Biomass Connect has now collated the April and May 2023 updates from our 8 Hub Sites.
The reports this month include an overview of progress to date at each site. The month of April saw continued preparations for a mammoth planting effort. The month of May saw these preparation come to fruition when the planting teams were able the plant the bare-root woody species at most sites along with planting of Miscanthus too. In total over 100,000 trees were planted by the various teams including:
- SRF Alder: More than 1200 trees planted
- Black Locust: More than 2700 trees planted
- SRC Poplar: More than 7500 trees planted
- SRF Poplar: More than 1500 trees planted
- Eucalyptus: More than 2100 trees planted
- SRC Willow: More than 85000 trees planted
Keep an eye out for updated figures on all species planted once the planting teams return.
For ease of access here are links to the latest updates from April and May 2023
Hub Site Updates April and May 2023
- AFBI Hillsborough
- BGI
- SRUC (Ayrshire)
- SRUC (Edinburgh)
- North Wyke
- IBERS
- NIAB Headley Hall
- Newcastle University
And here are a few photos from the sites in March:
- Energy Crops Consultancy feeding in the willow rods to be planted and cut off
- SRC Willow Planting
- Alder in tree guards
- Eucalyptus with tree guards
- Marking out plots for planting
- Planting SRC Poplar into sprayed off grass. (Note yellow colour compared to non- sprayed grass in background) North Wyke Farmer is seeing if plough could be used to increase area for one of the commercial Miscanthus plots.
- Power Harrowing of plot for Miscanthus variety trial by one of the North Wyke farm team.
- SRF Poplar with tree guards
- Marking out plots for planting