Wild Wood
After almost four years of being left alone, Tom's Wood is now made up of over a hundred small trees and bushes, the majority of them self-seeded and unknown. April 2022.
Tom's Wood
Prompted by the Special Report on Global Warming published by the IPCC on October 8th 2018, inspired by the film ‘Field of Dreams‘ and motivated by middle age and a frustration with political dithering in the face of overwhelming evidence, Tom’s Wood is a personal initiative to make a difference to the environment. By converting the three-and-a-half acres of pastureland that make up our smallholding into a woodland and wild meadow, we will promote the sequestration of Carbon Dioxide and absorption of rainwater. Suggestions for what to plant, how to improve the project and good-humoured ridicule are all welcome in equal measure.
Formerly used for grazing or the production of hay, the project began in October 2018 and the plan is to add to the existing trees and populate the entire plot with a variety of suitable species. The land is relatively exposed with little shade, and the soil is well-drained, clay rich, and on a gentle north-westerly facing slope. As of April 2022, Tom’s Wood and Barbara’s Meadow have a population of fifty-two trees that have been planted by hand and approximately a further hundred saplings as well as all manner of wildflowers and grasses that have seeded themselves since 2018. So far as we can tell, it is also home to owls, rabbits, badgers, pheasants, muntjac deer and a generous helping of small rodents and insects.
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In April 2022 our time as smallholders came to an end, and the family that bought it from us seemed to share our ideas about nature and the environment. They have, as far as we know, no plans to return the land to profit-driven or small-scale agriculture, and we look forward to seeing from afar how Tom’s Wood grows over the years.
Planted Trees
Never Say Die
A plum tree, felled by Storm Eunice in February 2022, remains alive and is in bloom once more. April 2022.
Buttercup & Foxtail
Barbara's Meadow under sun and clouds in June 2021.
Maintenance
The perimeter path, May 2021.
'Gabriel Oak'
Oak Sapling, planted on Tuesday, 13th April 2021.
Ten New Saplings
Planted on Tuesday, 13th April 2021.
Tom's Wood
Sunrise over the wood and meadow in early August 2019.
Barbara's Meadow
The beginnings of a wild meadow left for nature to shape since June 2019.
'Rather Good'
Paul's Scarlet planted on Saturday, 2nd March 2019.
'Jolly Good'
Silver Birch planted on Saturday, 2nd March 2019.
'Barbara Good'
Common Oak planted on Saturday, 2nd March 2019.
'The Dude'
Sessile Oak donated by Alex Janaway, planted on Saturday, 9th February 2019.
'Canna'
Anonymously donated Sweetgum, planted on Saturday, 26th January 2019.
'Erraid'
Anonymously donated Sweetgum, planted on Saturday, 26th January 2019.
'Rona'
Anonymously donated Sweetgum, planted on Saturday, 26th January 2019.
'For Vic'
Silver Birch donated by Anne Harris, planted on Wednesday, 16th January 2019.
'Kristina'
Silver Birch, planted on Wednesday, 16th January 2019.
'Aggie'
Silver Birch donated by Caron Fraser Wood, planted on Wednesday, 16th January 2019.
'Jim'
Silver Birch, planted on Wednesday, 16th January 2019.
'Oscar & Fitz'
Silver Birch donated by Josie Bloom, planted on Thursday, 20th December 2018.
'Lemmy'
Silver Birch, planted on Thursday, 20th December 2018.
'Sunrise'
Anonymously donated Silver Birch, planted on Thursday, 20th December 2018.
'Sunset'
Anonymously donated Silver Birch, planted on Thursday, 20th December 2018.
'Boots'
Common Alder planted on Wednesday, 19th December 2018.
'Woody'
Common Alder planted on Wednesday, 19th December 2018.
'Tumtum'
Common Alder planted on Wednesday, 19th December 2018.
'Tree McTreeface'
Common Alder planted on Wednesday, 19th December 2018.
'Wenceslas'
Common Alder planted as a Christmas Card on Wednesday, 19th December 2018.
'Zarathustra'
Red Maple donated by Laura Vitelli, planted on Tuesday, 18th December 2018.
'Tirzah'
Red Maple donated by Max Vitelli, planted on Tuesday, 18th December 2018.
'Sylvia'
Silver Birch donated by Sarah Mohammad-Qureshi, planted on Sunday, 4th November 2018.
'Anna'
Silver Birch, planted on Sunday, 4th November 2018.
'Johan'
Silver Birch, planted on Sunday, 4th November 2018.
'Isabelle Rising'
Silver Birch donated by Raj Sitlani, planted on Sunday, 4th November 2018.
'Jaya Khemlyani'
Chestnut donated by Raj Sitlani, planted on Sunday, 4th November 2018.
'Dennis'
Silver Birch donated by Jen Allanson, planted on Saturday, 27th October 2018.
'Matilda'
Silver Birch donated by Nathan Ryder, planted on Saturday, 27th October 2018.
'Nola'
Silver Birch donated by Julie & Alessandro Vitelli, planted on Saturday, 27th October 2018.
'Charlotte Birch'
Silver Birch planted on Wednesday, 17th October 2018.
Unnamed
Our original orchard of six fruit trees, planted on Thursday 22nd January 2015.
