WHY WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT:

• Following on from the incredible support of our initial Sponsor a Stake campaign our boundary fenceline is now secure – thanks to all 71 of you who donated!
• We are now looking to re-route & repair old internal deer fencing within the site to protect a new mixed species woodland focused on natural regenerated trees, high quality timber, nut & fruit crops.  These will replace an existing monoculture conifer plantation.
• Currently we have 20 acres of the site deer fenced & the natural regeneration within the fence line over the last 20 years has been extraordinary, particularly in the last 2/3 years since we have pushed to remove Rhododendron ponticum in this part of the site.
• We plan to utilise part of the old plantation forestry fenceline as much as possible but need to double its height to make deer proof which is no small undertaking – 600 metres of additional fencing will be required with an estimated 100 x 8ft tall fencing stakes needed.
• This new deer fencing will almost double the amount of woodland protected to 38 acres & will also involve removing hazardous old sections of fencing that we have had deer & livestock get caught in.

BY SPONSORING A STAKE:

• You are helping to protect & restore woodland on almost 40 acres of Esk Mountain.
• Supporting sustainable woodland management & timber craft. Our deer fencing stakes are made on site using larch thinnings from trees felled to bring more light & life into our mixed species woodland. The timber is de-barked by hand, cut into shape & then the stake point flame treated to prevent rot without the use of chemicals.
• We are also removing unnecessary sections of fenceline as we go, which in turn will allow better connectivity across the site for recreation, education & ecological monitoring.