Yeah doing a conservation project has always been an interest of mine. As for the wood chips, it would be mostly help to give the small trees and bushes a chance to get established. Maybe its not needed, but its possible for some plants to over grow them before getting big enough to deal with that. Maybe I wont need it but its hard to say for sure.

We would do a mix of grasses, flowers, and some bushes and tress. So there will be a mix of a little bit of everything.

Hah I know what you mean about those wild blackberries.. those thorns tear ya up.. and will over grow everything.