Have you seen its pollard?

Davide and his family own a few hectares of agricultural land in the village of Olne.

Being relatively steep, they intend to transform this land into a welcoming place for biodiversity, an oasis for their livestock, while improving the region’s landscape.

He therefore enlisted PlantC’s help with his project of pollard restoration, tree planting and hedge laying!

Restoration and Plantings in Olne!

The magic of this project is that, in agricultural terms, it somewhat breaks conventional norms. The land is sloping, surrounded by hedges, near a watercourse that could at any moment flood the land, and Davide conceived it optimally to take advantage of it, while making it welcoming for the surrounding biodiversity. It involves pollards to restore, laid hedges, and plantings…

But what exactly is a pollard?

A pollard, also known as a pollard tree, is much more than a simple tree. It is a wonder of nature shaped by man, combining tradition, ecology, and utility.

The specific pruning of pollard trees, called “pollarding,” consists of regularly cutting the main branches at a predetermined height. This process, repeated every 3 to 15 years, results in a thick, swollen trunk, often hollow, with new branches sprouting in a cluster at the top.

Pollard trees are a living heritage, combining tradition, ecology, and utility.

Why is it important in the landscape?

Pollard trees, or pollards, play a crucial role in the landscape for several reasons:

Cultural Heritage: Pollard trees are living witnesses to traditional agricultural practices. Their preservation maintains a link with the past and enriches local cultural heritage.

Landscape Beauty and Structure: Pollard trees add character and visual diversity to rural landscapes. Their unique shapes and presence along paths, hedges, and fields create a rather picturesque setting.

Biodiversity: The cavities and fissures of the trunks of pollard trees offer valuable habitats for a multitude of species. They shelter birds, insects, mammals, and fungi, thus contributing to local biodiversity.

Ecological Regulation: These trees help to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion. They also play a role in water management by absorbing excess moisture.

Sustainable Resources: Regularly cut branches provide firewood and materials for crafts, without requiring the felling of the entire tree. This is a sustainable natural resource management practice.

And Davide’s project, what does it involve?

Davide’s project aims to meet several cumulative objectives, including:

1. Create natural barriers for livestock,
2. Make the place welcoming for biodiversity,
3. Produce firewood sustainably,
4. Provide shade and shelter for his Highlands.

To achieve this, he plans to focus on three points:

1. The maintenance of pollard trees so that they survive as long as possible and can sustainably provide firewood,
2. The planting of new pollard trees, mainly field maple and hornbeam in this case,
3. The laying of his hedges to create natural barriers.

A Straightforward Visit!

On Friday, June 20, 2025, we invited the businesses and citizens who contributed to the project to visit the site.

On the agenda: a visit to the entire site, and particularly the installations completed this year, namely tree planting, hedge laying, and finally, pollard restoration. It was an opportunity for Maxime, an engaged citizen, to better understand the operation and the physical effort required for such maintenance.

It is always enchanting to walk on these grounds, which are filled with history, beauty, and combine agriculture and biodiversity. Indeed, during the visit, we learned that the Arcadipane family was completely self-sufficient in meat, as their micro-farm ensured them a sufficient production of “Highlands” meat, or even more to be shared with others (friends, family, …).

The goal is to continue maintaining the pollards and to lay other sections of hedges to ultimately be able to completely fence off the land naturally.