I’ve been working on a plan, recently, to get some more trees in the ground. Nothing new there to anyone who has visited this blog before, but I thought it was time for an update.

 

I chair the Northwest Forestry Framework (soon to change it’s name to something more in keeping with the political zeitgeist, but more on that another time) and have been working with a whole host of people, both in the Northwest but also in the national offices of the Forestry Commission, to put forward several areas in the Northwest as possible pilot areas for a major national push on woodland creation.

 

As an area of England with a level of woodland cover well below the national average, there is scope and opportunity for large scale tree planting and development right across Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside. When you look at the statistics, we are poorly served in these areas when it comes to woodlands.

 

The good news is that each of these areas has also developed clever and canny new models for woodland creation that deliver multiple benefits and move beyond traditional public sector investment models towards partnerships with business and the voluntary sector.

 

It’s all very, ‘Big Society’.

 

Now these areas are signing up to a ‘forestry manifesto’ that I’ve been touting around the region since the start of the year. This manifesto seeks, over 40 years, to deliver a doubling in woodland cover, to have an immediate and significant impact on carbon stores, timber production, environmental resilience, green jobs, local image and happiness and wellbeing; this is a vision of an intensely productive, as well as beautiful, landscape.

 

Show me the money

 

It all sounds very motherhood and apple pie, but who is going to pay? There are a number of existing or planned investment models across the Northwest which warrant further development and replication elsewhere. These include:

 

• Woodland planting as a key aspect of PFI (Public Finance Initiative) contracts and, specifically, waste management strategies;

 

• Working with large-scale developers to create an attractive setting for investment and adding value to land-based asset portfolios;

 

• Practical business partnerships providing improved local area ‘image’, biomass resources or climate change adaptation;

 

• Woodland or green infrastructure bonds, where investors can support woodland creation by investing in a bond that provides non-fiscal benefits in lieu of interest payments as part of a CSR or sustainability strategy;

 

• Developing a suite of woodland creation opportunities alongside community interest levies/section 106 arrangements where developers support environmental works as a condition of their planning consents; and

 

• Integrated land use planning to maintain and improve water quality.

 

• Landscape-scale, economically-linked programmes to aid recovery and local economic resilience.

 

Some of the above options sound a little jargon laden, but they have the potential to help us get some trees in the ground, and that’s what I care about. Each of these investment models is either already in play across one of our counties or city regions, or is ready to be developed by one or more partners.

 

Breaking down barriers

 

From the discussions we’ve been having so far, these partners are ready to start delivering woodland creation, on the ground, if certain barriers to progress can be removed. These barriers include:

 

• The ‘Hope value’ attached to under-utilised land and the misplaced notion that new woodlands permanently remove large areas from possible future development;

 

• More flexible, short to medium term land use deals and frameworks that will allow the notion of ‘temporary’ woodland to be pursued;

 

• Clear signals on the future of carbon pricing and accounting in relation to woodland creation;

 

• The lack of a mechanism for business to report on the carbon benefits of woodland creation programmes as part of their net greenhouse gas emissions; and

 

• The consideration of effective tax regimes to encourage investment in new planting in areas of need as a way for business to play a part in ‘big society’ programmes.

 

Making it happen

 

So the exciting thing is that if we bash down a few barriers, win over some hearts and minds, and pull our fingers out, the partners in the Northwest Forestry Forum are ready to begin work piloting a new wave of woodland creation using innovative funding and delivery models such as these.

 

More trees, in the ground, delivering a huge range of benefits.

 

And the track record for delivery across the region is solid and impressive, with the Community Forests (e.g. Mersey Forest and Red Rose Forest) having already planted 12 million trees and millions more having been planted through the Forestry Commission’s Capital Modernisation Fund and Newlands programme.

 

Here are some more tangible examples of where can start planting.

 

Real life example - Mersey Belt

 

There is an immediate opportunity for an ‘Adapting the Landscape’ pilot across what has been coined the ‘Atlantic Gateway’, connecting the twin city regions of Greater Manchester and Merseyside with the Northern areas of Cheshire.

