Plant ‘tredges’ to boost England’s tree cover, gardeners urged | Trees and forests

Gardeners should plant native ‘hedgerows’ – tree or hedge-sized foliage – to boost England’s tree cover, the Royal Horticultural Society has said.

Taking inspiration from ancient woodlands could boost wildlife in England’s 25 million gardens and help increase native tree cover, experts say. The UK’s woodland cover is around 10% and the government aims to increase this cover to at least 16.5% of all land in England by 2050.

A garden demonstrating this approach will be unveiled at the Chelsea Flower Show in May. The Woodland Trust: Forgotten Forests Garden by Ashleigh Aylett will depict a damaged old-growth forest, transitioning from a dark, monocultural coniferous forest to a regenerated and thriving old-growth forest.

Its design will include “indicator” plants that can be used to identify old-growth forests such as wild helper tree and red campion.

The Woodland Trust found that only 7% of the UK’s native woodlands are in good condition, which has drastic consequences for the wildlife that call these trees home.

Although his garden is an ambitious demonstration of recreating an old-growth forest, there are lessons for anyone who has green space at home, such as planting small native trees and “hedges.”

Mark Gush, RHS environmental horticulture manager, said: “It is often found in ancient woodlands, a first choice for gardeners looking for a small tree. Crataegus laevigata. This is a great example of a “trellis”, which can be both a free-standing tree or a hedge.

“It strikes the perfect balance between beauty and functionality. With attractive foliage, flowers and blades, it is also resistant to wet and dry climate extremes, tolerant of clay soils, and research shows that this genus is effective at capturing pollutants from busy summer roads. Its thorny protective canopy supports biodiversity and helps mitigate flood risks from summer showers through efficient water absorption.”

The Woodland Trust is trying to make tree planting more accessible to those who have small spaces and are worried about giant trees dwarfing their gardens. Native trees do not need to be large. Planting a small native species could provide spring blooms and abundant fall berries, without taking up much space. Tree diversity also brings benefits to the garden, as different species have different root architecture, which improves soil health and structure.

Aylett’s garden will also feature ‘forest planting’, showing layered cover crops, from ground covers to herbaceous perennials, shrubs and trees of varying sizes, which has the benefit of maximizing species diversity in limited spaces and providing the benefits of protection from climatic extremes (hot and cold) offered by this approach.

Transitional gardening, where several different habitats transition into each other and have varying boundaries, is a good way to mimic old-growth forest habitat at home, Gush said.

He added: “Forest edges support some of the highest levels of biodiversity because they represent an ‘ecotone’ – a transition zone between different environments. Ecotones between two habitats are often more species rich than either one. It’s a concept that can be applied with incredible success to domestic gardens where ecotones abound – from lawns to borders, from borders to shrubs and trees, pond edges and more. Consider a smoother gradual transition rather than a hard cutoff.”

The RHS encourages gardeners to choose trees grown under the UKISG (UK and Ireland Sourced and Grown) scheme, which ensures they are grown from seed and helps prevent the entry of new pests and diseases into the country, one of the most significant threats to native trees. For smaller gardens, instead of fences or walls, they ask people to consider planting a native hedge. This allows people to include native species without the need for a huge garden, while still providing valuable food and habitat for the wildlife that depends on them.

After the show, the Woodland Trust garden will be transferred to Hawthorn Primary School in Newcastle upon Tyne. The school is located in an area with low tree cover, which will increase access to trees in a neighborhood with limited tree cover.

‘Trellises’ with environmental benefits in the UK, chosen by the RHS

• Beech (Fagus sylvatica)

• Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

• Western Red Cedar (Thuya plicata)

• Common yew (Taxus baccata)

• Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)