The active management of woodlands will contribute towards delivery of a wide range of benefits including biodiversity, flood mitigation, water quality, carbon capture, landscape value and timber production. Woodland management frequently requires the removal of some trees. The felling of trees (and their ultimate restocking with new ones) is a critical part of management as it contributes to the species and structural diversity that is so important to our woodland health and wildlife. Felling of trees also unlocks important [...]

Introduction Based on the few studies that have explored the effects of woodland establishment on low grade arable land, it is likely that planting trees will result in a net gain in soil organic carbon (SOC) over time – a sequestration process, key to mitigating climatic change. Measuring gains (or potentially losses) of SOC is key to understanding how our woodlands alter the soil beneath them. In time, where gains are measured, it may be possible for landowners to [...]

Introduction Whilst maintaining superior quality agricultural land (grades 1 and 2) for food production is essential in the UK, planting mixed-broadleaf trees on low quality or less productive areas of arable land can provide significant carbon benefit. Carbon sequestration can go beyond simple sequestration in aboveground biomass. This briefing sets out to fully assess the carbon implications of converting just one hectare of degraded arable land into woodland. Reference List: DEFRA (2012) Agriculture in [...]

Introduction Woodland covers just 13% of the total land area in the UK (Forest Research, 2021), compared to a European average of 44%, meaning potential for afforestation in the UK is high (Lamb et al., 2016). With ambitious planting targets of 30,000 hectares of new woodland each year forming a central pillar in the government strategy to reach net zero emissions by 2050, it is imperative that the UK forestry sector adopts an environmentally conscientious approach to tree planting. [...]

What are Forest Schools? Forest schools are spaces where learning takes place in natural settings - usually woodland, forest or parkland. The aim of forest schools is to promote children’s’ interpersonal and cognitive development as well as building knowledge. To achieve this, forest schools encourage children to learn as individuals through exploring, discovering, trying and seeing. Typical activities tend to include fire-lighting, den-building, tree-climbing, foraging, sensory walks and storytelling. Sessions are run by qualified Forest School practitioners – with [...]