 

Such a pilot would be focused on woodland creation in and around key physical development sites and along transport corridors; on productive forestry including biomass; on leisure, recreation and the ‘visitor economy’.

 

Funding can be drawn from business through receipts from soils deposition, community interest levies, Section 106 agreements, through an easing of planning constraints if the creation of greenspace is assured and possible short-term amnesties against business tax.

 

Delivery partners would include large development businesses in the area, as well as the key Local Enterprise Partnerships and the voluntary sector in the form of community forests and Groundwork.

 

Real life example - Lancashire

 

In Lancashire there is already an innovative model for woodland creation in the form of the county’s ‘Woodlands from Waste’ programme linked to a soon to be commissioned, 25 year, £2 billion Waste PFI.

 

A partnership of Lancashire County Council, 13 Local Authorities and their commercial contractor, Global Renewables, alongside the Forestry Commission, will be planting and managing 100,000 new trees per year for the next 25 years - creating woodland on brown and greenfield sites across the area. The cost is being met through savings on landfill taxes and, in addition, is utilising a growing medium by-product of the waste treatment process.

 

Real life example - Cumbria and Lancashire

 

Water company United Utilities has pioneered a programme called the Sustainable Catchment Management Programme (SCaMP), working with farmers and land managers, local authorities, Government and other conservation organisations to influence how water catchment areas are managed and properly funded. The objective is a double win of improved water quality (under the European Water Framework Directive) as well as conservation of the natural environment. UU’s partner in the programme has been the RSPB.

 

The project has leveraged in public funding to help deliver an increase in clough woodland, with 450 hectares of upland oak woodland to be planted, some 300,000 trees being planted and 200km of fencing to allow for moorland restoration and woodland planting. It has carried out the work in two of its four estate areas: Bowland in Lancashire, and the Southern estate including Longdendale, the Goyt and parts of the Peak District.

 

Meeting Defra’s priorities

 

It may sound a bit arcane, but in the absence of any major eco bills or statements, there are still some clear signals as to what the new government’s priorities are, not least in the departmental ‘Structural Reform Plans’ which have beenpublished. How does the above outlined activity ‘fit’ with the three key priorities outlined in Defra’s structural reform plan?

 

The woodland creation opportunities highlighted can directly contribute to and foreshorten the delivery of each priority and relevant actions and milestones. Specifically:

 

Support and develop British farming and encourage sustainable food production

 

Defra’s objective is to enhance the competitiveness and resilience of the whole food chain, including farms and the fish industry, to ensure a secure, environmentally sustainable and healthy supply of food with improved standards of animal welfare.

 

Woodland creation can contribute to this objective in a number of ways. It will provide affordable measures of support for hill farmers via diversifying farm incomes e.g. through timber sales and reduced energy cost savings through woodfuel.

 

It will also help with animal husbandry, particularly in the uplands, primarily through the provision of shelter. Woodland creation will also lead to more sustainable, integrated land use where for example, higher value agricultural land holdings can be protected through woodland creation ‘upstream’ stablising soils and alleviating flooding.

 

Biodiversity and landscape

 

Defra’s objective is to enhance and protect the natural environment, including biodiversity and the marine environment, by reducing pollution and preventing habitat loss and degradation.

 

A pilot of new woodland creation in the Mersey Belt, Cumbria or Lancashire will contribute to this in a number of ways.

 

It will deliver more green spaces for local communities, new native habitats and wildlife corridors needed to help wildlife adapt to expected climate change impacts. It will help stabilise soils, improve water quality and reclaim damaged, brownfield land. In addition there will be increased tree planting by private sector and civic societies.

 

Support a strong and sustainable green economy, resilient to climate change

 

Defra’s objective is to encourage businesses, people and communities to manage and use natural resources in a sustainable manner and to reduce waste; and work to ensure that the UK economy is resilient to climate change.

