We provide affordable milling services
Sheet mulcher
New Woods Forestry’s sheet mulching system has been in operation since May 2001.The tractor-drawn system lays 0.95 metre wide compostable sheeting simultaneously topped with a layer of mulch in a continuous strip.The combined function of the sheeting and mulch is to:
- Significantly improve establishment rates
- Greatly reduce competition from weeds
- Retain moisture
- Control soil temperature
- Release nutrients
This is a pre-planting, long-term treatment and can be administered at almost any time of year and well in advance of the planting itself, making the best of ground conditions and, where applied directly on top of grass, the sward will have ‘died off’ completely before planting.
The sheeting used is made from plant-based polymer and is 100% compostable. It is designed to have a working life of up to 3 years, depending on site, soil etc. On most sites it can significantly reduce herbicide applications.
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The mulch that holds the matting in place is all derived from composted green waste and is entirely PAS 100 approved.
Planting is straightforward and therefore inexpensive. The contractor simply walks down the treated strip, planting the trees directly through the mulch and sheeting. No lining out or screefing is required. Contractors can achieve 1,000 trees planted per working man day.
Woods were first planted using a thermodegradeable matting in 2005 and results, measured in both establishment rate and growth rate, have surpassed all expectations. A woodland planted in 2005 received the RFS Gold Award for Excellence in Silviculture in 2017.
Since 2021, over 200 hectares of woodland have been planted using this system and by the end of the 2025/26 season, a further 100 hectares will have been created in this way.
- · Over half a million metres of sheet mulching laid
- · Nearly half a million trees planted
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Benefits
Financial – Reduced beat-up costs due to high establishment rates; reduced maintenance costs through lower weed competition; reduced planting costs; earlier revenue generation due to enhanced growth rates. The system is also wholly compliant with the grant-aiding available in the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO).
Environmental – The system complies with the principles and criteria of FSC and UKWAS for sustainable forest management, particularly in terms of the reduction of the use of pesticides.
Biodiversity – Reducing the need for summer maintenance is of great benefit to important ground nesting bird species such as the woodlark, nightjar and grey partridge, as they are not disturbed. The partridges and other game birds have proven fond of dusting in the mulch.
Growth Rates – Enhanced growth rates of up to 20% can be achieved through the use of this system. This is made more attractive by three important factors:
1. the explosion of the firewood market; profitable thinnings are achievable by year 11.
2. the explosion of the deer population; the vigour and speed of growth allows a reduction in fencing costs.
3. carbon trading; accelerated yield class and ease of verification.
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COST
The cost of the ‘one off’ treatment, supplied and laid, costs around £1.50 per m2 or linear metre depending on the size of the site where the PAS 100 green waste is used, or around £2.00/m2 if virgin bark mulch is used.
New Woods are currently advocating spacing the trees at 1.2m in 4m rows. Planting to this specification, and even 5m x 1.5m under the old Woodland Grant Scheme, where the specification read “no fewer than 1100 or 2250 stems/ha, evenly distributed”, has produced some very impressive (award winning), productive and attractive young woodland that is easy to manage.
The Sheet Mulcher is a standalone service for all those who design and plant their own or other people’s woods.
England Woodland Creation Offer compliant!
A grant of £1.79 per mulch mat (i.e. per tree) is available through DEFRA.
Frequently asked questions
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