Trees and Woodlands in the Landscape in East Devon 11 July Kate Tobin, Local Partnership Advisor

Transcription

1 Trees and Woodlands in the Landscape in East Devon 11 July 2018 Kate Tobin, Local Partnership Advisor

2 Woodlands 2

3 Hedgerows Hedgerows 3

4 Ancient Trees 4

5 East Devon tranquil & unchanging 5

6 1909 6

7 2018 7

8 Woodland on the rise 8

9 Our Landscape is changing all the time plant annually 3 apple or pear trees and 3 oak, ash or elm trees considerable attention was paid by General Simcoe to the culture of exotic trees 1808 our moors are planted out into copses 1908 We need to make informed and considered decisions now for future generations. 9

10 Many decisions to make how do we feel? Plant broadleaved woodland? Plant Douglas Fir? Plant trees? Remove Sitka to restore heathland? New track to a woodland? Welcome Sycamore regeneration? Biomass drying shed? Plant Eucalyptus? Allow improved field to scrub up? Leaky Woody Dams? Allow old hay meadow to scrub up? 10

11 Good news? 11

12 Thousands of green tonnes Rise in demand Sawmills Pulp mills Panels Woodfuel Other 12

13 Demand requires supply Area of felling licences issued 13

14 Woods into management 14

15 A snapshot on prices Roadside price 2017 /m3 (figs from GiB Valuing our Hardwoods) Species Oak Ash S.Che Lime Cher Syc Firewood Niche or Planking

16 Woodland Creation 16

17 Woodland Creation 17

18 Woods and Water 18

19 Woods and Water Assessing the potential effectiveness of woodland creation in mitigating diffuse pollution from agriculture: Nitrate Phosphate Sediment FIOs Pesticides Ammonia Woodland as a replacement land use 70-90% % % % % 70-90% Woodland as a buffer to adjacent land use 50-90% % % % % 50-90% 19

20 Trees for shelter and shade Sheep: in bad weather, tree shelter can reduce lamb losses by 30%. Beef: Living Barns protect cattle from extreme weather and can reduce vet bills and supplementary feeding. Poultry: Tree belts as narrow as 10m have been shown to reduce ammonia in emissions by 53% and dust by 56%. Arable: Shelter belts can increase wheat yields by 3.5% due to efficient water use. 20

21 FC Woodland creation grants Element Detail Window Woodland Creation (part of Countryside Stewardship - RDPE) Woodland Carbon Fund (non-rdpe) Woodland Creation Planning Grant (non-rdpe) For wildlife (3ha+) & water (1ha+) 6800/ha maximum 200/ha/year for 10 years Productive woods over 10ha 6800/ha max on capital Capital payment of 1000/ha in Yr initial payment. Up to 30,000 for complex creation plans Jan 2019 Open Open Woodland Carbon Code (non-rdpe) Tree Health (part of Countryside Stewardship - RDPE) 10 year dividend payment for carbon contribution. To restock a woodland felled due to a plant health notification or to clear rhodo Open Open Less than 1ha? Talk to the Woodland Trust More Trees scheme 21

22 Bad news? 22

23 Ash Dieback 23

24 Ash Dieback Second commonest hedgerow tree in Devon - 450,000 trees 12% of broadleaved woodland cover in Great Britain Advice is to retain where safe to do so especially veteran trees. Consider thinning and introducing new species as part of normal mgt. Take care when felling 24

25 Alternatives to Ash Looking at species on Ash that are also supported by other species Tree Species No of species supported Oak 640 Biodiversity: Devon Ash Dieback forum highlight Aspen, Sycamore and Elm as closest match for biodiversity Beech 505 Elm 477 Sycamore 473 Hazel 430 Birch 423 Commercial: Czechs report less ADB when mixed Ash stands contain Pine, Fir or Maple species. Danes report less impact with Western Red Cedar. Alder

26 Tree Health 26

27 Rate of change 27

28 Climate Change 28

29 Alternative Species 29

30 Grey Squirrels 30

31 Deer 31

32 What might lead to more wooded landscapes? Diverse, well managed woodlands Increase in Agro-forestry New woodlands on slopes and river valleys Woodland and open habitat mosaic on the hills Mixed age and species Wood-fired boilers, drying barns and biomass businesses on rural holdings Squirrel & Deer control enabling broadleaved regeneration Orchards restored or replanted More use of natural regeneration and selective systems in woodland New sawmills and processing supported In-field and hedgerow trees increasing 32

33 33

34 Woodland Directory 465 woodland businesses now listed. More will be welcome Partners in the project: FC, Confor, North Devon Biosphere Foundation, Cornwall AONB. More will be welcome 34

35 Sustainable Forestry The wood that pays is the wood that stays Oliver Rackham 35

36 Questions?