Field maple

Our house is in a clearing in a designated ancient woodland - beech on the chalk slopes, oak on the clay cap and yew along the medieval mule tracks. Every year we clear away trees damaged by the winter storms ( which is why MrHCB needs a tractor) and plant new trees. Sadly there is no point planting beech as the grey squirrels strip the bark and kill them as soon as they emerge from their protective tubes. With the advice of the tree expert from the AONB we plant local indigenous species not (yet) attacked by squirrel - lime, cherry, whitebeam and field maple - here still safe in its tube.