Mystery crop in Suffolk

[sjt01]

My wife was cycling in Suffolk this week and came across this, which we cannot identify, at various growth stages. It looks perennial, almost a tree crop, and was behind deer fencing. Any ideas?

 

[Fendt516profi]

GM Rhubarb

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Pauwlonia trees. Look up “carbon plantations Ltd”. Just another scam. There are 200ha near here and another 200ha near Swaffham.

 

[Nukemall]

Another bright idea for the countryside then...

"It is an aggressive invasive that invades disturbed areas such as roadsides and stream banks."

 

[Sam Partridge]

would help if they didn't use a potato to take the photo

 

[deleted user 837354]

Another bright idea for the countryside then...

"It is an aggressive invasive that invades disturbed areas such as roadsides and stream banks."

Not to worry; it's taking another few hectares out of the equation so less food supply= higher prices for the remainder.

 

[JLLM]

Funnily enough my daughter was home last weekend and showed me a picture of the same crop, she said it's close to where she lives, I had no idea.

 

[Dry Rot]

Somebody will tumble to the calorific value of gorse one day. It's got to be valuable for something.

 

[steveR]

Another bright idea for the countryside then...

"It is an aggressive invasive that invades disturbed areas such as roadsides and stream banks."

Hopefully, they will have planted the non invasive strain.... But I doubt it.

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Somebody will tumble to the calorific value of gorse one day. It's got to be valuable for something.

Gorse is a legume, so might be eligible for some scam or other.

 

[spin cycle]

Somebody will tumble to the calorific value of gorse one day. It's got to be valuable for something.

as chairman .....and solitary member....of the 'tff gorse protection league' I really hope so

 

[Dry Rot]

Gorse was used as animal feed after being crushed in a whin mill (and that is not a misspelling of wind mill!). A heap of the stuff, nicely dried, makes a big and hot blaze. What an export market for New Zealand! Many a true word said in jest.

 

[PSQ]

Not to worry; it's taking another few hectares out of the equation so less food supply= higher prices for the remainder.

Or ≠ an excuse to import the cheapest ingredients that undercut UK producers on both price and quality standards, by end users that trade on a 'Quality' illusion that fits both their high price and extremely strong inference of British or Scottish provenance.

Low domestic production figures will only influence grain prices when there is a global shortage, and even then the USDA and the AHDB will make sure that farmers will be the last to know.

 

[Muddyroads]

Not to worry; it's taking another few hectares out of the equation so less food supply= higher prices for the remainder.

If only this was true.

 

[Exfarmer]

My wife was cycling in Suffolk this week and came across this, which we cannot identify, at various growth stages. It looks perennial, almost a tree crop, and was behind deer fencing. Any ideas?

your good lady was obviously very close to my home probably in Bardwell as others have said Paulownia trees for carbon sequestration, on the Euston Estate

 

[Breckland Boy]

Pauwlonia trees. Look up “carbon plantations Ltd”. Just another scam. There are 200ha near here and another 200ha near Swaffham.

Lots more in Kent too,

 

[steveR]

your good lady was obviously very close to my home probably in Bardwell as others have said Paulownia trees for carbon sequestration, on the Euston Estate

Grown a few from seed here and have planted them as "feature" trees. Supposed to be massively quick growing, and have a lovely flowering stage. I sourced the "non spreading" variety.... I hope!

 

[Bogweevil]

Another bright idea for the countryside then...

"It is an aggressive invasive that invades disturbed areas such as roadsides and stream banks."

Grown as an ornamental tree since 1830s (foxglove tree on account of its amazing March flowers), with no indication of invasiveness in UK nor France where it is more widely planted as fewer, spring frosts that spoil flowers despite producing much seed, frosts permitting.

Invasive in NE USA however, but planted for timber in UK under Forestry Commission licence I believe. The Commission are the UK experts on invasive species.

Apparently important timber plantation tree on east Asia. An experiment worth undertaking given need for timber, carbon capture and likelihood of climate change inhibiting Sitka spruce?

 

[Steevo]

Grown a few from seed here and have planted them as "feature" trees. Supposed to be massively quick growing, and have a lovely flowering stage. I sourced the "non spreading" variety.... I hope!

Sounds as bad as bamboo.

 

[Bongodog]

Grown as an ornamental tree since 1830s (foxglove tree on account of its amazing March flowers), with no indication of invasiveness in UK nor France where it is more widely planted as fewer, spring frosts that spoil flowers despite producing much seed, frosts permitting.

Invasive in NE USA however, but planted for timber in UK under Forestry Commission licence I believe. The Commission are the UK experts on invasive species.

Apparently important timber plantation tree on east Asia. An experiment worth undertaking given need for timber, carbon capture and likelihood of climate change inhibiting Sitka spruce?

I don't think it has many conventional timber uses as its nearly as light as balsa.