Woods and Trees in England

Here are some quotes from the Woodland Trust views on their web site about the report on Woodlands.

"A strong future for England's woods and trees..?

It's critical that the aspirations in the Forests Report can be turned into reality.

It's been almost exactly two years since the Government launched a consultation around plans to sell the public forest estate in England en masse.

What the Government says - and does - about the Independent Panel on Forestry's final report to Government (the 'Forests Report') and the 32 recommendations it makes is a big deal for England's forests, woods and trees."

Visit the Woodland Trust site to see what they think about the report.


http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/campaigning/our-campaigns/panel/Pages/forestsreportresponse.aspx

Oaken Wood is at risk, you can help us save it - The Woodland Trust

Oaken Wood is at risk, you can help us save it - The Woodland Trust

The Kent Wildlife Trust is working with the Woodland Trust to save this Wood. Here is a quote from the Woodland Trust web site:

Over 32 hectares of ancient woodland in Kent under threat from plans to quarry into Oaken Wood.

Over 6,500 of you helped us to convince Secretary of State Eric Pickles to ‘call in’ the planning application for a public inquiry. Now we have the chance to ensure that the plans are examined in detail.

The public inquiry is due to start 27th November 2012. The Woodland Trust, along with Kent Wildlife Trust, is taking part and we are currently preparing our evidence to present to the Planning Inspector.

Woodlands and Forests

Lets hope that all are relevant nature conservation organisations keep up their pressure on the Government because without clear pressure we will see woodlands being neglected or allowed to wither under the pressure of commercial timber production.  Here are two statements which might help.

The Woodland Trust commented in July  on Government thinking about Forests.

04 Jul 2012 08:12

"England's forests... SAFE! Woodland Trust reaction to Independent Panel on Forestry final report

Woodland Trust reaction to Independent Panel on Forestry's final report, published today

Hilary Allison, Woodland Trust Policy Director said:
"Following the publication of the Independent Panel on Forestry's final report today, we are delighted that Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has confirmed that the public forest estate is safe. It is vital that the Government now works towards ensuring the estate is effectively resourced and developed to deliver more benefits for more people."

They went on to say:

Hilary continued: "In its report, the Panel has clearly documented the enormous potential of forests, woods and trees. It has presented a series of ambitious and positive recommendations to drive England's woodland policy forward, including a challenging target for tree planting to ensure new woods are created for people and wildlife.

However, there is still work to be done and issues on which the Woodland Trust urges the Government to go further. It is important to reiterate the need to restore and protect the ancient woodland we already have.

The Government must show leadership and take forestry seriously, focusing on creating the right framework to ensure our woodland resource is expanded, protected, restored and used to deliver the many and varied benefits it is so clearly capable of.

The Woodland Trust will actively engage with the Government and will also work alongside other organisations to ensure a plan for the sustainable management of our forests is delivered as soon as possible."

and the Somerset Wildlife Trust said before publication of the report:

"Ahead of the publication of the Independent Panel on Forestry’s final report on the future of forestry in England (4 July), Somerset Wildlife Trust sets out seven criteria it wants to see included to ensure nature’s recovery is secured.

Simon Nash, CEO, Somerset Wildlife Trust, said: 

“We will judge the Panel’s report against our ‘criteria for success’.  We want to see integration, better protection, reconnection and restoration of woodlands and a new remit for the Forestry Commission. 

“There should be a Public Forest Estate with a new purpose, focused on nature, people’s connection to nature and the delivery of other public benefits. 

“We intend to engage with the Government to ensure any positive recommendations are acted upon, and to strengthen those which may not go far enough for wildlife.”

Somerset Wildlife Trust’s seven criteria

1. A new remit for the Forestry Commission
Somerset Wildlife Trust wants to see a shift in the Forestry Commission so that its primary focus is on nature and the provision of other public benefits.  The Public Forest Estate should be an exemplar of sustainable management.  This will require a change in the Forestry Commission’s statutory remit. 

2. Integration
Forestry should be part of a coherent strategy for the natural environment: woods being one part of a resilient ecological network.  Forestry policy and grants should be integrated with other land use and management policies and incentives.

3. Better protection
We want to see better protection for existing woods, especially ancient woodlands.

4. Reconnection of people with the natural environment
People’s access to the Public Forest Estate (PFE) should be protected.  Government should also create more opportunities for people to enjoy and be inspired by woodlands and forests outside the Public Forest Estate.

5. Reconnection of woodlands at a landscape-scale
Natural regeneration and tree planting should be encouraged to buffer, extend and link existing woodlands.  In all cases, a ‘right tree in the right place’ principle should be adopted.

6. Restoration of existing woodlands
Existing woodlands that could be richer in wildlife should be brought to life by appropriate, sustainable woodland management.  This can increase habitat quality and help to reverse declines in woodland wildlife.

7. Restoration of open habitats under plantation forestry
Areas of lowland heathland, meadow and other internationally important open habitats planted with conifers must be restored with urgency. 