 

A woodland creation pilot will directly address this objective, as the approaches above show, it can directly provide a source of carbon storage and can be deployed in partnership with the private sector.

 

Next steps

 

As you might imagine, I’m dead keen to play these arguments out to national players - especially Defra - but also to the emerging Local Economic Partnerships which have been causing such a stir in local politics over the last few weeks.

 

In addition, this proposal will be the centrepiece of our next meeting of the Forestry Forum on November 8 of this year; if you want to come along, just let me know. We need every bit of help we can get to achieve that goal we’ve set for ourselves - a doubling of woodland cover.

 

To view the Manifesto presentation online, please click here  (You can also download the presentation from this link too.)

 

 

 

 

The Regional Forestry Forum this year will take place on 15th October 2009, 2 – 4:30 pm

It will be held in Preston at The Gujarat Hindu Society Centre,South Meadow Lane,Preston,PR1 8JN

The Forum is of particular importance this year as we will refresh the current delivery plan and look to embed Forestry, in its widest sense, into the developing integrated regional strategy, RS2010. We will also assess progress on the current delivery plan and identify the key issues/opportunities for the sector.

The programme for the Forum meeting will follow but we hope that you will pencil this important meeting into your diaries and register your interest in attending the event through the link below.

We look forward to your involvement in continuing to develop the role of the Forestry sector in the North West.   Apologies for any cross-postings.

Location details:   http://www.ghsenterprise.co.uk/contact_ghs_centre.html

Click on the link to register:   http://www.doodle.com/8ezduam9s87a2bup

The need to hit our targets on woodland cover, maintain a healthy supply of timber and cut carbon emissions are all critical points in considering a policy on open habitat restoration.  This is according to a submission from the Northwest Forestry Framework to the Forestry Commission’s consultation on expanding open habitats from woods and forests in England.

The consultation ended on 5 June and will result in an options paper for ministers, prepared by the Forestry Commission. The Northwest’s response urged the Commission to set the target for restoration at a low level due to concerns over the region’s long-stated strategic aim of extending woodland cover as well as points raised by regional partners around carbon balance, the public acceptability of woodland removal, long-term management costs and the confidence of the timber industry. The Forestry Commission has recently published a summary of the responses to the consultation which can be viewed here (http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/INFD-7LZKKA)

The Forestry Commission is now working up detailed policy proposals to put to Ministers in the Autumn.

Newlands 2008, highlights

Belfield, Rochdale
More than £1.75million of regeneration funding was invested into a 28ha brownfield site that links a number of communities close to Rochdale town centre in Greater Manchester.  By developing a number of paths, bridleways and cycle paths, outdoor play and classroom facilities and a fishing lodge, as well as considerable environmental management, the site has been transformed from a ‘no-go’ area into a well-used community asset.   The work at Belfield contributes to the economic regeneration of the area – enhancing investment by Housing Market Renewal and encouraging growth in the local Kingsway Business Park.  Newlands has also kick started some inspiring community development – local people have produced their own celebration film for Belfield, and the site is extremely well used by local schools, youth projects, community groups etc.

Investment:
An NWDA investment of £1,787,757.  Additional funding has been provided by Biffaward and ERDF
Size:
28ha
Project partners:
NWDA, Forestry Commission, Rochdale MBC (site owners), Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale and Pennine Edge Forest
Key deliverables:
community park, outdoor class room, football pitch, fishing lodge, wetland area, cycle, foot and bridle paths and gateway features

Brockholes, Preston
Brockholes, a 106ha former quarry site close to the M6 in Preston, was purchased under the Newlands programme in 2007.  However, 2008 has seen considerable activity on the site, including a RIBA design competition for the site’s visitor facilities.  Judged by a panel including Wayne Hemmingway, the competition resulted in Adam Khan Architects being selected as the scheme’s designers, following their submission of ‘A Floating World’; a design for the visitor centre that includes a community of floating buildings, making the most of the site’s wetland habitat. Brockholes is currently in the ‘project evaluation’ phase with the NWDA, and if successful, funding will be released to develop the site over the next two to three years.

