We had had a gorgeous Solo day up in this (AONB) area of outstanding natural beauty in North Yorkshire. This Solo day was part of our efforts to improve local woodland planted a decade ago on the edges of the field surrounding the stone circle.
The nature reserve was previously planted with oak, ash, holly and silver birch, larch, beech, and copper beech. When these were planted we fitted each with a Tubex tree guard for protection. These tree guards have played a large part in the successful growth of the trees.
The guard is a plastic tube fitted around the tree and this is 'whip' size (the whip is the name for it when it's still a young seedling) and held in place with a small stake and plastic ties. This can be seen on fresh plantations across the land and whilst tree planting can be seen as a valuable antidote to global warming and the survival of the planet although plastic disposal is still problematic.
The tree guard is designed to protect against local herbivores, such as sheep and deer, it stands in place to encourage the tree to grow a strong trunk before it branches out and provide an environment that helps the tree grow strong. This makes a massive difference in the tree's early years and if at any time you are planting woodland these guards were seen to be a must.
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Our solo day consisted of centering ourselves in nature through meditation and mindfully cutting the guards off, and removal of the plastic, since the trees are now established.
The tree replacement level in the wood is minimal due to these guards, but if they were left on any longer they inhibit the tree's growth, this would have the opposite of their desired effect as the tree gets larger. Now that the trees are tall and strong, local wildlife on the nature reserve poses much less of a threat.
As the trees will be left to carry on growing for another couple of years we will then need to go in and cut the side branches off to encourage upward straight tree growth. Trees naturally grow more at the top, and so chopping off the lower branches encourages this upwards growth, creating trees that are tall and strong, not having to support lower down branches.