Cockle Park Farm Demonstrator Hub Update – September 2024

12 November 2024

Cockle Park Farm Site plan

Cockle Park Farm Site plan

September 2024 – Cockle Park Farm Demonstrator Hub Update

Progress at the Biomass Connect Demonstrator Hub at Cockle Park Farm in Newcastle has shown mixed results in plant health across various species. SRF Alder faces challenges with rust and insect damage, leaving some plants almost bare except for their midribs. Meanwhile, the SRF Black Locust ‘Turbo’ shows no disease but has minor vertebrate damage. In contrast, SRF Eucalyptus and Italian Poplar remain healthy and unaffected by pests or disease, with the Italian Poplar beginning to senesce naturally.

The site’s Miscanthus varieties, including both Giganteus and Athena, are growing vigorously and disease-free, and SRC Willow is also doing well, showing some senescence but without significant rust or damage. Other trial plantings, such as Sida, Reed Canary Grass, and Switchgrass, remain healthy overall with only slight yellowing in the Reed Canary Grass. Grass aisles and fencing have been well-maintained, with regular mowing and glyphosate spraying around the fences to manage weed growth.

Crop Diaries

Click on the titles below to find out how each of the crops at Cockle Park Farm are progressing.

Alder

  • All of the SRF Alder plants are diseased, showing signs of rust.
  • All leaves are damaged by insects.
  • Some plants only have the midrib remaining.
  • Some caterpillars have been found.

Black Locust

  • No diseases has been found on the  SRF black locust ‘Turbo’ plot is not looking too good but some hare damage and insect damage has been observed.
  • Vertebrate damage has been found in some plants.

Eucalyptus

  • The SRF Eucalyptus are healthy and no diseased plants have been found.
  • There is no vertebrate damage.
  • There is no invertebrate damage.

Poplar

  • The SRF poplar plants are growing well and looking healthy. There is no disease or insect damage and no vertebrate damage either. Some of the plants are starting to senesce
  • The SRC poplar plants are doing great. There is no disease or insect damage and no vertebrate damage either.
  • SRF Italian Poplar is growing well. There is no disease or insect damage and no vertebrate damage either. The mower has been used to control weeds since planting.

Miscanthus

  • The 0.5 ha Miscanthus giganteus plants are still green and healthy. No disease has been found. No vertebrate damage has been found. No insect damage has been found
  • The Miscanthus Athena™ are growing well. There are no disease or insect issues. There is no hare damage.

Willow

  • The 0.5 ha SRC willow trees are starting to senesce.
  • Some plants have ghosting.
  • No rust has been found.
  • No hare damage.

Sida

  • The Sida are growing well.
  • Some plants are dead.
  • There is no hare damage.
  • No disease issues have been found

Reed Canary Grass

  • The reed canary grass is healthy, but they are a bit yellow.
  • There is no hare damage.
  • No disease has been found.

Switchgrass

  • The switchgrass are still in the field, and they look healthy.
  • There is o hare damage.
  • No disease damage has been found.

Plans and Actions

  • The grass aisle look healthy.
  • Electric fence lines are being monitored regularly.
  • The Inside and outside of the fence have been regularly sprayed with glyphosate.

Back to latest news

Latest News

Archived news