Management of trees is essential in the creation of good quality wildlife habitat and there are many different methods of managing trees that benefit wildlife. These methods are often ancient practices, carried out by our ancestors, to which wildlife has adapted to utilise to its advantage. One such method is pollarding. Pollarding is the cutting down of a tree to a high stump or 'pollard'. This pollard is usually a metre or two high and is designed to allow regrowth at a height where livestock cannot reach and eat the regrowth. Traditionally this has been a method of providing a timber crop in areas where livestock are grazed, giving the area a multi-purpose. At Summer Leys we are utilising this tradition to benefit wildlife.
Cutting down trees provides opportunities for wildlife that can't survive under or in areas with mature trees. Many wildflowers require high levels of light not found under trees and many insects and reptiles require warm sunny areas to bask. By cutting down trees we are providing these sunny, warm areas. As the trees regrow, they provide dense, often thorny, vegetation perfect for nesting summer birds such as Blackcaps and Garden Warblers. The high pollards allow us to maintain these benefits even in areas that our cattle and sheep graze.
A significant benefit of pollarded trees is demonstrated in the main stem. These stumps, whilst still alive, become riddled with rot holes, sap runs and upright deadwood all features associated with mature trees. These features create a paradise for wildlife dependent on dead or decaying wood (saproxylic). There are over 2,000 saproxylic invertebrates which include beetles, flies, moths, bees and many more. These invertebrates in turn encourage insectivorous bird species such as woodpeckers and many species of fungi gain nutrients by breaking down the dead wood. Despite being relatively close to the ground, the rot holes and cavities can still be excellent hibernating and roosting areas for bats.
Look out for the pollards around Summer Leys as they regrow this summer.
