Small scale

Back home on a rather smaller scale, we've begun to open an area of dead ash and dogwood in the hope of getting the first replanting done this year.  Trying to create an opening without recourse to interfering with volunteer field maple and hazel is 'interesting'.  The replanting choices continue to challenge.  Diversity is vital.  Rate of carbon fixing is important.  Survivability in the face of hotter and drier and windier weather is also important.  Friendliness to co-existing animals, fungi etc is desirable while being unattractive to damaging squirrels and deer is helpful.