Planting trees in fields.

80sDiesel

I will be planting some native trees in the middle of some fields. Always looked great whenever(rare) I see it.

I realise that it can be pain for farmers ( have to fence off for animals, awkward for hay ,sileage) but in years to come it surely will provide nice shade for animals and will look pleasing to the eye. Also can count in the benefits to local habitats.

Why don't farmers in general not do this?

blue5000

80sDiesel wrote: »

I will be planting some native trees in the middle of some fields. Always looked great whenever(rare) I see it.

I realise that it can be pain for farmers ( have to fence off for animals, awkward for hay ,sileage) but in years to come it surely will provide nice shade for animals and will look pleasing to the eye. Also can count in the benefits to local habitats.

Why don't farmers in general not do this?

Think you've already answered this.

80sDiesel

Thanks. But would you ever consider planting , say, just one oak tree in the middle of a field as the fencing is limited and would not be a hindrance to farming?

wrangler

80sDiesel wrote: »

Thanks. But would you ever consider planting , say, just one oak tree in the middle of a field as the fencing is limited and would not be a hindrance to farming?

A tree works just as well for shelter etc when it's on the boundary too

Birdnuts

80sDiesel wrote: »

Thanks. But would you ever consider planting , say, just one oak tree in the middle of a field as the fencing is limited and would not be a hindrance to farming?

I think the problem in this country is that our forestry practices in general are rather primitive compared to countries like France, Czech Rep etc. that have a long tradition of agri/sylvoculture. Instead of vast blocks of non-native species forestry is often practiced on a smaller scale using native species alongside conventional farming. There is also alot of "community" forests were locals with traditional rights have access to a certain amount of timber for burning, construction etc.plus grazing, shooting, wild fruit harvesting rights etc. Its why places like the Dordogne, Bohemia etc. have such a wonderfull landscape that attract alot of visitors for the scenery, local food and other activities

Still waters

80sDiesel wrote: »

I will be planting some native trees in the middle of some fields. Always looked great whenever(rare) I see it.

I realise that it can be pain for farmers ( have to fence off for animals, awkward for hay ,sileage) but in years to come it surely will provide nice shade for animals and will look pleasing to the eye. Also can count in the benefits to local habitats.

Why don't farmers in general not do this?

Don't be silly, don't you know walls hedges and trees should be cut burned and razed to the ground to make way for acres of silage ground to feed dairy cattle :pac:

My advice: do it, I've sown native hedge and trees wherever I can on my land, I've come to the realisation that it's not all about silage and grazing, any parts of fields that were poor have been planted and to see birds and other wildlife come back to them is very satisfying indeed

lawred2

80sDiesel wrote: »

I will be planting some native trees in the middle of some fields. Always looked great whenever(rare) I see it.

I realise that it can be pain for farmers ( have to fence off for animals, awkward for hay ,sileage) but in years to come it surely will provide nice shade for animals and will look pleasing to the eye. Also can count in the benefits to local habitats.

Why don't farmers in general not do this?

Whose fields?

blue5000

80sDiesel wrote: »

Thanks. But would you ever consider planting , say, just one oak tree in the middle of a field as the fencing is limited and would not be a hindrance to farming?

Oh I have tried it a few times, but usually the calves get through the skimpy fence I put up around the tree and that's the end of that.

Would be nice to have an oak on the south side of the water troughs to provide shade in a summer like last year.

ganmo

lawred2 wrote: »

Whose fields?

Take a look in the forestry forum op has had a thread there for the last few months

80sDiesel

lawred2 wrote: »

80sDiesel wrote: »

I will be planting some native trees in the middle of some fields. Always looked great whenever(rare) I see it.

I realise that it can be pain for farmers ( have to fence off for animals, awkward for hay ,sileage) but in years to come it surely will provide nice shade for animals and will look pleasing to the eye. Also can count in the benefits to local habitats.

Why don't farmers in general not do this?

Whose fields?

Mine, obviously.

patsy_mccabe

I cut an ash tree yesterday. Grazed it to the ground. Reckon it's the first tree I've ever knocked in the place. It was right in under a high voltage line and the ESB subcontractors came in every few years and hacked it to pieces.
I've never had a hedge cutter in the place. I just let all tress and bushes grow away as normal. Keeping the hedges stockproof can be a challenge though. The upside is I 'm never short of firewood.

Nekarsulm

If you are planting more than one tree in a field, at least measure in from the boundary and plant them in line with the longest side.
That way, they should only interfere with one swath when mowing in the future.

Say my name

80sDiesel wrote: »

Why don't farmers in general not do this?

Because you don't want your people associated with the Black and Tans.
The landowners used to sow the trees on open ground to provide sniping positions for the Tans.
Many is the poor unfortunate met an end because of those trees.:(

DAMN YOU TO HELL. YOU BLAGARD OF A CHESTNUT TREE!!

Genghis Cant

Say my name wrote: »

Because you don't want your people associated with the Black and Tans.
The landowners used to sow the trees on open ground to provide sniping positions for the Tans.
Many is the poor unfortunate met an end because of those trees.:(

DAMN YOU TO HELL. YOU BLAGARD OF A CHESTNUT TREE!!

Christ, you'd be a while waiting for a whip or standard tree to grow enough to give cover to a gunman :-)

Say my name

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Christ, you'd be a while waiting for a whip or standard tree to grow enough to give cover to a gunman :-)

Great people to plan ahead.

Sure didn't they learn the crafts in the War of the Roses..
The buggers used to climb the trees in their home country and throw rose bushes down on the opposition on horseback.

L1985

I love this-we have three fields with a solitary tree in the middle and the cattle absolutely love it. Great for shade and shelter. These trees would be over 100years old btw. I have thought about planting in other fields but for various reasons it won’t work. It looks lovely thou and yes it’s great to have a bit of biodiversity around the place.

Jb1989

L1985 wrote: »

I love this-we have three fields with a solitary tree in the middle and the cattle absolutely love it. Great for shade and shelter. These trees would be over 100years old btw. I have thought about planting in other fields but for various reasons it won’t work. It looks lovely thou and yes it’s great to have a bit of biodiversity around the place.

Knock the Ditch between 2 other fields and leave one tree standing, save you planting.

I imagine a lot of lone trees were actually in company in there younger days, just, everything else was removed around them.

Nekarsulm

L1985 wrote: »

I love this-we have three fields with a solitary tree in the middle and the cattle absolutely love it. Great for shade and shelter. These trees would be over 100years old btw. I have thought about planting in other fields but for various reasons it won’t work. It looks lovely thou and yes it’s great to have a bit of biodiversity around the place.

Common enough to find planted on bigger farms in the 1800's, especially around houses built by agents of the landlord or others in professions like Doctors, Solicitors, Bushops etc.

Cattlepen

I think it’s a great idea. It’s a pity people don’t do more of it on their own initiative away from forestry schemes. Trees create a lovely relaxed settled ambience in a farm. I’m doing more of it every year and I always feel like i’ve Achieved more when the leaves come out on the new trees every year than I have with the rest of the farming. I suppose subconsciously I feel i’m Leaving some kind of a legacy.

grassroot1

Sowing a tree anytime is to be commended however for wildlife benefit a group of trees in a hedge or difficult corner is better than one lone tree in the middle of a field.
What I dont like about stand alone trees is like ESB poles the cattle will kill the grass in a 30 yard circle around them useless to wildlife and farmer alike.
Ireland has a fantastic hedgerow system thanks to the normans thats the place to sow any trees.