TREES have been planted at a farm in St Gennys, to form a new wood pasture.

Studies in Cornwall show that the county became covered in woodland after the last ice age. By the time hunter gatherer period moved towards people farming the land, a few thousand years ago, the wild wood was changing.

Dense areas were common, but so were wood pastures where more open areas existed with deer and wild cattle grazing amongst the trees. Oak and Hazel were prevalent.

Later, this idea of grazing animals in amongst trees became embodied in well known deer parks, medieval Cornwall had at least 75 deer parks. Familiar ones now are Lanhydrock, Boconnoc and Restormel.

The wood pasture system (sometimes called silvo pasture) whereby trees and pasture occupy the same field for some reason never continued as a modern farming method. At Trelay Farm, a new wood pasture is being created in a pasture grazed by sheep.

It was planted on Friday (February 25) by rain soaked enthusiastic members of the eco-community and guests! A lunch was enjoyed afterwards with a celebration ale and ginger beer.

See this week's 'Post' for a full report.