Little Cowbridge

Project Overview:

Little Cowbridge Wood is an in-house project creating over 22 acres of new woodland from existing pastureland in Essex. Over 22,000 native trees and shrubs were planted to create a new, multi-functional, broadleaf woodland which will provide a new biodiverse habitat that will capture approximately 3000 tonnes of C02 by year 50. This project will contribute to the government’s 25-year environment plan and to the UK’s fight against climate change. Ground Control is committed to Caring for our environment and have pledged to plant 1 million trees over the next 5 years. This project is the first step in this ambitious undertaking.

Scope of works: 

26 species of plants were used to ensure the woodland will be resilient to climate change and deliver the multiple benefits it is designed for.

Planting density was 2,500 stems per hectare with ten 30mx30m pure oak blocks  planted at 6,500 stems per hectare for quality hardwood timber production.

Most of the stock was planted with 1.2m tree shelters to protect against browsing and to further enhance the growing conditions. The remainder of the stock was protected by 60cm rabbit spirals.

Drainage was installed to 11 acres of the site to alleviate waterlogging and improve soil conditions to ensure successful establishment and development of the tree stock.

Added / social value: 

Ground Control has created a new multifunctional woodland that will deliver the following benefits: 

• Increasing biodiversity 
• Increasing ecological value 
• Carbon capture and storage 
• Improving water quality and catchment management 
• Improving landscape amenity value 
• Social and community benefits