Creating Wood Pasture at Sharpham

Planting a community forest

About the project

Sharpham: Wild About Trees is funded by Plymouth and South Devon Community Forests (PSDCF), one of 15 community forest schemes across England. It’s a partnership between local councils, the national trust and the woodland trust as part of DEFRA’s ‘Trees for climate’ woodland creation programme. The funding will provide support for woodland creation bringing trees and people together to create healthy, inspiring, resilient places for humans and nature.   

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Our intentions

Our key intention is to create wood-pasture across the site. This involves creating a blend of open grassy spaces with shrubby patches and scattered trees to develop a diverse habitat as well as mimic natural regeneration to foster a successional environment. Below are the outcomes that this project will achieve:

Ecology and the Environment

We aim to create a vibrant, biodiverse landscape that supports wildlife, connects habitats, and fosters community engagement for years to come. 

  • Mimic natural regeneration, avoiding block planting to introduce height and variety to the landscape
  • Maintain species-rich grasslands by planting less in these identified areas
  • Allow space for stand-alone trees to flourish – oaks especially support hundreds of species
  • Plant 26 species of high wildlife value including oak, birch, alder, beech, hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, Devon whitebeam and wild service tree
  • Utilize conservation grazing create and maintain structural and species diversity
  • Replant historically mapped trees 
  • Be mindful of scenic vistas of the listed parkland, and sightlines across the valley
  • Increase connectivity between fragmented habitats by removing fences and planting hedgerows
  • Blur woodland boundaries by planting close to woodland edges
  • Utilise GPS NoFence collars for conservation grazing across the site
  • Procure trees from local suppliers like Moor Trees – local links enhance community involvement and strengthen partnerships.
  • Establish a tree nursery as a lasting legacy, tended by long-term volunteers, serving as a resource and educational asset.

Community Engagement

We’re thrilled to share this special endeavor with the local community, and there are several exciting ways for you to get involved:

  • Weekly Tasks: Join our dedicated group of volunteers every week to tackle hands-on tasks like building tree guards, removing fencing, mulching, and planting trees.
  • Monthly Science Projects: Participate in our monthly volunteer group focused on citizen science projects such as soil sampling and vegetation assessments.
  • School Visits: We welcome local schools to the site, where children can plant trees and learn about the project, fostering a connection to nature and environmental stewardship.
  • Work in partnership with ‘Forest Rising’ a programme designed by PSDCF for young people to establish and develop skills in nature recovery
  • Sharpham to host tree planting camps – including a free retreat for 18-25 year olds
  • Information Panels: Discover more about our vision through on-site information panels placed at key public access points, keeping the community informed and engaged with the project.
  • Public engagement events and guided tours delivered by Sharpham Trust including a ‘Fantastic Fungi Quest’ and  ‘Sharpham’s Historic Landscape & Trees tour’

Join us in creating a greener, more connected landscape while learning, volunteering, and making a tangible impact on our environment!

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