Brittany department of France, January 2026
Winter planting 2024–2025
In January 2025, the partners of GAEC de la Métairie Neuve, supported by their relatives, carried out several collective and participatory, tree planting workdays. With the support from A Tree for You donors and Pacte de la Haie, together with technical assistance from Agroof, Agrobio35, and the Eau du Bassin Rennais local authority, a total of 1,869 trees were planted on fields across 30 hectares of grazed grassland in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany.
The primary objectives of this project are microclimatic (shade, windbreaks, and protection from adverse weather), especially for the health and well-being of animals on the farm, as well as producing fodder (supplementary feed for cattle), and an experimental approach. Secondary objectives include enhancing the landscape, biodiversity, and diversification to increase food self-sufficiency.
First plantation monitoring – autumn 2025
On 8 and 9 October 2025, a group of technical stakeholders – project leaders, technicians from Agroof and Agrobio35, and representatives of the Eau du Bassin Rennais local authority – carried out an initial monitoring assessment of all the plantations.
Conducted in accordance with a protocol established in advance, monitoring including:
- Observation of each tree plant: structure, foliage, diseases, nutrient deficiencies or other issues
- Allocation of a plant health score from 0 to 3
- General observations of the planting layout (planting conditions, installation of protection equipment, mulching, and grass cover)
The project leaders reported that the first year of planting was marked by rainy conditions during the planting days, which complicated implementation. Summer rainfall was highly uneven (no rain from June to mid-July, followed by 100mm at the end of July and further rainfall at the end of August), but no additional watering was necessary. Some species (wild cherry and late-ripening pear) could not be planted in the first year due to limited availability of required varieties. They will be planted during the winter 2025-2026.
Overall, the plant health assessment indicates an average mortality rate of 14%, with some plots heavily affected by wildlife damage.
By combining field observations with a statistical assessment, we consider the species planted are generally well adapted to the local soil and climatic conditions. A significant number of species achieved 100% establishment success (plum, apple, pear, grafted chestnut, downy birch, black alder, wild service tree, common ash, as well as forage shrubs).
Some experimental species, like white mulberry and grapevine, tested for their forage potential, experienced higher mortality rates. Given the experimental nature of the project, it has been decided to continue testing these species, since issues are suspected to have occurred during or prior to planting.
All dead plants will be replaced in December 2025 and January 2026, with the aim of achieving a 100% success rate.
Next steps: 2026
The project leaders will carry out gap-filling planting and continue monitoring protective measures, stakes, mulching, and weed control over the winter of 2025/2026. To give the project leaders greater technical autonomy, two technical training days will be organised on the farm in March 2026. These will focus on the different types of formative pruning: pollarding, high-branching trees, fruit trees, while continuing scientific monitoring of tree growth.
Thank you for your support, and see you soon for news about the plantations!
