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Natural regeneration and nurturing existing woodlands

  • by JW

‘right tree, right place’

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Is planting loads of trees a good thing?

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Here’s a way forward from the Suffolk Wildlife Trust:

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Woodland by natural regeneration

Natural regeneration is the best way of creating a new woodland for wildlife and expanding ancient semi natural woodland. Not only is it less expensive than planting up sites, but trees established by regeneration are more likely to be better adapted to local conditions and will result in a more natural composition suited to a variety of wildlife.

Wistman’s Wood, Dartmoor: By alex jane from london, uk – ancient woodland, CC BY-SA 2.0

The pressures on ancient woodland from farming and development mean that natural regeneration adjacent to ancient semi-natural woodland can help to preserve the historic characteristics of the trees and plants. However, as with all wildlife management, it is vital that such schemes are carried out in the right place.

Woodland by natural regeneration | suffolkwildlifetrust.org

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And here’s this week’s Radio 4 episode of Costing the Earth:

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Forests of the Future

Natural regeneration and nurturing existing woodlands could be a better way to capture carbon long term and improve biodiversity.

Peter Gibbs delves into the detail behind the mantra of ‘right tree, right place’ to find out what we should be planting, where we should plant and how to create a forest fit for the future.

Forests of the Future | bbc.co.uk

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It’s catching on:

Wild riches: uncovering Knepp estate’s ambitious rewilding project | positive.news

GIVING NATURE A HAND | conservation.org