Plastic Free Planting - The Plastic Tree Guard Revolution

Do plastic tree guards contribute to plastic pollution? Is using a plastic tree guard sustainable? What is the environmental impact of using a plastic tree guard for planting trees? These were some of the questions that I pondered as I was planting young trees back in 2019, on the brink of deciding my dissertation topic for my masters and starting my new role as a conservation ranger...

For decades, the tree planting process has included an immature tree, cane or stake, and a tree guard/shelter. As the use of modern synthetic plastics grew in popularity from their development around 100 years ago, it was no surprise that in the 1980’s tree guard manufacturers began creating these shelters out of plastic. Strong, resilient, protective- the perfect shield for a young tree against damage, browsing animals such as deer, squirrels and rabbits, and bad weather. They can also provide additional benefits to the adolescent tree, including providing a mini greenhouse around the base, helping to channel growth upwards, reduce space invading vegetation and reduce moisture stress. The demand for tree guards came from the need for more tree coverage and the increased browsing pressure on these trees through loss of key species in our environments.

They do the job of protecting young trees well, but the latest scientific evidence on the harm that plastics can cause in our marine and terrestrial environments raises the question: can these guards be polluting newly planted woodlands? This is a question that has only recently come into the foreground.

Each year in the UK alone, we plant millions of trees through governmental projects, NGO’s, organisations, as private landowners, and the general public. Most of these trees will be planted using tree guards, and the number of new trees is only set to increase further in coming years. Most organisations or landowners do have the intentions of removing and disposing of the guards when the tree becomes of age, but in many circumstances this can be difficult, if not impossible. This can be because the tree density becomes impenetrable to reach the tree guard or there is limited resources and labour available to bring them in.

If removed, they are often either 1) re-used for other trees or 2) sent-off to be recycled. Guards are rarely recycled as it is currently an expensive and limited option. Re-using tree guards can also pose a threat, as they could have already began degrading and are at risk of being left on the new tree indefinitely. Unfortunately, most removed guards end up being buried, burnt, or sent to landfill - all of which are not sustainable options. The other potential impact of tree guards, which you may have seen on your rambles, is the guards protruding into the trunk of the tree. Guards are designed to be removed or break away from the stem as the tree grows. Sometimes this does not happen successfully, and the tree ends up growing around or into the guard, which can cause irregular tree growth and potentially other under-investigated issues.

Manufacturers are moving away from general plastics and branching out to other materials. The issue to watch out for with this can be greenwashing. This is a term used for organisations and individuals to present themselves or their product as environmentally responsible, falsely suggesting an environmental benefit. This can mean you purchase a product believing you are making a sustainable or ethical choice- when in reality this could not be the case. Some plastics do technically biodegrade, meaning they can be sold as biodegradable, although this does not change the timeline they take to break down and the environmental issues they can cause during this degrading period. A few buzz words to be aware of include: Green, Eco, Biodegradable, Chemical-free, Compostable, Eco-friendly, Clean, All Natural, Non-Toxic & many more.

There are also bio-plastic tree guard options available. This means that they are not traditional oil based plastics, but are formed using biological substances rather than from petroleum. An example of this is corn starch. These guards are a step in the right direction and removes a significant carbon footprint from manufacturing, but still come with questions. Many bio-plastic tree guards are sold as compostable, but need to be sent to specialised industrial composting plants to do this. This continues the added efforts and costs after the tree no longer needs the guard, and many specialist composting sites have yet to be created. Other alternative materials used in tree guards on the market include kraft board/cardboard, metal, and even sheep wool and oil from cashew nut shells. As is expected, these alternative products come with a higher price tag than traditional plastic tree guards.

The issues of plastic tree guards went unknown for a long time, but now we know the importance of plastic pollution and the dangers of plastic tree guards we can do something about it. If you are interested in an alternative way of planting trees you can try 1) using a more natural approach to sapling protection such as using brash or scrub as a browsing deterrent, 2) using no guards in low browsing areas and planting double the number of trees, 3) fencing off the planting area, or 4) using non- plastic trees guards.

I have found a strong passion in getting this topic spoken about since undertaking my MSc thesis investigating tree guard plastic fragmentation and I hope to help people become more aware of what we can do to change how we plant trees in the future. I hope this blog post has highlighted this current issue and has provided some solutions to help in our tree planting journeys to grow our native woodlands and wild spaces within the UK.

Thank you for reading.

Join the #PlasticTreeGuardRevolution

Naomi Joy Sim- Art For Conservation

Naomi is a talented and passionate artist, who aims to make a difference to helping wildlife and animals through her art!

