City Centre Local Nature Reserve (LNR) – Veteran Willow Restoration
The aim of the project is to restore and undertake remedial works to 58 veteran willow trees across 8.7 hectares of floodplain grazing marsh and wood pasture at Sheep’s Green LNR. Detailed management plans were prepared for individual veteran trees to bring them back into a pollard cycle.
Pollarding is a method of regularly pruning trees or shrubs back to a trunk to form a head of branches. Pollarded trees often live longer and produce denser wood as they grow more slowly. Pollarded trees that are maintained may also help species diversity as more sunlight can reach the flora below.
Before: Out of pollard cycle veteran willows in danger of crown collapse and resulting tree decline.
After: New vigorous growth on pollarded veteran willows. Species diversity increased and trees become more resilient to disease.
| Dates | 2021- |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Area of habitat created or improved | 8.7 ha |
| Location | Sheep’s Green LNR |
Partners and Funders
Funded by: Cambridge City Council and Natural England’s Nature Recovery Programme.
