That’s it, the park at Sumburgh is now full of trees!
Photo - Arty shot of the new trees - L Farrel.
This started as an idea in Kevin, our site managers, head. We have an absolutely wonderful site here at Sumburgh Head, and we want it to become a first class visitor (of the avian as well as human sorts) experience. Visitors have long come to Sumburgh for our wonderful Puffin, and other sea birds, and once the seabirds have gone Sumburgh becomes a lot quieter. By planting trees, and providing cover, we are creating an area that migratory birds can use as a first stop off point after long crossings of the wild North Sea. As well as a benefit for the birds we are hoping it will become an area that locals and tourists alike can enjoy, tucked out of the wind. Look out for future ‘forest’ bathing events, it might be slightly warmer than the sea!
So what have we done?
Well, we started with the thought, it’s very very windy here; how are we going to protect trees from the never-ending wind? So we looked into how Shetlanders have been growing things in the wind here for centuries. They have used a very cool design called a Planticrub. Small round or square drystone structures that provide shelter from the wind for growing predominately crops.
We could not budget for new drystone walls unfortunately!
However, we have seen the more recent equivalent was to use wooden pallets. So this is what we did - we had 150 wooden pallets delivered to Sumburgh. We then had work parties to stock fence and rabbit net the park.
Photo - 150 Pallets before they were moved to become our new wind breaks. L Farrel.
The first work party was with 12 wonderful volunteers, where we had the most glorious weather and moved over 50 pallets from the car park to the planting site. We also added the strainer posts and fence posts ready for stock netting.
This is a timelapse of our morning!!
Video - A timelapse of our volunteer party. Credit - Jen.
We had several more work parties where we assembled the pallet enclosures, dug in rabbit netting, and actually planted trees! None of this would have been possible without the help of some wonderful, dedicated volunteers.
Photo. Our wonderful volunteers enjoying the views at lunch - L Grieve
We are moving in a slightly experimental direction with the trees, and have planted a mixture of larger cuttings, as well as more hardy plug plant species provided by Shetland Amenity Trust. The larger trees and cutting were all donations from very generous locals, and we hope that these larger species will start providing cover for both the saplings and the birds straight away. Shetland is a landscape largely devoid of trees, and we are looking to provide a vital insect/seed source within the tree planting area. We are not quiet done yet, and have plans to put in a rainfed pond, as well as establish more species rich grassland in the open areas. Within the wider Sumburgh Head area, we are planning a crop strip and scrapes, so it’s always worth a visit as we continue to try and provide more and varied habitats within the Sumburgh Head reserve.
Assistant Warden Lizzy's van full of trees being transported to their new home.
Photo - Tree planting inside the 'planticrub wind breaks' - Credit - B Jackson.
So now we wait, and see what the birds think of the trees!
Photo - Newly planted trees inside of the wind break. Credit - L Grieve
Recent sightings
Sumburgh Head trees!
Red backed shrike, Marsh warbler, Grasshopper warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Whinchat, Robin, Ring Ouzel, Pied Wagtail, Twite, Dunnock, Tree Pipit, Brambling, Siskin.
Left - Red-Backed Shrike in the newly planted trees. Middle - close up of Red-Backed Shrike, Right Marsh Warbler. Credit all K Kelly.
Sumburgh Head Bluethroat (Grutness), Guillemot, Puffin, Bonxie, Razorbill, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Twite , Wren, Starling, Lesser Whitethroat,Wheatear, Oystercatcher, Snipe, Dunnock, Arctic Skua, Blackcap , Willow Warbler, Whimbrel, Whinchat , Robin
Loch of Spiggie Green Winged Teal, Marsh Harrier, Knot, Red backed Shrike, Whooper Swan, Curlew, Arctic Tern, Snipe, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Shoveler, Sand Martin, Short-eared Owl, Black-headed Gull, Bonxie, Swallow, Arctic Skua, Goldeneye,
Mousa
Arctic Tern, Snipe, Dunlin, Fulmar, Tystie, Bonxie, Great Black-backed Gull, Eider , Wren, Starling, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Shag, Guillemot, Puffin, Razorbill, Hooded Crow, Shelduck, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Wheatear, Red-throated Diver, Ringed Plover
Fetlar
Nightjar, Red backed Shrike , Rosefinch, Whinchat, Redstart, Red-necked Phalarope, Arctic Skua, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Lapwing, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Teal, Mallard, Greylag Goose, Snipe, Dunlin