Collecting Blackthorns

 

Collecting Blackthorns in the Dart Valley

Today I am looking over the reforesting areas around the edge of the moor, for Blackthorns, to thicken up the hedges I am planting at the moment.

As Blackthorns grow, they send out long underground rhizomes, from which new trees, in the form of suckers grow around the basses of the parent plants.

This natural form of vegetative propagation, provides me with many little trees to dig up, without diminishing the local population.  As is it always my code of practise to only ever take baby trees, which I feel have 0% chance of reaching maturity, in their current location.

Digging Blackthorns up

Most baby blackthorns are suckers, from a mother plant.  Occasionally  I find seed grown ones, but usually not.  The thing to be most aware of is the Rhizomes;  These under ground propagational roots, seem to grow in virtually straight lines, radiating out from the mother plants, a few inches under the soil surface.
At intervals along these Rhizomes, of a foot (30cm), or so; sprout young Blackthorn trees.  This gives me an idea where the rhizomes are, also gently tugging the young trees can show quite clearly their position.  This then tells me where to cut, with the spade, in order to get the most root possible, with each little tree, that I take.

I cut cleanly round each tree and make sure that the rhizome is cut both sides, then I gently pull up the root ball, shake off the soil and place them in a plastic sack containing some damp leaves or moss, to stop the roots from drying out.

How Blackthorns transform Grassland into Woodland

An army of invading suckers

Blackthorns, which are a thorny member of the Cherry family (prunus); if present, are highly effective at transforming grassland into woods.

As demonstrated here, by the first two photos.

Each Blackthorn sends out underground rhizomes, which sprout new trees up as little suckers, at intervals, and in all directions, from the patent plant.  These quickly grow and form expanding, prickly clumps. Creating food and safe nesting sites for birds, as well as catering to the needs of many other creatures, big and small.

Protected from large grazing herbivores; little Oaks and Birch trees seed and grow unhindered, under the tangled mass of prickles, provided by the Blackthorns.  These soon become bigger and displace them, forming the early stages of mature woodland.

Sprouting Acorns

The Acorns, which I and some friends collected in October, and which have just been sat outside, upon some wet earth, in these pots since then; have begin to sprout.  Meaning; that its about time I got round to planting them soon.

Sprouting Acorns from the forest floor

On location in the Teign(teen) gorge

A little bit of digging in the leaf mould on the forest floor is enough to find many sprouted Acorns.

These are much more advanced than the ones that I have in the plant pots in my garden. Not sure why though, could be any number of reasons.  Probably because these are at a lower altitude and covered with damp rotting leaves.

Oak are one of a few trees, where the tree can be sowed from seed, directly into short grass, because the first sprout, is tall enough to reach up and get enough light to grow.

Under Cover Tree Collector

Discretion and need to know basis
Whilst I tend not to make too much of a secret about what I do; I do when I'm doing it.  It is always better to be safe than sorry & having someone moaning at me about what I am doing, when I'm busy; is far from helpful.



Today I am collecting mostly Oak, Birch and Hazel, from one of my favourite sites near Okehampton.  Also diversity enhancing things like Dog roses, Spindle and Honeysuckle, enriching my woods with as many native plants, that will tolerate the harsh condition up on Dartmoor.

Local as Possible
In every valley or area; each species varies slightly.  I get over 95% of my trees from less than 25 miles from where they are to be planted.  I want a good mixture of healthy local stock, which is attuned to the wildlife in this area.

It concerns me, that garden centres sell wild trees grown on mass, from just a few small areas, to stock the whole country with new woodland.  People really don't seem to consider the effects of things like this, but it seems to me that Homogenisation is bad and leads to a lack of diversity and a weakening of genetic and local variation.

Digging up a Tree Demonstration
I'll end this post, with a short demonstration of the best way to dig up a young tree:

1. Cut the spade straight down and not at an angle. We don't want to be severing tap roots or anything.
2. Do this right around the tree, in a full circle.
3. Gently lift up the Tree, with root ball.
4. Gently shake off the soil.
5. Place the Trees in a plastic bag, with wet leaves, to stop the roots from drying out.

Scrumping Apples

Allot of Apples always go to waste up here.  For years it was in a wild garden, to some barely used chalet type property.

Now it's a designated building plot.

The only practical way up to there is up this lamppost, much easier than it looks, all the kids in our street, could climb up this lamppost.

So many Apples just dropping off the trees, such a waste.

I picked about fifty nice ones off the tree and threw them down to my accomplice, who preferred not to be mentioned on here (the photographer). 

It is always sad to see food going to waste.
I hope these Apple Trees survive the new houses being built on the site, but even if they do; I doubt I will be able to climb up there, when they are in the tiny squashy little gardens of some gruesome new development.

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Sorting Small Trees

These trees are going to be planted at night, so I don't want to be holding each individual tree up against the moonlight, to determine the species, so I tend to sort them into bags of type before hand, to make my mission faster and easier.  The only kind of light I ever take with me is my mobile phone and a cigarette lighter.  I do not possess a torch.

Plastic bags, in this case bin bags are very good at preventing moisture loss.   Keeping the roots from drying out is crucial for the trees' survival.

Often I throw in some wet leaves as well.

Once the trees are all sorted out and bagged up; I carry them off, sometimes miles, to where they will be planted and either plant them there and then, or stash them for another day. 

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