Returned mid-week to complete the final pieces of work in creating this new habitat. Another restoration job done! Just thought I would explain in a bit more detail what we're trying to do ...
Sallow or Goat Willow (Salix caprea) is the foodstuff for caterpillars of a number of moths, including the sallow kitten and sallow clearwing, but what interests us most is that it is the main food plant for the purple emperor butterfly. The area we are working in has many sallows, but they were all overcrowded by birch and growing very tall and thin. Unable to support themselves they then toppled over and were eaten by the deer.
Following advice on managing sallows we removed the birch to let light in to promote new growth, and then pollarded the sallows to about six feet. This should make them stronger and keep new growth out of deer range. All the brash has now been arranged around the pollarded stems to protect from deer depredation.
We have been careful to ensure that the sallows are still shaded from the south and west, as it appears that the Purple Emperor prefers shaded Goat Willow leaves with mid-green, soft, matt (upper surface) leaves. A few taller birch and a mature alder have been left to provide partial shade. We'll keep an eye on light levels during the summer.
Come the Spring we're looking forward to seeing the the new willow shoots.
Sallow or Goat Willow (Salix caprea) is the foodstuff for caterpillars of a number of moths, including the sallow kitten and sallow clearwing, but what interests us most is that it is the main food plant for the purple emperor butterfly. The area we are working in has many sallows, but they were all overcrowded by birch and growing very tall and thin. Unable to support themselves they then toppled over and were eaten by the deer.
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| Straggly willow growth is lopped off ... |
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| ... and turned into pollard protectors |
We have been careful to ensure that the sallows are still shaded from the south and west, as it appears that the Purple Emperor prefers shaded Goat Willow leaves with mid-green, soft, matt (upper surface) leaves. A few taller birch and a mature alder have been left to provide partial shade. We'll keep an eye on light levels during the summer.
Come the Spring we're looking forward to seeing the the new willow shoots.
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