Tubex has revamped its Easywrap tree shelter range in response to recent changes to the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) grant scheme, which now provides funding for wrap shelters ready for the 2023/4 planting season.
The EWCO scheme, managed by the Forestry Commission, provides funding to woodland creators to help cover the cost of items such as tree shelters, fencing, pipework and other items vital to the successful establishment of planted saplings.
Following an update to the scheme published in July 2023, funding is now available for wrap tree shelters, which has led to a significant increase in demand for this tree shelter format.
Significantly, the manual for the ECWO also contains a requirement for beneficiaries to remove and recycle tree shelters at the end of the obligation period.
In response to this, Tubex has consolidated its existing Ecowrap, Fruitwrap and Vinewrap shelters into one wrap shelter range: Easywrap.
As with the rest of its Recyclable range, Tubex’s Easywrap is made from 35% recycled material and is fully recyclable at end of use the company’s Collection & Recycling Programme.
Wrap shelters such as Easywrap act as a low-cost alternative to tree spirals and are ideal for protecting against small animals and herbicides. The vertical slit of wrap tree shelters creates a natural overlap that allows for the wraps to grow with the tree. This also makes both installation and removal for maintenance and recycling much easier compared to spirals made with PVC - which tends to be more brittle.
Wraps are widely used to help establish vines, trees and hedges, where the lateral growth of branches is important.
“Given the increasing demand for wrap products, we felt it was the right time to provide a simpler and more self-explanatory wrap shelter range,” said James Taylor, Product Line Director at Tubex.
“Forestry and tree planting is an ever-changing sector and responding quickly to these changes is an essential part of ensuring giving our customer’s saplings survive and thrive.”
