https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/sustainable-farming-incentive-pilot-guidance-establish-trees-along-field-boundaries/
Establish trees along field boundaries
The guidance on this page is for SFI pilot participants only. Please visit GOV.UK for the official Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme guidance.
Find out how land managers can establish trees along field boundaries and how this can benefit the environment.
If you’re completing this action as part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot, how you do it is up to you.
The advice on this page can help you get better environmental and business benefits, but you do not have to follow it to get paid.
Why you should establish trees along field boundaries
Trees are found in and alongside field boundaries such as:
They can be:
- lines of trees or shrubs, where scrubby hedges have been allowed to grow unchecked
- trees that have been specifically planted or selected to develop to maturity
Trees are being lost from the landscape faster than they are being replaced. Pests and diseases like ash dieback have increased the rate of loss. Without an increase in the number of trees being established in field boundaries, the landscape could profoundly change.
Where to establish trees along field boundaries
It’s particularly important to establish trees that:
- connect hedges or other habitats, like woodlands, wood pasture and orchards
- support other features, like species-rich hedges, ditches or banks
- are in hedgerows that are surviving fragments of ancient woodland, and contain rare ancient woodland plants, mosses and lichens
- are in hedgerows that contain veteran or ancient trees with significant veteran features and dead wood habitat
- are of landscape or historic interest, like parish boundaries, within Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or national parks
You should:
- prioritise boundaries that are of particular wildlife or landscape interest
- plant species that already grow, or used to grow, in nearby boundaries
Avoid planting new trees where they:
- could affect other wildlife, for example around fields that are important for ground nesting birds
- could obstruct roads, rights of way, or services like overhead power lines
- are not typically found in local boundaries and could alter the landscape character
You must find out if you need consent for work on a scheduled monument.
Benefits of establishing trees along field boundaries
Boundary trees can benefit your business. They can:
- provide food and shelter for livestock and crops, boosting their health and yield
- supply wood for timber and fuel
- provide a source of fruit and other ingredients for food and drink
- screen unsightly developments and protect privacy
- boost populations of beneficial insects which can pollinate crops and help control pests and diseases
They benefit wildlife, by providing:
- food, shelter and breeding sites for a range of wildlife, including dormice, birds and bats
- pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinators
There are also wider environmental benefits. They can:
- improve air quality, by removing particles and pollutants from the air
- absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their wood
- contribute to the character and appearance of many of our most valued landscapes
When to plant trees along field boundaries
Ideally, plant trees between November and March, when they’re dormant and can be supplied bare-root.
On drier sites, planting at the start of winter can give the roots more time to establish. Plant at the end of winter on wetter sites, to stop roots rotting in wet ground.
You can plant trees all year round using container plants. These are more expensive and will need more water if you plant them in the summer.
How to establish trees along field boundaries
To establish new trees in field boundaries, you can:
- select either existing saplings or coppice regrowth to become mature trees
- plant new trees, as many boundaries will not contain suitable tree saplings
In both cases:
- plant or select native tree species found in local boundaries, such as oak, beech, field maple, hawthorn or willows
- plant or select a mix of different species to support a wider variety of wildlife
- avoid planting ash, due to ash dieback disease
- select other species alongside any ash saplings, as these may well die from disease
- immediately protect trees from browsing and grazing animals, using appropriate tree guards or fencing
- label the trees with brightly coloured tags, so anyone trimming or flailing is aware that there are protected trees within the boundary
When selecting existing saplings, choose undamaged stems that are growing straight up all the way from the base. These should produce a good, strong trunk. If you lay or coppice a hedge, you can select strong new growth to become trees.
When planting trees:
- choose a local source, to avoid the risk of introducing alien pests and diseases
- plant in existing gaps in hedgerows if possible, so there’s less competition from existing plants
- plant them at least 20 metres away from existing trees so they do not shade or compete with them once they mature
- plant into small gaps cut into hedgerows if there are no suitable gaps already
- plant far enough away from boundary walls so they’re not damaged by the tree as it grows
- only stake trees which are more than 1 metre tall, and only for their first year
- establish a weed-free area immediately around the young tree to reduce competition, and maintain until the tree is established
- water new trees during dry spells or if they show any signs of wilting
You can also plant trees alongside hedgerows, rather than within them. This may take up more space, but it can:
- reduce root competition for nutrients and water, so new trees grow faster
- increase hedgerow width and wildlife value
- make it easier to cut the hedge in the future, while avoiding damage to the new trees
Do not plant trees on:
- valuable habitats like species-rich grassland
- historic features
Once your tree is established, you’ll need to manage it regularly to maintain a good structure over time. Find out more about how to manage trees along field boundaries.
What good established trees along field boundaries look like
You’ll see:
- a diverse mix of healthy young trees that are native to your local area, at appropriate spacings along the length of the boundary
- trees with no signs of bark stripping, compaction under the canopy or any other damage
- trees with healthy crowns and good annual growth
You should be able to keep boundary trees for many years as living trees and later as dead wood.