Simon Nash added:  “The Public Forest Estate represents the single biggest opportunity to implement the recommendations made in last year’s Natural Environment White Paper, including the Lawton Review.  It is critical that this opportunity is taken.”"

Local news

I think I should Blog about some of the small stuff going on in my small part of Somerset. We're getting on with our programme of public meetings. Talks so far on Beavers and then on Rattle Snakes I missed the first which whilst an important conservation subject only attracted a small attendance. Snakes were a more popular subject. We need a certain number paying our very reasonable charges just to cover the cost of the speaker and the hire of the hall.
Last Sundays walk in the Beer Wood was excellent and discovered a rare species for this part of Europe. That was a bit special for the group and a good addition to the record. We must look again next year to see if it will reappear.
Here is a picture of the moment of discovery! Identified as Battarrea phalloides or also  known as a Sandy Stiltball. Followed by the Group gathering round to see what all the fuss was about.I should add that the specimen was well into the cycle of dispersal of spores but the specimen was left in place as a sensible practice. 

I came across an old small booklet recently on the subject of hedges. Their  history is very much tied up in social history going back to the Enclosure Laws which allowed land owners to make it impossible for the general public to have access. It included articles on methods of dating hedges based on a survey of the numbers of species of shrubs and trees that had appeared over time. I've made contact with a local History Society to see if they can help in any way with identifying local ancient hedges.

  This photo is of our newly planted hedge three years ago which contains seven species of hedge plants. According to the theory if you found a hedge with such a number of species it would be several hundreds of years old. That might be confusing at some time in the future! Here is a picture of a worthy volunteer doing the planting by fitting canes and  plastic guards to stop the rabbits from eating the young  plants..

Last Monday I attended a regular meeting of Chairs of Local Area Groups and had a very stimulating discussion about how we all function and how we relate to the parent body , the Somerset Wildlife Trust. Amongst many points raised was the need to review and update a 5 year old document which laid down rules and guidelines for the work we all do as volunteers. On the basis of the old rule that anyone who speaks out on such items gets asked to be involved in the job of doing the revision. So I've got a nice little project for the next 2 or 3 months.

Meanwhile of course our own small committee has its next meeting in a weeks time when we will need to review our future programe and work out what our priorities are. We are very limited in volunteer resources and need to attract more help.

Summer Programme

If your waiting for the SWT events booklet here are our next two events. The photo shows a group on one of our previous visits to Beer Wood

Sunday 10th April 2pm – 5pm

SPRING FLOWER GUIDED WALK
in Beer Wood followed by afternoon cream tea at
Wishell Meadow, Henley

Grid Ref. ST 440 313 Post code TA10 9AZ
Meet at Turn Hill Grid Ref. ST 414 315
1.45pm for 2pm start
Cost £2.50

This photo shows the flower of Goatsbeard,  ( Tragopogon pratensis). We see a lot of it in our local meadow. This photograph taken by John Bebbington who will be leading the workshop detailed below.

Sunday 1st May 10.00am – 5.00pm

WORKSHOP FOR WILD FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHY
High Ham Village Hall
Post Code TA10 9DE Grid Ref. ST 426 312
Covering the plants, the photograph, the camera and field work in Beer Woods with review in Hall
With John Bebbington FRPS
and Julian Comrie FRPS
Cost £10.00
Booking essential

Ancient woodland protection- the Woodland Trust

I've just received an email from the Woodland Trust who are very concerned about proposed changes to planning laws and the effect it will almost certainly have on Ancient Woodland. It would follow that all woodland will be more vulnerable to over development with little or no protection. I will be sending an email in support of their campaign.

I've also added some photos taken in a local wood being managed for conservation. Probably a very old wood.

The heading below should give a link to their web site.

Ancient woodland protection- the Woodland Trust

National Planning Policy Framework Consultation

25+ policy statements into one

Changes to the planning system are threatening what little protection from development is in place for ancient woodland.

Ancient woodland is land continuously woods since 1600 and is our richest habitat for biodiversity, yet covers a mere 2% of England's landscape. Once lost it cannot be recreated - it is irreplaceable. Protecting what we have left is vital and this will in turn deliver the ‘ecosystem services’ that trees and woodland provide such as flood alleviation, aiding climate change mitigation and adaptation, tackling wildlife loss and improving

Paragraph 10, in Planning Policy Statement 9 Biodiversity and Geological Conservation, explicitly recognises ‘ancient woodland is a valuable biodiversity resource both for its diversity of species and for its longevity as woodland. Once lost it cannot be recreated. Aged or ‘veteran’ trees found outside ancient woodland are also particularly valuable for biodiversity and their loss should be avoided’.

In stressing that Local Planning Authorities ‘should not grant planning permission for any development that would result in its loss or deterioration' it has been instrumental in protecting ancient woods and trees since its publication in 2005.

The existing caveat however – ‘unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that location outweigh the loss of the woodland habitat’ - has left, and continues to leave, ancient woodland open to development threats.

Without the proposed NPPF retaining and strengthening the essence of this policy and removing this specific caveat, outright protection for this precious asset will never be achieved and what little remains of our heritage lost forever.