Tree guard trial at Farlington WTW

It’s estimated that over 200 million plastic tree guards were used across the UK between 1980-2020 and many of these will be left to break down in the environment.

At PW we have used plastic tree guards, the majority are removed once they have done their jobs and disposed of or reused on a different project.

We have this year started to use a cardboard alternative and are trialling how well they work to see if we can start to use them on all projects.

These guards do cost significantly more, however if they last the number of years we need them to do and give the same protection and microclimates of plastic ones then that cost is worth the reduction in plastic use.

Also a little extra something - Scarlet Elf Cup (Sarcoscypha austriaca)  have been found for the first time at our Itchen WTW SSSI. These amazing fungi are found in early winter to early spring and are widespread but uncommon in Britain. They grow on decaying branches in damp spots on the woodland floor. The cup shaped fungi (approx. 4cm in diameter) have a bright red smooth inner surface and a paler downy outer surface.

Tree guards at Farlington WTW

The new cardboard tree guard

Scarlet Elf cup at Itchen WTW