Investment:
An initial investment of £800,000 was made by the NWDA to purchase the site (with additional funding from Lancashire Wildlife Trust members and the Tubney Charitable Trust). Further funding is now being sought under Newlands to develop the site.
Size:
106ha of brownfield land, and an additional 66ha of existing semi-natural ancient woodland make up the Brockholes project area.
Project partners:
NWDA, Forestry Commission, Lancashire Wildlife Trust (site owners and managers)

Town Lane, Southport
This June, over £1.78million of investment was announced for the regeneration of Town Lane in Southport, which comprising two former landfills and unmanaged grasslands located to the south east of the town centre, Southport General Hospital and an area listed in the top 70th percentile of National Index of Multiple Deprivation.
Helping to economically and socially rejuvenate 26ha of Southport’s neglected land, Newlands at Town Lane is also working within the region’s red squirrel zone, and Newlands will work towards the protection and preservation of these endangered species.  Work on Town Lane has included the large scale recycling of waste sand from a local extraction company, which has been turned into a growing medium on site.

Investment:
£1.78million investment from the NWDA, £225,000 from The Mersey Forest (via EU Objective One funding)

Size:
26ha of brownfield land

Project partners:
NWDA, Forestry Commission, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, Mersey Basin Campaign, Environment Agency, The Mersey Forest, BTCV and Groundwork Merseyside

www.newlandsproject.co.uk

—

South Cumbria is one of England’s most wooded areas, and has many extremely important woodlands designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).  A recent analysis found that 325 hectares* of woodland SSSIs were in unfavourable condition because of recent rises in deer population.

Increased deer numbers has meant that woodlands are failing to regenerate because seedlings are being browsed and destroyed. Some existing trees such as rowan and ash are being badly damaged by bark stripping.  A Cumbria Woodlands project, funded by the Forestry Commission and Natural England, is hoping to resolve some of the issues.  Alastair Boston has been appointed as project contact, and will undertake deer population monitoring, research and awareness-raising work.

The project will contribute towards the Government’s target of 95% of SSSIs to be in favourable or recovering condition by 2010.  It is hoped that deer numbers can be reduced to maintain a more healthy animal population and to allow a better balance between the woods and the deer.

One of the key aspects of the project will be to develop a “landscape-scale” approach so that neighbouring land managers and owners work together across sites to manage deer.  In the first instance, three areas are being targeted - Duddon Valley, Rusland Valley and Longsleddale.

For more information, contact Alastair Boston at Cumbria Woodlands:   deerproject@cumbriawoodlands.co.uk

*  (ie roughly the size of 270 football pitches)

A report, commissioned by the Regional Forestry Framework has called for a full regional audit of urban trees, which can be used as base data to drive up the level of tree cover in some of our towns and cities. The recommended audit (which may become a part of the new England’s Trees, Woods and Forests Strategy delivery plan) would be delivered through the local authorities, but would use a standardised methodology.

The Regional Forestry Framework Delivery Group is encouraging local authorities to develop local urban tree audits, in order to capitalise on the many benefits that urban trees can provide.  There is currently very little way of evaluating any net gain in urban tree cover or whether existing trees are in the optimum place, or condition, to deliver benefits.  Yet urban trees are a key component of green infrastructure and climate change adaptation responses, and can have an important role in maintaining good air quality standards, in developing a strong sense of place and in community engagement programmes.

A recent report commissioned by the RFF group showed that the idea of carrying out urban tree audits was highly supported.  Manchester City Council has recently completed an urban tree audit, and neighbouring Salford City Council has now just commissioned Red Rose Forest to carry out one.  Red Rose Forest has developed a set of display materials to show what an audit entails.  The display also shows possible ways of using the final results.   We hope that the materials will be available for use by others in the region soon.

