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British Wildlife Article reviews

By Mark Chester

2019-07-08

British Wildlife occasionally runs an article of interest to the arborist.  Unfortunately, we are unable to include the articles in the CAS magazine.  We can, however, refer to them and include exerts.  George Peterken wrote in the February 2019 edition on the challenge of ‘Defining Natural Woodland’.  Reference to ‘natural’ has been placed in quote when authors have sought to describe woodland of both the pre-Neolithic environment and more recent self-sown woodland.  Part of the challenge is that ‘natural’ in ecological terms indicates unchanged, whereas even pre-Neolithic woodland has been altered by the earlier settlers.

Part of the challenge is that Sir Arthur Tansley’s definition of natural vegetation back in 1939 indicated that it would be ‘quite virgin so as to be the same as if it were in a country unoccupied by man’.  Rackham introduced the term of ‘wildwood’, this being woodland unaffected by human activity.  For many people, ‘natural woodland’ is woodland that hasn’t been planted.

Exploring some of the more remote woodland areas, including Urwalder on the mainland, Peterken found that what was previously considered pristine was actually quite disrupted by grazing and harvesting.  He suggests that ‘natural’ should relate to the condition of the woodland, and not its age.  So woodland that is 1000 years old may have suffered from grazing whereas woodland which has naturally regenerated more recently may actually ecologically be in a better condition.  Our understanding of ‘natural’ is perhaps more flexible than the purist would perceive.  We have ‘natural’ dog food, ‘natural muesli’.  In such cases, this usage indicates something that is authentic, original, not altered.  Peterken suggests that this more flexible understanding may now be preferable.

‘Tree-felling at Norbury Park: necessary evil or overreaction?’ by Patrick Barkham.  This site in Surrey has been described as ‘a quintessential English nature reserve’.  Managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust, it has been subject to a ‘drastic’ felling of Ash trees due to concerns about their impact on public safety relating to the rapid onset of Ash dieback.  The park was created when Surrey County Council, acting with far-sightedness, bought the 513 ha estate in 1930 to protect the North Downs from surburban sprawl.    Local rangers then managed it.  In 2002, Surrey Wildlife Trust agreed to manage the site for 50 years, along with other parts of the Surrey County Council estate, extending to more than 4,000 ha.

Problems began in 2013, when financial support from SCC was reduced and then the 16 park rangers were made redundant to save money.  This was followed by a contentious planning application to build a children’s play trail near to ancient Yews.    It was withdrawn in the absence of an Environmental Impact Assessment.  The concern was that financial pressures were being prioritised over wildlife.  SWT defended their tree felling action, due to public safety, the extent of dieback and how quickly some trees were failing.

Timber extracted from the felled trees was being sold commercially and wide tracts were being felled, 30m each side of pathways.  This is the width of a motorway!  Concerned observed felt that the work was being rushed, excessive and back to front, and that surveys should have been undertaken to start with.  A dormouse surveyor was appointed to survey for dormice, but only days before felling work was due to start, in January.  One seasoned dormouse surveyor commented that no one can spot winter hibernation and that the standard practice is for a team of volunteers to walk on their hands and knees checking the forest floor, with an autumn felling being better.

Others commented that, whilst drastic, the large clearance was going to create valuable rides and many species would benefit from the ground being exposed to daylight.  The loss of the ranger service had resulted on the loss of local knowledge, and this was having repercussions.  A concluding observation was that the longer term aim of the Nature trust to make this site self-funding was perhaps unrealistic.

 

In the April 2019 edition, the ‘Classic Site For Review’ is ‘Abernerthy Forest in the Cairngorms.  This is a valued remnant of the extensive woodland that once covered Scotland.  It exists primarily due to its historic use for timber and as a hunting forest for the nobility.  It was owned by the Grant family between 1516 and 1883, and their contribution has been influential.

Up to the mid 1850s, it was managed as Shelter woodland, with a proportion of the over storey being felled and others retained for seed for the next generation.  An observation is that times of war were not good for it, as with woodland across the nation.  A map of 1832 shows the forest covered just 11 km2 (it is currently 40 kim2).  The Napoleonic Wars had had an effect.  However, natural regeneration had, by 1858, caused major restoration.

In the 1800s, shooting and recreation were prioritised over forestry.  In 1974, it was the first site to be designated a SSSI, becoming an NNR in 2007.  Old growth woodland is very rare in the UK, making Abernerthy Forest extra special.  It is a host for many species of wildlife and fungi. The Mycologist Peter Orton recorded 502 species of fungus present in a paper of 1998.

The site is not large, but it is really important.  There is presently a programme of restoring original features to encourage ecology.  Stock fencing, which has trapped local birds of prey such as Osprey, is being removed, ditches filled in to restore boggy land and non-native trees are being felled.

 

The final article for this review is a paper by Arjos Farja and Louise Hill: Natural Woodland Generation or Tree Planting, again in the April 2019 edition.  They identify that, with an active programme of woodland creation being pursued in the UK, to increase cover from the present 13%, there is increased demand for seed and seedlings.  Best practice is to ensure the seed is of local provenance, although this widely becomes of local origin, which is different.  Increasingly, seed of near European origin is being used.  Oak Powdery Mildew and Ash Dieback have been introduced to the UK through important stock.

The authors identify the natural regeneration happens, and on a widespread basis, as Network Rail will testify.  Indeed, it can become such a local feature that clearance works become a problem.  Oak readily regenerates but needs help travelling from the tree due to weight.  Ash and Birch also readily regenerate.  Farja examined regeneration potential across 32 sites in Greater London and the Chiltern Hills.  He acknowledges that the survey size was limited, but the authors conclude that the subject is worthy of wider research.