Background & challenges
This project aims to plant hedgerows, which are part of the typical landscape of the Normandy region. That is why it is focused on planting 14,000 hedgerow trees, in an area with diverse landscape: hedgerows and semi-hedgerows.
The project is designed on a one-to-one basis with each farmer to ensure overall understanding of the his or her needs and expectations. The species are selected together and take into account adaptation to climate change (e.g., the pedunculate oak is replaced by sessile oak) and diseases prevalent in the region (e.g., ash chalarose is why ash trees are missing).
The hedges are installed on three strata (three different tree heights).
The project starts in 2020, with a first wave of planting of 10,500 hedgerow trees by 35 different farmers. 15 species, were selected for this first wave.
The project continues in 2021 with a second wave of 3,500 hedgerow trees planted by 11 farmers. 17 species have been selected.
By planting these 14,000 trees it will be possible to tackle various environmental issues, namely:
- preservation of biodiversity: planting these trees will provide sources of shelter and food for a rich and diverse fauna, as well as valuable support for local flora. The planted hedges will contribute towards boosting green areas and thus facilitate the movement of fauna on the territory;
- water catchment: the roots of the hedgerows help capture nutrients and water in the different soils;
- soil protection: hedges, with their windbreak effect, limit soil particles from transferring to crop fields;
- carbon capture: energy wood used by cutting certain tree branches allows the use of a carbon-neutral energy source (through regrowth of the branches following their exploitation). Moreover, according to a study*, 1km of hedging stores the equivalent of 4.58 tonnes of CO2/year, i.e. 4.9kg of CO2 per perennial tree per year.
*Gac et al 2010 according Arrouays and al 2002, Soussana and al 2010.
Project type
Agroforestry
Beneficiaries
1st planting wave in 2020:
The project is carried out with 35 farmers.
2nd planting wave in 2021:
The project is carried out by 11 different farmers.
Also, all the inhabitants of the region will benefit from the project through restoration of the Norman bocage (mixed woodland and pasture) in this area.
Number of trees
14,981 trees planted, of which 14,000 are expected to remain over time.
Species planted
21 different species at three different levels (strata)
Partner
Bois Négoce Energie
1st planting wave in 2020:
High sized trees: sessile oak, big-leaved lime, pedunculate oak,
Medium sized trees: Country maple, small leaf linden, myrobolan plum, laburnum, glutinous alder, chestnut, flat maple,
Shrubs: hornbeam, hazelnut, blood dogwood, male dogwood, lantana vine.
2nd planting wave in 2021
High sized trees: sessile oak, large-leaved linden, wart birch,
Medium sized trees: Country maple, small leaf linden, myrobolan plum, chestnut, plane maple, medlar,
Shrubs: hornbeam, hazelnut, blood dogwood, lantana vine, European charcoal, hawthorn, spiny hawthorn, burdock.
Works timeline
1st planting wave in 2020:
- March to May 2020: preparation of the grounds, laying of mulch, planting, installing deer and rabbit barriers;
- June to July 2020: 1st round of maintenance work
Calendar for the following years:
- February 2021 / February 2022: pruning and replenishment
- June to July 2021 / June to July 2022: 2nd then 3rd interview
2nd planting wave in 2021:
- March to May 2021: preparation of the grounds, laying of mulch, planting, installing deer and rabbit barriers;
- June to July 2021: 1st round of maintenance work
Calendar for the following years:
- February 2022 / February 2023: pruning and replenishment
- June to July 2022 / June to July 2023: 2nd then 3rd interview
Planting partner
Bois Négoce Energie is an SME specialising in two business activities: the production and trading of wood waste and recycled wood; purchasing, exploiting and marketing standing and roadside timber.
In addition to traditional recovery sectors, BNE offers its forestry and farming customers a wood energy solution. This allows them to recover low-value wood, without other outlets.
In parallel to forestry exploitation, BNE has diversified into valorising timber from hedgerows. The objective is to offer farmers a outlet for hedge wood by exploiting the linear by replanting.
Concerned about the perpetuation of the resource, BNE also offers a planting service for hedging and abandoned agricultural hedges. Similar to the approach for its exploitation sites, within this framework BNE proposes the intervention of a service provider, partner, specialized in the field of intervention.
Budget
1st planting wave in 2020:
The total funds to be raised amount to €84,000. The price for planting a lasting tree is €8 and breaks down as follows:
- installation work 2020 (preparation, planting, protection): €5.46
- 1st interview: €0.32
- 2nd and 3rd interview: €0.64
- A Tree For You (19.75%) collection, monitoring and communication costs: €1.58
The project is co-financed by the farmers for a total of €22,470 excluding VAT and Orne Departmental Council for a total of €39,322 excl. VAT.
2nd planting wave in 2021:
The total funds to be raised amount to €84,000. The price for planting a lasting tree is €8 and breaks down as follows:
- 95% allocated to the planting project, broken down as follows: :
- installation work 2020 (preparation, planting, protection): €5.46
- 1st interview: €0.32
- 2nd and 3rd interview: €0.64
- A Tree For You (14.75%) collection, monitoring and communication costs: €1.18
- and 5% (€0.40) to support the structural costs of A Tree for You.
The project is co-financed by the farmers for a total 28% and Orne Departmental Council for a total of 40%.
