Since 1980 there has been a significant increase in the total area of woodland in the UK with a large part of this increase found on farmland. This guide details some of the key aspects of the planting process that should be addressed before planting begins.

Trees for woodland planting are normally supplied between 30 and 60 cm in height at about two years old. Typically these are bought from a nursery in bundles of 25 or 50 during the winter months when the plant is dormant. Plants are normally supplied having been previously undercut or transplanted. Undercutting is a process where the roots of the seedling are cut at the end of the first year. Transplanting is similar but where the seedling is replanted in the nursery. Both systems encourage the production of fibrous roots that reduce planting losses when the young tree is planted in the new wood.

Most woodland planting is still done by hand utilising a planting spade. This is a robust tool designed to create a "notch" or narrow slot deep into the ground into which the tree roots are placed. The notch is then "heeled" in so that the soil firmly closes around the roots of the young tree. Some mechanical systems now exist that create a slot, although the tree is still placed by hand.

Young trees are particularly vulnerable to pest damage in the early years of the woodland. Protection is essential and this can either be through perimeter fencing or through the protection of individual trees. Generally it will be more economical to fence an area that exceeds one hectare, whereas individual protection will be cheaper for smaller blocks.

When planting it is important to ensure an appropriate spacing between trees. Recent fashion, supported by a poor grant system has encouraged the wide spacing of trees at 3 metres to reduce costs. This is false economy. Widely spaced trees grow outwards and not upwards and take many years to create a canopy (the first step towards the woodland environment). They also suffer poor form and additional weed burden. By contrast trees planted at close spacing form a canopy within a few years and in creating a woodland environment grow more quickly and with better form. The image illustrates trees seven years after planting spaced at 2 metres.

Perimeter fencing providing effective protection from deer, hares and rabbits. Whilst fencing like this is common around many new woodlands it may not provide complete protection. Voles can still damage young trees and later in life squirrels can ruin a new woodland. Effective protection of the new wood from pest damage may also require habitat management.

Protecting young trees with treeshelters is a slow task but shelters can provide advantages over perimeter protection, namely:

• the creation of a helpful microclimate around the tree that encourages early growth and reduces the risk of failure
• quick identification of the tree's location
• the ability to safely apply herbicides around the tree

Successful weed control around young trees can dramatically enhance growth rates. Without control 60cm transplants may be no more than 100cm tall after five years whereas, with control the same tansplants could have reached 300cm in height. Weed control can be achieved by applying herbicides or by mulching around the tree (usually with a plastic mat or woodchips) although mulching is rarely viable on a larger scale.

A more recent development for establishing new woodland has been through the use of sowing tree seeds. These are broadcast onto an area and then lightly incorporated into the soil. High seed rates are used and in the initial years herbicide can be applied from a crop sprayer. The advantage of this system is that it treats the trees as a crop and reduces labour input - although at some point a significant amount of thinning will be required.

After planting, additional maintenance will be required for beating up. Beating up is the process of replacing failed trees so that the planting density can be maintained. This will occur only for the first two years after which failures are unlikely. Ride management and maintenace will be important from the start and a well maintained ride network through the wood will provide access for management as well as for amenity and wildlife gain.

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