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| Regenerating woodlands requires multiple approaches | Regenerating woodlands requires multiple approaches |
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| Knepp Estate is a good example of natural regeneration, but Isabella Tree’s article (Bring back the wildwoods of Britain to fight climate change, 26 November) shows a lack of understanding regarding the Woodland Trust’s own approach. The northern forest will see the planting of 50m trees but not in one “enormous plantation”. It will be made up of a mosaic of different wooded habitats including planted woods, natural regeneration, commercial forestry, urban trees and existing ancient woodland, benefiting people and wildlife from Liverpool to Hull, as well as contributing to carbon storage. | Knepp Estate is a good example of natural regeneration, but Isabella Tree’s article (Bring back the wildwoods of Britain to fight climate change, 26 November) shows a lack of understanding regarding the Woodland Trust’s own approach. The northern forest will see the planting of 50m trees but not in one “enormous plantation”. It will be made up of a mosaic of different wooded habitats including planted woods, natural regeneration, commercial forestry, urban trees and existing ancient woodland, benefiting people and wildlife from Liverpool to Hull, as well as contributing to carbon storage. |
| While natural regeneration is a strong approach for all the reasons outlined in the article (we are fans of scrub too!), it simply will not get us the increase we need in woodland in the UK. The northern forest area has tree cover of just 7.5% declining versus the European average of 38%. Where there is no natural seed source or a high deer population, planting trees with protection is sometimes the only solution, ensuring in excess of 80% survival. | While natural regeneration is a strong approach for all the reasons outlined in the article (we are fans of scrub too!), it simply will not get us the increase we need in woodland in the UK. The northern forest area has tree cover of just 7.5% declining versus the European average of 38%. Where there is no natural seed source or a high deer population, planting trees with protection is sometimes the only solution, ensuring in excess of 80% survival. |
| Our own research demonstrates that tree planting also helps to create a strong connection between people, nature and the urgent situation facing our planet. We are currently experimenting with different forms of tree protection in an attempt to move away from plastic tree guards and have for a number of years sourced all our trees from UK Sourced and Grown accredited nurseries, a scheme we set up, in order to minimise tree disease risk. | Our own research demonstrates that tree planting also helps to create a strong connection between people, nature and the urgent situation facing our planet. We are currently experimenting with different forms of tree protection in an attempt to move away from plastic tree guards and have for a number of years sourced all our trees from UK Sourced and Grown accredited nurseries, a scheme we set up, in order to minimise tree disease risk. |
| We agree that ancient woodland needs to be managed, both from the perspective of creating a more resilient tree landscape in the face of climate change and for wildlife benefits. And we fully embrace a rewilding approach, as evidenced by our co-leadership with Rewilding Britain of the recently announced “Summit to Sea” project in Wales. | We agree that ancient woodland needs to be managed, both from the perspective of creating a more resilient tree landscape in the face of climate change and for wildlife benefits. And we fully embrace a rewilding approach, as evidenced by our co-leadership with Rewilding Britain of the recently announced “Summit to Sea” project in Wales. |
| The rapid degradation of our natural world and the urgency of the situation regarding climate change cannot be solved by a single approach to creating more trees and woods in our landscapes. We need to embrace them all and use the right approach in the right place. And we need to do it now.Beccy SpeightCEO, Woodland Trust | The rapid degradation of our natural world and the urgency of the situation regarding climate change cannot be solved by a single approach to creating more trees and woods in our landscapes. We need to embrace them all and use the right approach in the right place. And we need to do it now.Beccy SpeightCEO, Woodland Trust |
| • Isabella Tree’s excellent analysis of approaches to woodland regeneration touches on things close to my heart and research. Across the UK we still have thousands of kilometres of thorny hedges which can be “the mothers” of oaks and many trees. However, they are generally cut mechanically annually, which never allows any sapling to grow towards maturity. In my area along the River Kent valley in Cumbria, I have surveyed many hedgerows. In essence we have a few 100- to 300-year-old oaks scattered along these hedges and not one sapling of any species growing upwards. This means no regeneration year on year. Even if hedge-cutting practices changed this year, it would be 2040 before we would see the real benefits in our area. | • Isabella Tree’s excellent analysis of approaches to woodland regeneration touches on things close to my heart and research. Across the UK we still have thousands of kilometres of thorny hedges which can be “the mothers” of oaks and many trees. However, they are generally cut mechanically annually, which never allows any sapling to grow towards maturity. In my area along the River Kent valley in Cumbria, I have surveyed many hedgerows. In essence we have a few 100- to 300-year-old oaks scattered along these hedges and not one sapling of any species growing upwards. This means no regeneration year on year. Even if hedge-cutting practices changed this year, it would be 2040 before we would see the real benefits in our area. |
| Maybe some enlightened farmers, council contractors and conservation bodies could start to show some imagination and allow small areas to steadily regenerate and then selectively protect a few new young trees every 50 metres or so. It’s simple and just means lifting the cutting machine and taking a pride in a new thorny hedge mothering her offspring for the future.John PeatfieldBowston, Cumbria | Maybe some enlightened farmers, council contractors and conservation bodies could start to show some imagination and allow small areas to steadily regenerate and then selectively protect a few new young trees every 50 metres or so. It’s simple and just means lifting the cutting machine and taking a pride in a new thorny hedge mothering her offspring for the future.John PeatfieldBowston, Cumbria |
| • The main issue with planting loads of trees is that they all end up in neat rows. And the types are all in blocks. They will look artificial for the next 1,000 years. Better to leave open grassland, and don’t cut it. The natural pattern is to allow scrub to grow, then trees appear, and after 1,000 years you might get something good. Like Epping Forest in Essex. This has a diversity of trees, and all the little animals and other things like fungi will love it. And allow dead wood to build up for loads of living things on the old skeletons.Mary SmithLondon | • The main issue with planting loads of trees is that they all end up in neat rows. And the types are all in blocks. They will look artificial for the next 1,000 years. Better to leave open grassland, and don’t cut it. The natural pattern is to allow scrub to grow, then trees appear, and after 1,000 years you might get something good. Like Epping Forest in Essex. This has a diversity of trees, and all the little animals and other things like fungi will love it. And allow dead wood to build up for loads of living things on the old skeletons.Mary SmithLondon |
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