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Vigilis Bio Tree Shelter

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The Vigilis Bio Tree Shelter is a plastic-free, soil-biodegradable tree guard for newly planted trees and whips, protecting them from rabbits, hares and deer. Made from a patented plant-based material, it gives a minimum three years’ protection, then breaks down naturally in the soil over roughly a further three years, so there is nothing to collect. Available in five heights, 0.6m to 1.8m.

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About Vigilis Bio Tree Shelter

Phoenix Amenity supplies the Vigilis Bio Tree Shelter, a plastic-free, soil-biodegradable tree guard that protects newly planted trees and whips from rabbits, hares and deer, then breaks down naturally in the ground once the tree is established. It gives the protection of a conventional tree tube without the retrieval labour, microplastics or landfill at end of life, so it works well on sites where collecting guards would be difficult or costly. It was developed with more than £360,000 of Innovate UK R&D funding and validated in the UK’s largest independent field trial for a biodegradable tree guard. Visit the Vigilis Bio Tree Shelter product page for full manufacturer specifications.

Plastic-free tree protection for woodland creation, rewilding and grant-funded planting

The Vigilis Bio Tree Shelter suits projects that need genuine plastic-free protection: Countryside Stewardship woodland creation, rewilding schemes, forestry, estate and amenity planting. As a biodegradable tree shelter, it gives the same browsing protection and growth-promoting microclimate as a conventional tree tube, then degrades in the soil, so there is no need to return and collect guards from remote or hard-to-access sites.

Once the tree is established, the shelter breaks down naturally in the soil, so there is no retrieval labour, no plastic to recover and nothing going to landfill.
The tube is made from a patented plant-based material, derived from potato, wood and corn, that degrades in normal soil temperatures (around 20°C). It is soil-biodegradable to ISO 17556 and tested for toxicity-free biodegradation, with no microplastics or harmful residues.
It is a practical choice for Countryside Stewardship woodland creation, rewilding and grant-funded planting; product data sheets are available on request as compliance evidence.
Development was backed by more than £360,000 of Innovate UK R&D funding, and the shelter was validated in the UK’s largest independent field trial of a biodegradable tree guard; trial results are available on request.
The rigid, twin-walled tube has a flared rim and a break line, and protects broadleaves through the early establishment period.
It comes with pre-fitted Vigilis BioTie biodegradable, non-releasable cable ties already in place, ready to fix to a stake.

Which tree shelter size protects against which animal?

Choose the shelter height to match the largest browsing threat on your site. Where several species are present, always size up to the most demanding.

Height	Protects against	Fixings
0.6m / 2ft	Rabbits	1 BioTie biodegradable cable tie
0.75m / 2.5ft	Hares	2 BioTie biodegradable cable ties
1.2m / 4ft	Roe deer and muntjac	2 BioTie biodegradable cable ties
1.5m / 5ft	Fallow deer	2 BioTie biodegradable cable ties
1.8m / 6ft	Red and sika deer	2 BioTie biodegradable cable ties

Specifications

Material	Patented soil-biodegradable material, plant-based (derived from potato, wood and corn), degrades in normal soil temperatures (~20°C); soil-biodegradable to ISO 17556
Construction	Rigid, twin-walled, cylindrical, with flared rim and break line
Diameter	76–110mm
Colour	Muted brown, blends into the landscape
Functional life	Minimum 3 years’ protection, then biodegrades over approximately a further 3 years*
Fixings	Pre-fitted Vigilis BioTie biodegradable, non-releasable cable tie(s)
Packaging	Nested in 5s and strapped in bundles of 30
End of life	Leave in place. It biodegrades naturally and there is nothing to collect.

*Timeframes are approximate and vary with environmental conditions; provided for guidance only.

How to install a Vigilis Bio tree shelter

Slide the shelter over the whip after planting, then drive a stake in alongside the tube rather than through it so you do not damage the root system. Secure the shelter to the stake using the pre-fitted Vigilis BioTie cable ties. Because the shelter is designed to break down in the soil, leave it in place at the end of its working life: there is nothing to collect. Before use, store shelters undercover in cool, dry conditions, out of direct sunlight and standing upright with nothing stacked on top, since UV exposure will shorten their working life.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Bio Tree Shelter last?

The Vigilis Bio Tree Shelter has a functional life of at least three years, which covers the early establishment period. After that, it begins to break down in the soil over approximately a further three years. Degradation rates vary with soil and site conditions, so these figures are for guidance only.

Do I need to remove the Bio Tree Shelter?

No. The Bio Tree Shelter is designed to be left in place and breaks down naturally in the soil without leaving plastic fragments, so no collection visit is required after planting. This removes a significant management cost and makes it especially well suited to remote, difficult-to-access or grant-funded sites. Where a project instead calls for a durable, recyclable guard that is collected at the end of its life, the Vigilis Standard Tree Shelter is the rigid polypropylene alternative. For single-stemmed hedging whips rather than tree whips, the Vigilis Bio Hedge Wrap offers the same biodegradable, no-collection approach in a lighter spiral guard format.

Is the Bio Tree Shelter really plastic-free?

Yes. It is made from a patented plant-based material that breaks down safely in soil to ISO 17556 and is tested for toxicity-free biodegradation, with no microplastics or harmful residues. For projects requiring documentary evidence of plastic-free compliance, such as Countryside Stewardship woodland creation agreements, product data sheets are available on request.

Which tree species is the Bio Tree Shelter best suited to?

It suits most broadleaved species used in woodland creation, including oak, ash, birch, hazel, field maple and cherry. It gives the same browsing protection and growth-promoting microclimate as the standard tree shelter. For faster-establishing species or sites where airflow is a priority, consider the Vigilis Bio VentAir Tree Shelter. For bushy, multi-stemmed hedgerow shrubs rather than single tree whips, the Vigilis Bio Shrub Shelter and recyclable Vigilis Shrub Shelter are designed for wider, bushier growth habits. For single-stemmed hedging whips on hedgerow schemes, see also the Vigilis Hedge Wrap.

Can I use these in my garden?

Yes. The Bio Tree Shelter is built for professional forestry, rewilding and landscaping, but it works just as well on a few newly planted trees, hedging whips or saplings in a garden or paddock. There is nothing to collect once the tree is established, so it suits informal planting too.