Two thousand tree-tubes have recently been recycled from Coed Dyfodol Sarnau, a Woodland Trust site north of Brecon in Wales.
A former ancient semi-natural woodland, the site had been planted in the past with conifers, which were then clear-felled in the late 1960s and 70s.
In 1999/2000, the Woodland Trust began to re-plant it with mixed broadleaves, including oak, alder, hazel, hawthorn, ash and rowan - and incorporating some open glades.
The new trees reached sufficient height in 2006 to have their tree-tubes removed. Therefore, in November of this year, a Trust’s contractor removed 2000 of them.
Gareth Davies from Old Chapel Tree Nursery, a local organisation based in Llanidloes, then picked up the tree-tubes. The company are using some of them directly and will donate the remainder to other worthwhile projects.
Meriel Robson, woodland officer in Wales says: ‘Not surprisingly, the Woodland Trust always tries to find alternative homes for its tree-guards after use. We’re really pleased that instead of going to landfill, we’ve been able recycle them again this time.’
In the last three months, the Woodland Trust has also managed to recycle 25,000 tubes from other sites in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire and is expecting to recycle another 50,000 in 2007.
Hannah Scrase, another of the Trust’s woodland officers says: ’If anyone would like to take some recycled tree-tubes then please just get in touch with your local woodland officer’.