More information contact Clare Mumford at Natural England for the RFF group
(link to clare.mumford@naturalengland.org.uk)

Update from Regional Forestry Framework Forum

 Feedback from the Forum was generally very positive with 88% responding that the event was good or excellent

  

QUESTION

POOR

ADEQUATE

GOOD

EXCELLENT

There were also positive responses about people wanting to be involved in the future refresh of the Framework and hearing more about it. There was a large response of “don’t know” to the question about whether the Framework has made a difference - something that has to be addressed in the refresh.

 

YES

NO

DON’T KNOW

As part of its NEMO Project, Natural England earlier this year commissioned research into a Treescapes Site Inventory, initially focussed around the Bassenthwaite Lake catchment in Cumbria.  The work was conducted by Hallam Environmental Consultants Ltd who were requested to identify, map and assess the quality of the ancient tree resource in the catchment.  The research collates data from a variety of secondary sources, verified by fieldwork on a small sample of sites.

Natural England is now looking into how best this work can be taken forward so that it becomes an accurate inventory and a useful tool in safeguarding our ancient tree resource.  We would therefore be very interested in your views on the work, in particular on the following aspects:

1.      improving the quality of the database and the methodology
2.      applying the methodology beyond the Bassenthwaite Lake catchment
3.      applying the database in practice
4.      integrating the work into other initiatives
5.      disseminating the data

The following documents can be downloaded below:
1.       the report:
2.       a summary of the report
3.       sample outputs from the GIS database

Please contact Christoph Kratz (christoph.kratz@naturalengland.org.uk) for further information including a full copy of the database and the GIS in MapInfo or ESRI format.  Christoph is very keen to have your feedback on the report and the database.  He will also be orgainising a workshop in the next few months to take this work further.

Bassenthwaite Treescapes: HEC Report 2008 (summary)

Bassenthwaite Treescapes: HEC 2008 (full report)

Bassenthwaite Treescapes: sample GIS output - wood pasture and parkland

Bassenthwaite Treescapes: sample GIS output - vetran and notable nr Rosthwaite

Bassenthwaite Treescapes: sample GIS output - attributes example

Bassenthwaite Treescapes: sample GIS output - all records - features

Natural England have recently announced the launch of a new Countdown 2010 Biodiversity Action Fund. They have secured £5 million for the next three years to fund projects run by Voluntary Conservation Organisations. Natural England will be funding projects that can demonstrate how they will benefit BAP priority species and habitats in England through working at a landscape-scale, developing the evidence base, protecting the best sites, working in partnerships and being sustainable. The application process will be open from 22 May to 18 July 2008 and Natural England hope to be able to announce awards by the start of September. Awards will be for a min of £25k per year and up to a max of £250k per year.
Full details are now available on the external website: www.naturalengland.org.uk/conservation/grants-funding/countdown.htm

Main contact: Trudie Mills (Biodiversity, Plants & Fungi Team) - 01733 455185.

Email: countdown2010@naturalengland.org.uk

North West Region Urban Tree Survey Methodology final report.doc

A scoping report for a regional audit of urban trees concludes that the Regional Forestry Framework has an important lobbying role to raise the profile of urban trees at all levels of the planning process.

The RFF delivery group commissioned the report from ADAS and Myerscough College to see how the group might better support the region’s urban tree planting, maintenance and protection work. The report concludes that there is very high support for carrying out a canopy survey of urban trees in the region. It recommends that RFF focus on advocacy and network development to raise the profile of urban trees within local authorities, and to encourage local authorities to carry out a survey using a standardised methodology to build up a region-wide picture. With this in mind, the RFF group have sent comments on required actions to the national team developing the new Delivery Plan for England’s Trees, Woods and Forests Strategy.

The urban trees audit report is now available on the iwood website. Next steps in the North West will be discussed in the near future. For more information, please contact Clare Mumford at Natural England, clare.mumford@naturalengland.org.uk