Hub Site Update – Newcastle University Cockle Park Farm – September 2023

September 2023 – Hub Site Update

The following crop observations were made on a site visit on 27th September 2023

Demo plot SRF

• Alder growth is OK – the plants have emerged from tree guards.
• The Black Locust ‘Turbo’ is doing OK and has recovered from early brown hare grazing.
•  The Black Locust ‘Turbo Obelisk’ has not established well. Brown hares hit the plants hard early on before the fence was erected and only a few small plants remain. We may consider replanting this area.

SRF Poplar

• The SRF Poplar is growing OK.
• There are some low-level weeds, but no need to control them until next years growing season.

SRF Poplar

SRF Eucalyptus

• The SRF Eucalyptus is growing OK.
• There are some low-level weeds, but no need to control them until next years growing season.

Eucalyptus

SRC Poplar

• The SRC Poplar plants have established well. Growth is OK and maybe better than the SRF culture.

SRC poplar

SRC Willow

• Weed control in this plot is very good in the SRC Willow plot.
• Very poor willow growth.
• There are some large gaps. Some are caused by cuttings not taking and some due to cuttings that were not planted in specific areas.
• The plot will need gapping up.

Miscanthus Giganteus

• The Miscanthus Giganteus is growing well.
• There is one gappy area which is due to a planter miss. The area is approx. 3m (the width of the planter) x 109 m long. It has been agreed that the team should visit and replant this area by hand next spring.
• The plot would have benefited from post-emergence spray.

Miscanthus Giganteus

Miscanthus Athena

• Miscanthus Athena establishment is poor, but not as bad as anticipated. A plant count will be made.
• It is unlikely that spraying and ploughing will be conducted due to wet weather.
• The plant count will dictate if this should be grubbed up or not.

Miscanthus Athena

Grasses Demo plot

• Reed Canary Grass was not planted this autumn and conditions are now unlikely to be dry enough.
• The site is weed free and sat in furrows.

Demo plots area

General

• The grass aisles have been sown and are looking good.

Grass aisles

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