First - to the south as windbreak - I planted a row of cuttings from my Ballyvaughan Apple tree, they grow on their own rootstock. Then some Sweet Chestnuts got put in interspersed with Alder trees. Finally I sacrificed a round of barley straw as mulch, which the chickens had fun spreading. The mulch stayed in place despite high winds!
By 2017 the ground is covered in lush grasses and clover, more cobnuts have been planted, while the young sweet chestnut trees are struggling to outgrow the bracken. The Alder trees already have their heads well above them.
young sweet chestnut trees trying to outgrow the bracken
more Cob Nuts and Apple Trees planted autumn 2016
this apple tree is already bearing a lot of fruit in it's 3rd spring
Alders already making head way
some red cob nuts amongst the others
the bare field has turned into a lush meadow, our bees and bunnies love the clover