Birch planted in compost-enriched sand at Geitasandur

In cooperation with Land and Forest Iceland, the tourism companies Midgard, based in Hvolsvöllur, and Hidden Iceland organised a birch planting event in calm and pleasant weather on Thursday 21 May. The planting took place on an eroded area where Midgard has undertaken the restoration of a birch woodland ecosystem. The company intends to continue revegetation work in the area over the coming years, with the ultimate aim of restoring a functioning birch ecosystem. Lupins grow around the edges of the site, but otherwise no revegetation work has previously been carried out there.

Birch planting at Geitasandur with the Hekla Volcano in the background. Photo credits: Helga Lucie Andrée Káradóttir.

Two representatives from Land and Forest Iceland, Helga Lucie Andrée Káradóttir and Hrefna Jensdóttir, assisted with the planting. Over the past two years, Midgard staff have planted birch among lupins in the area, but this time a slightly different approach was taken by working directly on barren land. Holes were dug, compost mixed with the soil, birch seedlings planted in the holes, and a small amount of artificial fertiliser added. Although the work was labour-intensive, the group carried it out very successfully. This method has previously produced good results in birch planting under similar soil conditions at Hólasandur.

A total of 1,341 saplings were planted in Midgard’s project at Geitasandur on this occasion. Most were planted using the compost-enriched method described above, although some planting was also carried out without compost around the edges of the area where vegetation is already present.

The planting formed part of Midgard’s sustainability month, during which staff learn about environmental issues and contribute to nature conservation and environmental improvement. In addition to the project at Geitasandur, the company also organised a coastal clean-up initiative.