Island Life Magazine Ltd June/July 2006 | Page 44

Countryside Contributor Tony Ridd The Farmed Landscape Individual Trees One of the many pleasures my job brings, is that I get to see my work grow and change the landscape on the Island. This year alone we have planted thousands of metres of hedgerows and tens of thousands of trees to create new woodlands and copses. I feel that people who plant trees have foresight. They will get pleasure from them, but just as importantly, they are ADBW_27 M Legge 136x97 leaving a legacy for an infinite amount of other people to enjoy. What I particularly like seeing are individual field grown and hedgerow trees, showing their true character. They may be oaks of only 120-150 years old, still in their teenage years in comparison to us. But with their open grown branches reaching out many metres, they are not only improving the aesthetics 22/5/06 2:23 pm Page 1 For a more personal approach to insurance, pensions & Investments To find out more call Matt Legge on 522290 Visit NFU Mutual Office, Gunville Road, Carisbrooke PO30 5FP NFU Mutual is The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Ltd (No. 111982). Registered in England. Registered Office: Tiddington Road, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7BJ. It’s an NFU Mutual understanding 44 of the countryside, they also provide shelter from the elements for livestock and lookout posts for hunting barn owls and other birds of prey. Unlike hedgerow trees, field grown trees have been a declining pleasure with modern and aggressive farming methods causing many to be fatally damaged and then dying b