Habitat/Hollow Creation
![IMG_4435](https://heartwoodhabitat.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_4435.jpg)
The importance of hollow creation
Australia’s forest and woodland trees can take 70 to 120 years to form hollows upon which over 300 native species rely for food, shelter, and breeding. Research shows that tree hollows are a declining wildlife resource across Australia. Constructing hollows in trees with specialised arborist equipment is a rapidly growing approach for supplementing this natural resource to support hollow-dependent fauna and arrest species extinctions.
![989792F8-12F4-4767-9A0A-D4ACECDA68CD_1_105_c 989792F8-12F4-4767-9A0A-D4ACECDA68CD_1_105_c](https://heartwoodhabitat.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/989792F8-12F4-4767-9A0A-D4ACECDA68CD_1_105_c-400x533.jpeg)
The art of creating hollows
Our team of ecologists and arborists have extensive experience in planning and installing artificial hollows & cavities for a variety of target species in different habitats.
![5C5E72D5-23FC-4FF0-9275-EBB62AE23CA9_1_105_c 5C5E72D5-23FC-4FF0-9275-EBB62AE23CA9_1_105_c](https://heartwoodhabitat.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/5C5E72D5-23FC-4FF0-9275-EBB62AE23CA9_1_105_c-400x533.jpeg)
Tailoring hollows to specific species
Expertly carved hollows can be designed to accommodate any target species, from the smallest White-striped Freetail Bat to the grandest Powerful Owl.
![habitat-hollow-4 habitat-hollow-4](https://heartwoodhabitat.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/habitat-hollow-4-400x533.jpg)
Working with nature
For trees deemed unsafe, we are highly skilled at pruning to a point of “low risk” then enhancing habitat potential of the remaining stem using coronet cuts and fracture pruning that mimics natural tree failure dynamics.
![IMG_0757](https://heartwoodhabitat.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_0757-1024x683.jpeg)
Long-term tree management
This tree will “re-shoot” with a large amount of reactive/epicormic growth which we will manage in coming years, but will also act as a great source of shade in warmer months for who ever decides to take up occupancy in this hollow.
“Over the decades, several trees in the park were pruned dangerously, and were tagged for complete removal. However, with Alex’s expertise, we have been able to retain some of the value of these trees by reducing the risk and carving hollows that mimic natural habitat”
Hanna Gene’e – Jan Juc Caravan Park