Ille-et-Vilaine department of France, May 2021
Planting on Loïc and Jean-Philippe’s farm took place in February 2020. The aim was to divide up the plots of pasture and establish breeding rotation on the segments. This approach will respect the development stages of the plants and allow them to grow back as quickly and abundantly as possible, without drawing on their reserves.
In total, 269 trees of 11 different species were planted: various oaks (turkey, pubescent, sessile, and holy) as well as whitebeam, mulberry, lime, sorb and alder trees.
Since planting, mulching, and installing electric protective fencing, dairy cows now graze the plots based on the dynamic rotation model in order to optimise pasture regrowth.
After a year, the plantation has a survival rate of 95%. Mortality is largely due to heatwaves in the summer of 2020 and poor adaptation by the pubescent oaks. For this species, the saplings purchased were larger than expected and the roots damaged during planting. Regrowth of the plants proved trickier and the trees were more vulnerable to climate hazards. New trees were planted during the winter of 2020-2021 to replace the young ones with stunted growth.
The rest of the plants are growing and developing well. After ten years, when the trees are fully developed, they will provide shade for animals, shelter for wildlife, protect the pasture from extreme heat, plus the landscape will be transformed.
Until then, monitoring will be carried out every year for the next three years; this three-year period is the most difficult and determines the survival and healthy growth of trees.
Loïc and Jean-Philippe have now fully switched to organic farming. They are exploring new projects and, why not, the possibility of introducing more plantations in the coming years? In any case, this first experience has completely won the pair over, convincing them of the need for trees on their farm! They are both actively involved in Agir pour le climat (‘Act for the climate’), a farmers’ focus group that encourages sustainable initiatives for the benefit of all – the farming community and wider society.
