Frequently Asked Questions

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Tree-shelters (tree-guards) are an effective means of establishing broadleaved trees, providing protection from browsing mammals (particularly voles and deer) and enhancing tree growth. To be effective, tree-shelters and tree-guards must be robust enough to cover the establishment period. In some case, this is only a few years, but on challenging sites may beyond five years. Tree-shelters and tree-guards vary by type, size and material. The type of tree-shelter used must be able to fully protect the tree throughout the establishment period. We offer a wide range of sizes, ranging from 60cm to 1.5m in height, as well as shrub-guards and hedgerow-guards.

Unlike a lot of tree-shelters on the market, the Eco Tree-Shelter is biodegradable and plastic-free.  Most traditional tree-shelters on the market are made from plastics made from petrochemicals. These are not biodegradable and must be removed after use and recycled.  Other tree-shelters use petrochemically derived plastics but have additional materials that result in the tree-shelter or tree-guard eventually breaking down into small pieces. However, size of the small pieces means they cannot be recovered from the environment. The Eco-Tree shelter does not need to collected in after use. It can be left in situ, where it will biodegrade and break down. As the base material is board, it will ultimately just disappear.

Cardboard, with an entirely natural water-based coating.

There's a lot of variables, but we know they last at least three years (see video below!).

Cardboard is compostable, and will break down -  but only when conditions for composting are met, in particular heat. The tree-shelters have been designed to avoid any early degradation, but will eventually weaken and began to lose their integrity. At this point, and this will take many years, they will break down. 

Yes, these tree-shelters are entirely free of any plastics. 

Yes, these tree-shelters are entirely free of any PLA. 

Yes, if you do collect the shelters in, they can be recycled with paper/card. 

Collecting in tree-shelters can be time consuming and costly. With these tree-shelters there really is no need. When they do eventually break down, after many years in the wild, they will just become food for the tree...

Yes, subject to minimum order quantities being agreed we could supply the tree-shelters in different colours. 

Yes, the tree-shelters are designed around the fact that users will normally want to use a stake or cane to secure their young tree. We can advise on the size needed. 

Sirane's Earthboard is a unique board which is naturally water-resistant. It's so good at its job that we can actually make ice buckets out of it... unlike most cardboard, which does not appreciate being wet, Earthboard simply repels water.

Yes, we have a range of sizes, ranging from 45cm high (and 5cm x 5cm) suitable for saplings up to 1.5m high (and 10cm x 10cm) for young trees. We also off a shrub guard which is 60cm high and 15cmx15cm, as well as hedgerow-guards.

We stock green tree-shelters as standard, but they are available in any Pantone colour subject to MOQs. We can also supply them custom printed.

Yes, we can print the tree-shelters if required. So you could use the space for branding, advertising, logos, messaging/information and more.