A 12.26-hectare planting project in Staffordshire is underway to enhance biodiversity and restore historic woodland areas.
Landowner Jonathan Capener, a third-generation steward of the land, is leading the project in partnership with Robinson Forestry and Tubex, supported by T W Hardesty Forestry & Rural Services, Hatton Contracts Ltd, and Cheviot Trees.
The site, which was once a racecourse in the early 1900s, is being transformed through a programme of woodland creation and restoration. The project is reconnecting fragmented ancient woodland and replanting areas lost to clearance around the Second World War.
One of the key efforts of the programme is the restoration of Bentilee Wood, expanding it to its historical extent, alongside the replanting of Oxhay Wood, a 6.7-hectare area felled in the 1940s. Together, these efforts aim to enhance biodiversity and provide continuity between woodland habitats with a mix of native species such as oak, field maple, hazel and Scots pine.
While conifers are carefully planted outside the ancient woodland areas, the primary focus remains on native species to support local ecosystems. The project is also expected to contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, with estimates suggesting it will absorb approximately 3,500 tonnes of carbon over the next 100 years.
In addition, a smaller 0.24-hectare shelterbelt is being created to screen the Keele Services lorry Park from a nearby farmhouse, complementing the larger-scale planting efforts which aim to bring long-term environmental and biodiversity benefits to the area.
Planting began in November, with several ecological and logistical challenges being addressed as part of the work. These include archaeological features, badger setts, gas pipelines, and the presence of resident deer. Rather than remove or exclude these features, the project has adopted a “working with nature” approach.
For example, browsing by the deer is being managed using 1.5m Tubex Recyclable Tree Shelters in areas where deer fencing is impractical due to the terrain. Smaller shelters are being used in fenced areas to protect saplings from rabbits, while allowing wildlife to continue using the site. This was especially important in this instance, as the area's substantial buzzard population depends heavily on rabbits as a food source.
Funding for the work has been secured through the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) grant, which supports woodland creation across the UK. The project was one of the first to use the new EWCO Fast Track system, with additional incentives secured for outcomes such as improved water quality, flood risk management, and nature recovery.
To accompany these efforts, the landowner is also introducing a series of leaky dams to slow water flow into the catchment and reduce downstream flooding. Tubex’s recyclable tree shelters were chosen for the project due to their durability and compatibility with the site’s objectives. These shelters, which are made with 35% recycled content, protect young trees from browsing animals while creating a favourable microclimate to aid establishment. At the end of their lifespan, they can be collected and recycled through Tubex’s dedicated Collection & Recycling Programme. Once returned through this scheme, they are recycled and reused to produce new shelters, making them a circular product.
Simon Smith of Robinson Forestry noted that this approach helps maintain balance in the ecosystem, commenting, “Tubex tree shelters allow us to protect saplings from browsing without excluding wildlife from the area. For example, fencing off large areas or culling every deer might solve the immediate problem of browsing, but it could have serious unintended consequences for the ecosystem.
“Deer, rabbits, and even the insects supported by their activity play an important role in the balance of this landscape if their numbers are proportional to the ecosystem. By using the right shelters in the right areas, we can ensure the trees are established successfully while still working with the natural dynamics of the site.”
Jonathan Capener shared his thoughts on the project: “This work is helping to restore the woodland to how it may have looked in my grandfather’s time. It’s an important step in managing the land for the future.”
