Project Background
The Broughton Estate in Yorkshire had been grazed by sheep for many years, but with the owner deciding to rewild large parts of the estate — allowing deer, rabbits, and hares to move freely through newly planted woodland — the young trees would need robust individual protection from the outset.
Funding from the White Rose Forest Partnership was awarded to help deliver on the government’s objective of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, and to help slow rainfall run-off into rivers such as the Aire, which has in the past contributed to significant flooding in cities including Leeds and Bradford. Speed of tree establishment, as well as reliable protection from browsing animals, were therefore crucial factors for the project.
The Challenge
Much of the estate had been grazed by sheep for many years, and with the owner wanting to rewild large areas — allowing deer, rabbits, and hares to move freely amongst newly planted woodland — the saplings were in urgent need of secure protection from browsing.
The project faced an additional complication in the early part of 2021: final funding approval was only confirmed around Christmas 2020, leaving the main contract manager with the task of sourcing sufficient native broadleaf trees, contract labour, and tree shelters for the first phase of a four-year planting programme — at a time of scarce supply when most contracts for the season were already in place.
The Vigilis Solution
1.2m individual Vigilis tree shelters were identified as the right solution for the site. Unlike deer fencing, individual tree shelters allow animals to move freely within the plantation while still providing complete protection to each sapling — an important consideration given the rewilding aims of the estate. Individual tree shelters are also proven to encourage faster establishment and straight upward growth in young trees, which would help to accelerate the flood-mitigation benefits of the planting scheme.
The project was put out to tender with a number of UK tree shelter suppliers, including Vigilis. Price was an important factor, but the ability to supply the required materials on time was equally critical. Vigilis offered the most competitive price, and the shelters were noted as being strong, quick to install, with easy-to-operate zip ties and a muted green colour suited to a woodland setting.
As the manufacturer, Vigilis was able to prioritise production for the Broughton Estate during the busiest part of the planting season. The first full load of tree shelters and stakes arrived on site within two weeks of the order being placed, and the contract was completed over a seven-week period.
Outcome
Although exceptionally wet weather caused delays with ground preparation, the supply of tree shelters was never a problem throughout the contract. The planting programme was able to proceed without interruption, and the Vigilis shelters provided the reliable protection needed for the young trees to establish successfully in a rewilded landscape grazed by deer, rabbits, and hares.
The individual shelter approach also delivered on a secondary benefit: by allowing animals to move freely within the plantation rather than imposing a perimeter fence, the estate maintained the open character that was central to its rewilding objectives. Faster tree establishment means the flood-mitigation benefits of the scheme — helping to slow run-off into the Aire catchment — will be realised sooner.
- Scale
- 73,000 tree shelters with softwood stakes
- Product
- 1.2m Vigilis Tree Shelters with softwood stakes
- Location
- Broughton Estate, Yorkshire
- Funding
- White Rose Forest Partnership
