The Pontbren Tree Nursery

 

The ideas developed by the group planned for an expansion in tree cover on the farms. The initial plans included over 40 hectares of new woodland and 30km of hedgerow restoration: it was decided to establish a small nursery.Pontbren tree nursery: Copyright Pontbren Group 2007

 

This was partly to reduce costs but also following problems with imported stock which was obviously unsuitable for wild Welsh hillsides.

One member volunteered and has achieved notable success in the first three years, collecting seed from around the farms and producing some excellent planting stock.



Young saplings at Pontbren tree nursery: copyright Pontbren Group 2007 Sapling selection at Pontbren tree nursery: copyright Pontbren Group 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It will be a while before the group is even self sufficient but there have already been a number of enquiries from potential customers outside the group. Initially a commercial peat-based compost was purchased for use in the nursery but a small trial established that composted farm yard manure based on woodchip was equally good with species like birch and alder and noticeably better with species like ash and sycamore. All production has now shifted to home-produced compost.