Last week, a monitoring visit of the Nives plot in Vaux-sur-Sure (Belgium) was carried out. The entire site was assessed using 15 sample points to estimate the overall survival rate.

The plantation is in good overall condition, with a survival rate of 70% excluding natural regeneration, and 75% including natural regeneration. Some of the oaks show damage caused by game and drought, which has led to dieback in a number of cases. Encouragingly, the powdery mildew observed during the previous monitoring visit was no longer present .

Clearance work has been carried out along the planting lines to give the young oaks the best possible conditions to grow. Competing vegetation such as gorse and overly vigorous birch was removed, as these species grow faster than oak and can, without intervention, create strong competition for soil water (particularly on sloping ground) and light. Where natural regeneration of birch and rowan is not in direct competition with the oaks, it has been preserved, contributing to the biodiversity of the site.

More pictures can be found on the impact platform.