Train Hugger Planting Projects

Experimental Planting in Country Tyrone

Tree Planting

Experimental Planting in Country Tyrone

In this part of Northern Ireland, sitka spruce dominates as the main timber producing tree. This experimental project seeks to plant a diverse mix of different timber producing trees to see how they fair in current and future climates in Northern Ireland. This kind of experimental planting will help to inform the foresters of the future, helping them to keep a sustainable and local supply of timber. The trees that will be planted as part of this project have been specially selected to be resistant to deadly tree pests and diseases.

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This project is in partnership with:

Royal Forestry Society

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Listed below are some of the trees planting on this site

The grand fir is native to the north-west United States and south-west Canada, and the species was first introduced to Britain in the 19th century. Grand firs are seriously impressive trees; they are hardy and grow quickly, in many different types of soil. They can grow up to about 80m tall and live for around 250 years.

Grand Fir

The western red cedar’s strength is celebrated in Native American cultures, and it attracts and shelters many species of birds and insects. Its timber is extremely durable, making it a good source of building materials. If you take a bit of western red cedar foliage and crush it between your fingers, it gives off a sweet smell like pineapple.

Western Red Cedar

This large, deciduous conifer grows quickly and usually lives for around 250 years, although some European larches are said to be almost 1000 years old! Red squirrels and some birds, including the siskin, enjoy eating larch seeds. According to ancient European folklore, larch had the power to protect against enchantment and ward off evil spirits.

European Larch

This fast-growing evergreen conifer can live for as long as 1000 years and grows to a height of up to 40m. It has red-brown cones, which are the largest of any spruce tree. In 1848, Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert introduced the custom of decorating a Norway spruce for Christmas, and it has been a popular festive tree choice in the UK ever since.

Norway Spruce

Douglas fir was first introduced to the UK from North America in the 1800s. These fragrant evergreen members of the pine family can live for up to 1,000 years, but are often cut down for use as Christmas trees. Douglas fir timber has lots of commercial uses, including furniture, flooring and decking, for example.

Douglas Fir

This tree has drooping branches and dense foliage, which makes it difficult for other species of plants, or indeed wildlife, to thrive beneath it. The western hemlock has an important place in ancient American traditions, where it was associated with women and female warriors made headdresses from it. Queen Victoria was so fond of hemlock, she wanted it to be renamed in honour of her beloved husband, Prince Albert.

Western Hemlock

Other Train Hugger Projects

Continue reading more about our planting projects

Somerset Acorn Project

Replacing Non Native Tres in Lough Neagh

Pembrokeshire Cricket Bat Willow

Storm Recovery in Berwickshire 2

Storm Recovery in Berwickshire 1

Spruce Replacement in West Sussex

Trees not Brambles in Co.Tyrone

Linking Woodlands in County Antrim

County Antrim New and Old

Case Study: County Down 3

Replacing Non Native Trees in NI

South Tyrone planting for biodiversity

Experimental Planting in Country Tyrone

County Armagh: Different Growth Rates for Better Biodiversity

Case Study: County Down 2

Case Study: County Down 1

Devon Gum Trees

Case Study: Planting for Resilience in Buckinghamshire

Case Study: Conversion of Conifer Plantation to Mixed Broadleaves

Hampshire Mixed Woodlands

North Yorkshire Spruce

Case Study: Saving a Hampshire Woodland from Disease

Devon Beech Trees

West Sussex Broadleaf Trees

Norfolk Oaks

Case Study: Storm Resilience in Northumberland