Ingleborough National Nature Reserve (NNR) has altered its strategy for protecting young trees, moving towards planting without guards and at increased densities. This shift follows trials that indicated bare planting at double the desired stocking density resulted in a tree survival rate exceeding 50%, outperforming trees initially protected by guards.
The reserve, spanning 1,186 hectares in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, has also implemented a deer culling programme. This has reduced the deer population density from approximately 3.7 individuals per square kilometre to about 1.4 individuals per square kilometre, allowing more trees, particularly palatable species, to establish successfully.
Historically, sheep grazing was common at the reserve but hindered natural woodland establishment. In recent years, a transition to cattle grazing has created more favourable conditions for woodland regeneration. Frank Morgan, Natural England Ranger for Ingleborough NNR, noted that more young trees established in cattle-grazed areas compared to areas with no grazing.
Between 2021 and 2025, approximately 150,000 trees were planted as part of the Wild Ingleborough project. Preliminary research from the University of Leeds monitoring tagged trees found that while tree guards initially improved survival by preventing browsing, they also increased susceptibility to wind snap and appeared to reduce overall survival after three to five years.
The reserve has collected nearly 80% of the tree guards previously used, with staff and volunteers donating them to other planting schemes. This new approach aims to create suitable conditions for young trees to thrive across the reserve.