Presentation from West Weald Landscape Project Conference 22 May 2014

1. Life’s better with trees
Working with the West Weald
Landscape Partnership

2. Vision, Mission and Purpose
Our
Vision
A UK rich in native woods and trees, enjoyed
and valued by everyone
Our
Mission
To realise all the environmental, social and economic benefits woods and trees bring
to society, we will:
Create woodland, championing the need for a doubling of the UK’s native woodland
Protect woodland, fighting to defend native woodland, especially irreplaceable
ancient woodland. There should be no loss of ancient woodland for any reason
Restore woodland, ensuring the restoration of all damaged ancient woodland and
the re-creation of native wooded landscapes
Our
Purpose
To be the champion for trees and woods, a powerful voice for woodland,
We will inspire every audience that can contribute significantly to our cause.
We will care for and create woods ourselves and through others.
We will be the ‘go to’ woodland conservation charity, the place to which people turn to support
woodland.
We will be noticed, trusted, remembered and loved.

3. Woodland and tree cover is still less than a third
of the European average, and our woods are
largely small and fragmented.
What does The State of the UK’s Forests, Woods and Trees report say?

4. Biodiversity has
declined in our
woods due to a
complex range of
factors.
What does The State of the UK’s Forests, Woods and Trees report say?

5. Pressure for economic growth threatens the
hard-won safeguards for ancient woods in
the planning system.
What does The State of the UK’s Forests, Woods and Trees report say?

6. We are seeing increasing
numbers of new pests
and diseases
threatening our forests
and trees – like
Phythophthora
ramorum and Acute Oak
Decline. Climate change
might make this worse.
What does The State of the UK’s Forests, Woods and Trees report say?

7. Climate change is a huge issue. Woodland
wildlife will find it difficult to adapt in our
fragmented landscape. Uncertainty makes it
difficult to plan ahead – both for
conservationists and timber growers.
What does The State of the UK’s Forests, Woods and Trees report say?

8. Trees and woods could really help us mitigate
and adapt to climate change.
What does The State of the UK’s Forests, Woods and Trees report say?

9. There are also many opportunities. Trees and
woods are now being recognised for their
contribution to “ecosystem services”.
What does The State of the UK’s Forests, Woods and Trees report say?

10. Economic opportunities for woods are on the
rise through interest in woodfuel.
What does The State of the UK’s Forests, Woods and Trees report say?

11. The need to create
more woodland is
recognised – though
not all governments
in the UK have set
targets to make this
happen.
What does The State of the UK’s Forests, Woods and Trees report say?

12. Around 73% of the
UK is farmed

14. There are around 323,000
agricultural land holdings in
the UK.
Average size 50 ha

16. Why plant trees?

17. Trees have both private
and public benefits

20. Shelter can reduce heating costs

21. Hot weather costs the US dairy industry
$900 million per annum

25. Wheat yields can
increase as a result of
shelter, especially in
dry years

26. 39 crops grown
in the UK need
insect
pollination

27. Trees in hedges
support pollinating
insects

28. 2.2 million tonnes
of topsoil is
eroded
annually in the UK

29. Surface water runoff carries water,
nutrients and soil away from the farm

30. Water infiltration is x60 greater under new
woodland within 3 years of planting

32. Woodland creation can
reduce flooding downstream

34. Barbastelle Bat
• Biology: black-brown upper fur, grey
chest, joined ears, weighs 6-13g
• Habitat: wooded river valleys
• Diet: seeds, fruit, tree shoots, buds,
flowers, berries
• Habits: nocturnal, forages over water,
low flying, agile, roosts in trees
• Range: southern counties of England
and Wales
• Status: rare in Britain
• Threats: loss of habitat, insecticides

35. Bechstein’s Bat
• Biology: pale brown upper fur, white
chest, fairly long ears, weighs 7-13g
• Habitat: mainly broadleaf woodland
• Diet: moths, beetles, catches prey in
flight or picks resting day-flying insects
from leaves
• Habits: nocturnal, forages in enclosed
vegetation, low flying, agile, roosts in
tree holes
• Range: central south England
• Status: rare in Britain
• Threats: loss of habitat,

36. Hazel Dormouse
• Biology: golden-brown fur, large black
eyes, long tail, weighs 15-35g
• Habitat: broadleaf woodland with
scrub, large hedgerows
• Diet: hazelnuts, fruit, flowers, insects
• Habits: nocturnal, arboreal, rarely on
ground, hibernates in winter
• Range: southern counties of England
and Wales
• Status: once widespread, now rare
• Threats: Loss of habitat and food
sources, starvation during winter

37. RESILIENT WOODSCAPES
An initiative for 2014-2016 Strategic
Plan

38. WHAT IS IT?
• This initiative comprises a spatially targeted programme of on the ground activity
through a combination of delivery methods including outreach, advice and
support
a) to protect ancient woodland through the creation of healthy resilient
wildlife-rich wooded landscapes able to resist the impacts of climate change,
disease and development and
b) to deliver a broad range of ecosystem services to society through
woodland conservation and expansion.
• The initiative will have at its core the protection of ancient woodland particularly
through buffering and linking of fragmented ancient woods through woodland
creation, and the restoration of damaged ancient woods. But as well as focusing
on resilience of ancient woodland for wildlife conservation, it also focuses on
resilience for the purpose of delivering wider benefits to society as a whole
through ecosystem services.
• It effectively draws together land based activity both direct delivery, advice and
policy activity into an overall conservation programme for the Trust.

39. We highlight the need for everyone to become
better connected with forests, woods and trees,
to understand them as a fundamental part of
living, working landscapes.

40. Thank you