To save peppering the countryside with hundreds of plastic tree guards, UK start-up Nexgen has come up with a biodegradable alternative.

Fashioned from a blend of wool, cashew oil and castor oil, these shelters are tough enough to protect against damage caused by voles, rabbits, deer and other tree-harming mammals.

They’re also suitably resilient to withstand at least five years’ worth of exposure to moisture, light, fungal and microbial activity, after which point the tree should be able to fend for itself.

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When they do break down, they do so without releasing any harmful toxins into the environment or altering the pH of the soil.

Three versions are available – tree shelters, hedging guards and vole guards – each of which comes in an array of heights and diameters.

Nexgen’s guards are manufactured in the UK using lower grades of British wool that could otherwise go to waste.

The guards go on sale in November and will cost roughly double the price of plastic alternatives.

However, with no recovery costs to factor in, the firm claims they are still a cost-effective option.