Woodland Cover Shrubs for food & cover

[webber]

The small shoot that I am now involved with has benefited from some woodland fencing to prevent stock grazing the woods. Longer term this will assist the shoot to hold more birds as ground cover will be able to generate. Shrub planting is being considered to increase both cover and additional food for the pheasants; bramble will obviously be encouraged; we are keen to ensure that we use only native British species, and so snow berry and pheasant berry etc. are ruled out, but we would like avoid as far as practical utilising Blackthorn as we have a limited budget for plasters to stick the beaters back together with.

 

I've been doing a little research this morning, and have come across the Wayfarer Tree which looks interesting. However, a Wikipedia search shows that the fruit are toxic. Presumably this is toxic to humans. I wondered if any PW gamekeeper member could advise on their knowledge on Wayfarer Tree on their shoots, palatability to pheasants?

 

I guess that other shoots have also considered planting only native British shrubs. I would be interested to learn what shrubs that others have gone before us have selected, and the end results achieved.

 

webber

[gamekeeper1960]

The small shoot that I am now involved with has benefited from some woodland fencing to prevent stock grazing the woods. Longer term this will assist the shoot to hold more birds as ground cover will be able to generate. Shrub planting is being considered to increase both cover and additional food for the pheasants; bramble will obviously be encouraged; we are keen to ensure that we use only native British species, and so snow berry and pheasant berry etc. are ruled out, but we would like avoid as far as practical utilising Blackthorn as we have a limited budget for plasters to stick the beaters back together with.

 

I've been doing a little research this morning, and have come across the Wayfarer Tree which looks interesting. However, a Wikipedia search shows that the fruit are toxic. Presumably this is toxic to humans. I wondered if any PW gamekeeper member could advise on their knowledge on Wayfarer Tree on their shoots, palatability to pheasants?

 

I guess that other shoots have also considered planting only native British shrubs. I would be interested to learn what shrubs that others have gone before us have selected, and the end results achieved.

 

webber

Hi webber,you can try these wild privet (ligustrum vulare) and of cause hawthrorn and elder, and you both of these make great hedges as well. Dave.

[Paul223]

Just the right time of year for bare root hawthorn saps can be cut back hard or even laid to give good ground cover

 

Holly?

Mountain ash if you have open spaces?

[Ferretboy111]

Have done alot of research on this subject for my own shoot. Planted lots of:

 

Spindle

Dogwood

Guelder Rose

Hazel

Rowan

 

For the purpose of helping game. I couldn't find a shrub similar to snowberry/ shrub honeysuckle or laurel that was native. The non natives are miles better than natives for holding birds but the above after a few years will be good.

 

I wrote a 8,000 word conservation management proposal for my shoot so feel free to ask more questions.

 

Cheers

Alex

[mark g]

the perfect woodland for holding pheasants would have to be a mix of larch and christmas trees, under planted with rhododendron and laurel and surrounded on the windy sides with leylandii, not native but nice and warm

[englishman-in-wales]

I'm assumimg you are refering to Viburnum lantana?...this is a native species and is enjoyed by many animal species including, blackbirds, Fieldfares and Waxwings (what few are left) to name a few, the berries are actually not poisonous, however can give you an upset stomach.

 

Within the woodland edge zone, pheasants look primarily for shrubby cover. As

ground-dwelling birds, they require shelter and protection from predators. This is

provided by patches of thick cover from ground level to head height and a few larger

shrubs or low trees for roosting at night. Evergreens such as holly, yew and conifers make

good roost trees and are often planted for this reason.

 

Other Native species to consider:

 

Hawthorn

Dogwood

Native Privet

Bramble

Hazel

Box

Holly

 

Cheers. Rich

[webber]

Gentlemen, thankyou; You've confirmed much of what I had in mind, and added a few others that I wouldn't have thought of. I'll pass the information on, and trust that it will be put to good use.

 

webber

[scolopax]

Bramble, bramble and bramble. Ours is so thick we have to cut rides through it. Deer love it aswell.

[Taffyshooter]

I had a block of Larch forestry on my permission that was cleared a few years ago and was then allowed to naturally regenerate with native shrubs/trees. I have to say it has proved an outstanding success in terms of providing cover for increased pheasant brood survival and I've also seen an increase in woodcock using it in winter which is rather pleassing to say the least:)

Edited December 20, 2011 by Taffyshooter