with Tubex guards, made in Wales from recycled and recyclable materials. At 1.5m tall, these guards should give the trees a fighting chance against all manner or mammals, from rabbits to deer, setting them off to a promising start.
Locking away carbon
Of course, another key purpose motivates planting at such a scale: carbon storage. The 64,000 trees will sequester approximately 29,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in the first 50 years of their life, locking this away for decades to come, and building up soil organic carbon. To put that into perspective, the average small-to-medium enterprise in the UK generates around 750 tonnes of CO2 equivalent across this time frame.
Looking ahead
This is just part of the long-term vision at Trewithen Estate—ensuring that, for decades to come, the Trewithen landscape is a thriving one, where productive farming goes hand in hand with rich biodiversity.
If you want to have a conversation about this project, or other environmental initiatives at Trewithen Estate, please do reach out to Nellie Kottler, Trewithen's Environmental Sustainability & Marketing Coordinator at nellie@trewithenestate.co.uk.