Short bio about yourself and your career so far:

I describe myself as an animal Artist as I paint all sorts of animals based on wildlife, animal rights issues, conservation or companion animals. I live in Bristol, UK and work in my little studio at home. I also co-founded a wildlife rescue called Severn Wildlife Rescue and help to rehabilitate bats and others creatures. I've built up my work over the years on various themes and after a big hit with the successful release of my Bats of the UK art work I went fully freelance selling my work on my website.

How did you get into becoming an artist?

I've loved all beings and creating art since I was very small, I think they are both in my genetic make up and my nature. As a child I loved drawing little scenes of animals and also rescuing injured mice and various other animals. I studied art and biology until A-level when I made the choice to pursue my creative side and studied a degree in Illustration.

After this I worked as an Art Teacher but began to long to have more time to create and explore – though no idea what! I moved to Bristol and started to work part time, dropping my days over the years and building up my skills and contacts. I had a bingo moment when I photographed an owl at a local rescue centre and painted him. After this I knew all I wanted to do was paint animals!

I worked hard and painted many pictures slowly becoming more confident in my craft and selling commissioned portraits of companion animals as well as originals, cards and prints of my own artwork, until I took the plunge in 2020 during the pandemic to go fully freelance. I don't think I could feel fulfilled in life without being able to create so being an Artist was a must and I was determined to make it happen.

How can art aid wildlife conservation?

Art is a wonderful vessel for raising awareness of issues. It can be eye-catching, challenging, thought provoking, show different perspectives, make issues aesthetically pleasing or be upsetting. Without art and design we would only have words to support wildlife in need, so I believe it's vital to reach the wider the population.

Many Artists are passionate about different issues and by focusing on those and raising awareness, more people become impassioned and therefore change may occur. Artists also may raise funds directly towards different conservation issues and support in that way or create artwork for different organisations or charities to help promote them.

Please highlight a conservation issue you are particularly interested in:

It's tricky to highlight one particular issue I am interested in as I have quite a few that I often paint about! I love to raise awareness of how amazing bats are and I directly support bats to return to the wild after injury or illness. During the pandemic their reputation also took a big hit and as their numbers dwindle in certain species worldwide and within the UK, it's important we do what we can to support them.

I also create a lot of art around the badger cull and the beauty of badgers themselves, as well as anti fox hunting, the horrors of animal agriculture/beauty of farmed animals and raising awareness of British wildlife in general. I am anti-speciesist, therefore I value all beings equally.

What can people do to help with this issue?

Bats can be helped by planting bat friendly wildflowers, putting up bat boxes, conserving old barns and fiercely protecting spaces that bats reside (HS2 destroyed a really important habitat for bats as an example). If you are really interested in bats you can volunteer with a local wildlife rescue or bat rehabber who can train you up to care for rescued bats.

With the other issues I mentioned find your local badger groups, hunt sabs and other wildlife rescue organisations and get involved! Also look into veganism and protecting our planet in general – we all need to work together to make the world better for everyone.

What is your greatest achievement?

Within my art work, my greatest achievement is selling out of my Bats of the UK prints within 11 minutes! That was totally amazing. It also gave me the freedom to leave all other forms of work and to focus on creating what I am passionate about and being true to myself.

Although I'd also say my greatest achievements are all the animals who survive because of actions that I have taken as all their lives are valuable and it makes me really happy that I have helped in some way or another.

What is your favourite species and why?

Since I was 10 I have definitely had a soft spot for Brown Long Eared bats and I have a big tattoo of one on my back, however, after hand raising so many pipistrelle babies, they are also close to my heart.

What advice do you have for people wanting to pursue a career in creating wildlife art?

Firstly, just start! Do it now, create that piece, make that social media account or website! I think I wanted to wait until everything was perfect or I knew exactly what I was doing but I realised just getting stuff out there was actually more important and that there'll never be a “perfect time”.

Secondly, I'd advise not following trends but working out what you love and are passionate about and staying true to yourself at all times (you can say no to work you do not enjoy!), no one is you so only you can create your truth. Thirdly, it takes time but stay determined, ride the highs and lows and keep going!

Check out Naomi's amazing art below on her website:

https://www.naomijoyart.com/

Lily Chambers- Comms 4 Conservation

Lily is a passionate wildlife conservation communications assistant, who shares amazing information all about our natural world and important messages to help us save it!

