Had a few queries about the pollarding that is taking place around the paths and pasture at the north of Radipole. Pollarding is a means of managing trees, willows being a prime example, that brings a number of benefits to the reserve, its wildlife and its visitors. From the trees perspective it promotes longer life as it takes the weight out of the limbs, preventing cracking or branch failure and consequently rot. It will even prevent the entire tree blowing over which is good news for the tree and for anyone who may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time when the tree failed! You will notice that the vast majority of the willows around the path are 'multi stemmed', which indicates that they have been pollarded or coppiced in the past.
The re-growth is rapid and provides excellent habitat for birds and invertebrates and by mid summer will be awash with new growth. We prefer pollarding (leaving the trunk) to coppicing (felling to the ground) as the larvae of lunar hornet (clearwing) moths feed within the living trunk and are thriving locally.
The brash arising from pollarding we are using to create dead hedges and the timber for invertebrate/ amphibian habitat piles which will only serve to improve the biodiversity of the site - added to this it opens up some nice new vistas for watching the wildlife.
Before...
...and after.