February 2024 – AFBI, Hillsborough Demonstrator Hub Update
Hillsborough Site Plan
Generally across the AFBI site things have been looking healthy whilst dormant over the winter. Some things are showing really good growth and now that Spring is approaching there are signs of life everywhere.
The site is still very wet, and the land cannot be accessed by machinery until a significant drying period.
Crop Diaries
Click on the titles below to find out how each of the crops are progressing.
Alder
Alders for gapping up were deliver in 25th January.
The plot was gapped up on 31st January and 4 new Alders were planted into gaps.
The plants look good with no disease or frost issues and no sign of bud burst yet.
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- Alder
Black Locust
The SRF Black Locust ‘Turbo was plugged up around the base to stop the wind induced well at the base of the plant, to give more support and reduce potential frost/ice damage. The plants look good if a little wind-swept here and there. There are no disease or frost issues and no sign of bud burst.
The SRF Black Locust ‘Turbo Obelisk’ is very much dormant and due to be re-planted.
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- Black Locust ‘Turbo’
Eucalyptus
- Exceptional growth has been observed in E. dalrympleana and some of the E. nitens. Some of these small plants grew well even over the holiday period.
- There was a need for counting a few more lost due to the frost and some were in need of some attention, regarding the canes and guards.
- Tree guards are now secure.
- Weeding has occurred around the plants.
- The plants look healthy and are growing away.
- There is no significant signs of frost damage.
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- Eucalyptus
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- Eucalyptus
Poplar
- The SRF Poplar plants looks healthy. There is no signs of bud burst yet.
- The SRC Poplar plants are 1.5 – 2 m tall. A few plants have lodged and the plot has been neatly mown.
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- SRC Poplar
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- SRC Poplar
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- SRC Poplar Thistle
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- SRC Poplar
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- SRF Poplar
Miscanthus
- There are no issues in either of the Miscanthus plots (Miscanthus Giganteus or Miscanthus Athena) and the Miscanthus variety trial plot is all good too.
- All plants have fully senesced.
- There are weed issues, just some grass in the understory.
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- M. Athena
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- M. Athena
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- Misc var trial 2023
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- Misc var trial 2023
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- Misc var trial 2024
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- Misc var trial 2024
Delays with the supply of mustard seed means the drilled seed has not germinated in the 2024 Miscanthus variety trial plot. However, there are no serous perennial weeds in the area just a low level of annual meadow grass and chickweed.
Willow
The SRC Willow plot is neatly mown, the weeds are under control but a very small number of plants have been clipped by the mower. The plants are 3 – 3.5 m tall and many of them are flowering (catkins visible).
The SRC variety trial was harvested the week commencing 19th February. The plants were between 0.5m and 3 m tall and there was an early bud burst on some varieties. Catkins were also present on some varieties. The grass is neatly mown.
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- SRC Willow
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- SRC Willow variety trial
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- SRC Willow variety trial`
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- SRC Willow variety trial thistle
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- SRC Willow variety trial
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- SRC Willow variety trial
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- SRC Willow variety trial
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- SRC Willow
Sida
The Sida is not well established and the plot is quite weedy.
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- Sida
Reed Canary Grass
The Reed Canary Grass area has been ploughed and some weeds have emerged.
Switchgrass
The Switchgrass area has been ploughed and some weeds have emerged.
Plans and Actions
- The site is very wet, and the land cannot be accessed by machinery until a significant drying period.
- Demo days are planned for 18/19 June 2024.
- No vertebrate grazing issues in any areas across the site.
Gallery