Short bio about yourself and your career so far:

I have always had a love for the natural world, but my education and volunteer experience enabled me to expand this interest and further explore topics I felt passionately about. I studied Zoology at the University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus for 3 years, enjoying amazing modules like Sensory Ecology, Conservation Biology and Science in Society. Here I got the opportunity to travel to exciting destinations such as Iceland and Costa Rica to carry out practical field work. My Zoology course also included an additional study year abroad in Guelph, Canada, where my modules involved Climate Change Ecology and even mammal tracking in the snow! The combination of exciting modules, exploring national parks, attempting to ice skate (I made Bambi on ice seem graceful) and the delicious chocolate-covered treats from Time Hortons made this is an experience I will treasure forever. After university I spent a year working in retail where I learned invaluable skills as a Team Leader before applying for a communications role at Essex Wildlife Trust.

How did you get into wildlife comms?

I knew I wanted to pursue a career related to wildlife, but I wasn’t aware of the scope of job opportunities associated with this field, especially as the only comment I would get related to my degree was “so do you want to work in a zoo?” From opportunities that began at university, I realised the importance of communicating science to others. In 2014 I supported a turtle conservation project as a volunteer in Cyprus. Here I collected data, monitored egg-laying females and communicated to the local and visiting public about the conservation issues during presentations, beach tours and hatchling releases. I was also a volunteer Engagement Officer for a community-driven recycling organisation called Replastic. I communicated the environmental impact of single use plastics and promoted sustainable practices, educating people in person at events and online about how they could make positive changes. Growing up in Colchester, I visited many Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserves across the county and I had also volunteered for them, tree planting at their Abberton Reservoir Nature Discovery Centre, so when I saw the local conservation charity was recruiting for a Communications Intern, I thought the combination of my passion for wildlife, my education as well as the knowledge and experience gained volunteering complemented the job specification nicely.

What does a career in communications entail?

My communications role at Essex Wildlife Trust is incredibly varied. I produce press releases about exciting wildlife news, write blog and magazine articles, take images and footage of conservation work or wildlife spectacles, create engaging social media content, lead on campaigns, create communications materials for colleagues and liaise with the press to organise radio and television features – including a BBC Countryfile feature!

Please highlight a conservation issue you are particularly interested in:

Plastic pollution, especially our reliance on single-use plastics. It’s deeply alarming that most of the plastics we use during our lives will outlive us, even when a product may have only been used for seconds!

What can people do you help with this issue?

Individuals can really make a difference in reducing their plastic footprint. From avoiding single use plastics where possible and recycling to using re-usable products or even finding or making alternatives. I recently had a go at making my own eco-friendly cleaning products from plastic-free ingredients! There are tons of resources online if you are looking to get creative and be more environmentally conscious.

How does wildlife comms contribute to wildlife conservation?

One of my favourite David Attenborough quotes is “No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they haven’t experienced.” My communications role enables me to educate and inspire people, helping them to understand and experience all the wonderful wildlife and wild places we have in Essex, giving them the tools and hopefully plenty of reasons to therefore want to protect them. The thought that even one person could create a hedgehog highway in their fence after a social media post I had created, or spend more time outside enjoying nature after a campaign I had led on or even point out the wildflowers to a friend on a walk after an identification video I had produced, makes me feel like I’m helping more people to ‘experience wildlife’ and feel galvanised to act to protect and conserve it.

What is your greatest achievement?

Sea turtle hatchlings use light and reflections from the moon to find their way to the water at night. During my time spent volunteering for the turtle conservation project in Cyprus, I would stand in the sea on overcast evenings and hold a bright torch above my head during hatchling releases; I got to be the moon! As the visiting public released the tiny flapping hatchlings during the cooler evenings, their little flippers propelled them towards the light I was reflecting off the water’s surface. Witnessing the hopeful visitors, giddy with excitement and feeling the tiny loggerhead and green hatchlings bump clumsily into my submerged legs is a memory that will stay with me forever.

What is your favourite species?

The gentle, lumbering manatee. Also known as the sea cow, this giant herbivore ‘had me at hello’.

What advice do you have for people wanting to pursue a career in wildlife communications?

Volunteer where possible and say yes to opportunities as you never know how the experience will help you in the future. At university I was a social media representative for NatureWatch; a student led documentary team that documented Cornish environments, the diverse wildlife and interviewed local experts with hopes to engage the public with current conservation issues faced in the area. I also welcomed the opportunity to provide updates on university platforms about the field course to Costa Rica as well as producing a film to engage and educate followers and promote the university and course to prospective students. Both opportunities developed my communication skills and made me more suitable for the role at Essex Wildlife Trust.