Forestry Minister, Jim Knight MP, and Lord Clark, Chairman of the Forestry Commission, will launch "keepers of time: a statement of policy for England's ancient and native woodland" at a press conference to be held in Haslemere, Surrey today (Wednesday 29 June 05). The new policy represents a radical change in emphasis for forestry in England, placing ancient and native woodland at the heart of forestry policy.
The delivery of the new policy will involve, amongst other initiatives, a major programme of tree felling and thinning in those ancient woodlands converted to plantations in the last century. This will see millions of conifers and non-native species of trees gradually removed from the English landscape over the next 20 years or so, to be replaced with native species, such as oak, ash and beech, which will be allowed to naturally seed and regenerate.
Threats faced by England's ancient and native woodland include shading from planted conifers, overgrazing by deer and livestock, competition from introduced 'alien' species, pollution from agriculture, the effects of climate change, loss to development, poor management and neglect. England's native woodland is especially vulnerable to these threats because those woods that remain are often small and fragmented.
Under the new policy, these threats will be addressed as a matter of priority and urgency with the aim of reversing the decline of ancient and native woodland and improving its value for wildlife. It will also involve more new native woodland being created, especially where it can buffer or link the many small fragments of woodland that are spread throughout the country.
England's ancient and native woods provide renewable resources and employment opportunities, contribute to flood management and the regulation of air and water quality, contain a wealth of historic features and important wildlife, act as places for recreation and education, and provide tranquillity and inspiration as retreats from modern life.
Jim Knight MP, Minister for Forestry, said:
"England's diverse and beautiful landscapes are justly famous the world over. Our ancient woods are quintessential features of these much loved landscapes, irreplaceable, living historic monuments, which inspire us and provide us with a sense of place and history. This policy statement rightly celebrates the importance of our ancient and native woodlands and set outs the mechanisms by which they can be conserved and enhanced over the coming years."
Lord Clark, Chairman of the Forestry Commission, said:
"It is now time to significantly raise the profile and importance of ancient woodland by placing it at the heart of our policies on woodlands and forestry. Our ancient and semi-natural woodlands are the jewels in the crown of English forestry, and protecting and enhancing them will now be a high priority. Since the 1980's, our understanding of woodland has increased, new issues have arisen and many of the pressures on the resource have changed. The successful implementation of this policy will depend on developing new approaches and working in partnership with private owners and other key partners and stakeholders."
Simon Pryor, Environment & Conservation Advisor with Forestry Commission England said:
"This policy comprises a comprehensive set of objectives, but there are three critical ones... firstly, preventing any further decline in our ancient woods by addressing the threats that they face, secondly, restoring the majority of the conifer plantations established on ancient sites back to native woodland, and thirdly, creating more native woodland and other associated habitats, where they will complement and buffer the surviving remnants of ancient woodland."
Dr Pryor continued:
"England's woods are complex and vibrant ecosystems. Once we get them in good ecological condition, they are robust and adaptable. This policy therefore includes commitments to foster enterprise in such woodland, such as producing hardwood timber, and to increase the area of woodland that is open for the public to visit and enjoy."
England has a total area of woodland of 1.1 million hectares, of which ancient woodland covers 340,000 hectares (30%). Of this, 140,000 hectares was converted to plantations during the Twentieth Century. The Forestry Commission intends to lead the way in implementing the new policy. It has 53,000 hectares of ancient woodland on its estate.
Rod Leslie, Chief Executive of Forest Enterprise, which manages the Forestry Commission estate, said:
"Most of our plantations on ancient sites will, through careful and gradual improvement, be restored to rich, semi-natural woodland. Often it is only a 'light touch' that is required to remove or reduce a cause of decline or gradually improve their ecological quality. There is an urgency to begin the process, to turn the tide, but there is no rush to finish; indeed, the wildlife found surviving in these woods, and the visitors to them, will both prefer gradual change."
Notes to Editors
Media Contacts:
For documentation and images, contact: Stan Blackley, (m) 07770 742449 (e) stan@portablepr.com. To discuss the new policy statement, action plan and other forestry matters, contact: Simon Pryor, Forestry Commission: (m) 07771 974895 (e) simon.pryor@forestry.gsi.gov.uk or Jonathan Hughes, Forestry Commission: (m) 07770 943201 (e) jonathan.hughes@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Further information and Resources:
Further information, and copies of the "keepers of time: a statement of policy for England's ancient and native woodland" document and action plan are available in electronic PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format from the media contacts shown above, or the Forestry Commission website at: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/keepersoftime
Complementary press releases and statements are available from:
Defra (t) 0207 238 5334 (w) www.defra.gov.uk/news
English Nature (t) 01733 455190 (w) www.english-nature.org.uk/newslink.htm
Woodland Trust (t) 01476 581121 (w) www.woodland-trust.org.uk/news/index.htm