Biomass Connect has now collated the June 2023 updates from our 8 Hub Sites.
The reports this month include an overview of progress to date at each site. The month of June saw continued dry conditions at all sites. Met Office records show that June 2023 was the hottest on record with an average mean temperature of 15.8ºC, This eclipsed the previous record by 0.9°C. It was also very dry with some areas of the country receiving just 6% of the expected rainfall for the month. Certain trial crops have therefore struggled to establish at some of the hub sites. Others such as the Poplar and Eucalyptus seem to be doing well in most areas. The Willow variety trials and Miscanthus trials have now been planted.
For ease of access here are links to the latest updates from each of the Hub Site from June 2023
Hub Site Updates June 2023
- AFBI Hillsborough
- BGI
- SRUC (Ayrshire)
- SRUC (Edinburgh)
- North Wyke
- IBERS
- NIAB Headley Hall
- Newcastle University
And here are a few photos from the sites in June:
-
- Young Badger enjoying the fresh grass outside Biomass Connect fenceline
-
- Miscanthus planting
-
- Black Locust (pseudo acacia) ‘Turbo’ pushing through the flint and clay with no rain for 50 days
-
- Tapes and ‘Rango’ canes used to mark out plots for planting
-
- SRC Willow emerging, however some gaps observed.
-
- Electric fence to deter Rabbit grazing on SRC Poplar
-
- Terravesta Miscanthus establishing well. Although some rabbit grazing has been observed
-
- Weeds around Black Locust tree need controlling (Note: Very dry, cracked ground)
-
- Ariel view of the North Wyke site
-
- SRF Eucalyptus demo plot establishing well despite the lack of rain.
-
- SRF Eucalyptus looked to be establishing well despite lack of rain
-
- SRC Willow emerging. Some gaps noted though.
-
- Some Black locust ‘Turbo’ doing well, others yet to emerge.
