Hartpury University and Hartpury College are proud to announce their involvement with the Severn Treescapes project, an initiative led by the wildlife trusts of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. As part of the project, students and staff will plant a total of 5000 hedge plants and five hectares of trees in key areas of Hartpury farmland over the next year.
The Severn Treescapes project at Hartpury is being supported by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT) with funding from Gloucestershire County Council’s Woodland Trusts Emergency Tree Fund. The aim of the initiative is to demonstrate that increasing woodland connectivity at a regional scale, whether through woodlands, hedgerows, orchards, agroforestry and other tree systems, can work successfully alongside productive agricultural systems.
Working together, landowners and environmentalists can enhance wildlife habitats, improve shade and shelter and increase biodiversity as a demonstration for other landowners.
In addition, Hartpury will support landowner engagement and education at its Agri-Tech Centre and Home Farm, showcasing the benefits of such partnerships for others in the agricultural sector.
Jackie Jobes, Sustainability Director at Hartpury said: “We’re thrilled to be part of this transformative Severn Treescapes project, which aligns closely with our commitment to environmental stewardship. By playing a pivotal role in this initiative, Hartpury aspires to make a demonstrable impact on the local ecosystem, fostering greater biodiversity and cultivating a more resilient and sustainable natural environment for generations to come.”
The tree planting will largely be carried out by Hartpury College students as part of their estate skills training, alongside campus staff and students from a range of other college and university courses. These kinds of activities are an integral part of the teaching experience at Hartpury, utilising the 380-hectare campus, 11 commercial businesses and extensive industry partnerships to bring learning to life and maintain high graduate employability rates (97% for both college and university students*).
Professor Matt Bell, Director of Agriculture at Hartpury said: “Projects like these are very important to foster greater collaboration between local authorities, wildlife organisations, farmers and landowners. Through our Agri-Tech Centre and industry networks, we can help to communicate the many benefits of projects like these and hopefully encourage more landowners to follow suit.
“This initiative also provides a great opportunity for our students, who will be involved with the planting of the hedgerows and hedgerow trees as part of their studies, gaining valuable first-hand experience of a real-world industry partnership.”
The following areas of Hartpury farmland will see hedgerow planting:
Bund surrounding dairy unit – 0.5 hectares of dense deciduous woodland in addition to 155 metres of hedgerow on the northside and 175 metres hedgerow to the west of the Livestock Handling Unit.
Cottage bank next to the dairy unit – 2.1 hectares of parkland tree species, planted as an apple, pear and plum tree orchard that will benefit pollinators and contain a variety of species native to Gloucestershire. In addition, 120 metres of hedgerow on the westside will provide additional shade and shelter on livestock grazing land.
Dandies field – 0.25 hectares of dense deciduous woodland will fill a corner of the field and provide additional wildlife habitat.
Little Lincroft – 100 metres of new hedgerow with hedgerow trees will extend the existing hedgeline and provide additional shelter.
Carters field – 783 metres of hedgerow and deciduous trees along the old cow track will provide a shade and shelter belt on track.
Barters Hill – 3 hectares of parkland trees in the hay meadow area will provide winter grazing shelter and enhance the general look of an area mostly used for the annual NAF Five Star International Hartpury Horse Trials.
*97% of Hartpury University graduates are in employment, further study or other purposeful activity (Graduate Outcomes 2023). 97% of Hartpury College students progressing into employment, university or further study (Hartpury 2023).
