Restoring Woodland Soils with Fungi – Doncaster Council’s Habitat Bank

Project name: Red House Farm Habitat Bank

Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire

Client: City of Doncaster Council

Product supplied: Woodland Grow (fungi-filled inoculant and natural nutrition)

Background

As part of the City of Doncaster Council’s Habitat Bank project, 24 hectares of former arable land are being transformed into a mosaic of woodland, scrub, and meadow to create a biodiversity net-gain site adjacent to Sandall Beat Wood, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The initiative forms part of the council’s long-term strategy to create high-quality habitats, enhance local biodiversity, and contribute to national nature-recovery targets.

When the project began, the soils on site told a familiar story: years of agricultural use had left them compacted, low in organic matter, and almost devoid of microbial life. “When we first tested the soil,” explains Helen Markland, Principal Ecologist at Doncaster Council, “the results showed that the soil was biologically dead. We wanted to give the new woodland the best possible start, so we looked for ways to bring life back into the soil.”

The Project

Grassland creation began across the site in September 2023, followed by woodland and shrub planting in winter 2024. The council sought a nature-based, low-cost approach that would improve soil biology and increase the establishment and survival rates of newly planted trees – and that’s when Woodland Grow was introduced to the project.

Together, the teams designed a practical solution blending Woodland Grow’s fungi-rich inoculant (‘mother’ material) with the council’s own tree-work by-products and arboreal materials. Using a digger, the team mixed the inoculant with woodchip collected from across Doncaster to create a bespoke, locally sourced mulch. The material was then stored for several months under the canopy of Sandall Beat Wood, allowing it to absorb natural woodland microbes from the surrounding environment.

“We wanted to make something that worked with the site rather than against it,” says Helen. “By storing the mulch under the woodland canopy, it was able to collect native microbes, so when we used it on the Habitat Bank, it already carried the right biology for this landscape.”

Product and Application

The resulting mulch – based on Woodland Grow technology – was used during planting between December 2024 to January 2025. A total of 4,785 whips were planted across the site, each receiving a handful of the fungi-filled mulch at the base and a surface layer as protection and feed. In addition, 51 standard trees were planted as avenue and orchard areas, with mulch added to each planting hole.

By combining local organic matter with Woodland Grow’s multi-species fungal community (over 380 strains and more than one million live spores per gram), the project reintroduced vital microbial diversity into the site’s soils, establishing a balanced fungi–bacteria–nutrient symbiosis that supports sustained soil and tree health.

Results

Initial observations showed that fewer than 10% of trees were lost, which is notable given that tens of thousands of newly planted saplings across England died during the same period, with some government-funded woodland creation sites reporting losses of more than 40% (The Times, 8 June 2025, reporting on the 20 largest schemes under the England Woodland Creation Offer).

Despite the exceptionally dry 2025 season, with very little rainfall and prolonged drought, early establishment rates on the Doncaster site were encouraging. “Given how poor the growing conditions were, I was amazed to see how much had taken,” says Helen. “Every time I went to site, I expected to find a lot of losses, but the trees were holding on remarkably well.”

Microscopy analysis of soil samples from four different planting areas showed early signs of recovery. While soils were still largely bacterial dominant – typical of recently disturbed or compacted land – small amounts of beneficial organisms such as amoebae were detected, and no harmful microbes were present. The results confirmed that the soil environment is now stable and beginning to support new biological activity.

This provides a strong foundation for continued regeneration as the fungi and microbes establish over time. By reintroducing the missing biology, the soil food web can gradually rebuild, improving nutrient cycling, moisture retention, and long-term woodland resilience. “The microbial results were really interesting,” Helen notes. “Plots near the trees planted with the mulch showed a clear increase in fungal abundance compared to the soil samples taken before habitat creation. This approach helps us accelerate tree establishment, and it’s encouraging to see that we’re beginning to rebuild life in the soil.”

The council will continue monitoring the site over the next three years, with a 30-year management plan in place to maintain and improve biodiversity. Early evidence already points to stronger establishment, healthier soils, and improved tree performance, even under challenging conditions.

Environmental and Community Benefits

The Red House Farm Habitat Bank provides not just ecological gains but also social and educational benefits. Located close to Doncaster’s urban area, the site offers new green space for the community, linking existing wildlife habitats and improving public access to nature.

From a biodiversity perspective, the project strengthens ecological corridors between Sandall Beat Wood SSSI and nearby wildlife sites, supporting species movement and long-term resilience.

Helen adds: “For us, it’s about creating a living, connected landscape. Using this fungi-microbes-nutrients system gave us a way to bring soil health and ecology into the picture from day one, rather than treating it as an afterthought.”

A New Model for Regenerative Forestry

The Doncaster project reflects a growing shift across UK forestry – from chemical-based nutrition to biological soil regeneration. The success at Doncaster shows that woodland creation and soil restoration can go hand in hand, demonstrating a practical way to improve survival rates, enhance soil biology, and lower carbon impact while working with natural processes.

Unlike synthetic fertilisers, the fungi-filled “mother” material helps rebuild the soil ecosystem, enabling trees to form symbiotic relationships with fungi and microbes that can drive nutrient cycling and resilience for decades to come.