Geoff garrett

Woodland Creation in the

Yorkshire Dales National Park.

What types of woodlands do we plant in the National Park?

What type of woodland do we have in the National Park?

Tie a yellow ribbon

What types of trees are found in the National Park?

Tie a yellow ribbon

Large trees Common AlderAshElm

Wild CherrySmall leaved limePendunculate Oak

Sessile OakCrack WillowWhite Willow

Used as a punishment

Small trees Downy birchSilver birchBird CherryCrab AppleField Maple

HollyRowan

WhitebeamGoat Willow

Hazel

Light green colour

ShrubsBlackthorn, Broom,

Dogwood, Elder,Gorse, Guelder Rose

Hawthorn, HoneysuckleOsier, Wild privet

Grey Willow, Purple willowJuniper

Non native trees that are important

Sycamore

Beech

Sitka Spruce

Larch

Scots Pine

Endless list of exotic species

A nutty girl

These species make up the majority of the tree cover within the Dales.

Where do you find these trees and how are they grouped together?

Ancient Semi Natural Woodland

There are 25 categorised woodland communities (NVC) in the UK.

18 are found in the Dales along with the majority of sub communities.

7 are absent (2 are confined to Scotland, 2 are lowland willow carr, 3 are scrub communities)

Upland mixed (ash) woodland

AshDowny birchRowanSessile oakWych elmAlderHollyaspen

Bird cherryHazelHawthornElderGrey sallow

Avoid an ash, for it courts a flash

Wet WoodlandAlderAsh

Downy birchOak

RowanHolly

Willow Hazel

hawthorn

Light green colour

Upland oak woodland

Sessile oakDowny birch

RowanHolly

AspenHazel

Hawthornjuniper

“Nibble a hawthorn leaf to stop your tummy rumbling”

Scrub

Juniper

Downy birch

Rowan

(scots pine)

Two species that have had an impact on new woodland planting.

Black Grouse

Red Squirrel

Amend the existing planting mix to benefit these species.

A nutty girl

Many different plants and animals are associated with these three

types of woodland.

The most important woodland type that we have is the upland ash woodland

Nationally recognised as important for the assemblage of plants associated with the woodland

Total woodland cover• ASNW – 0.84%

• PAWS sites – 0.23%

• Other types of broadleaved woodland – 1.06%

• Conifer plantations – 1.94%

At the seaside

How much Ancient Semi Natural Woodland have we got in the YDNP?

Not a lot

0.84% or 1480ha

Hay Meadows – 1.6%

Limestone pavements – 0.8%

Ancient Semi natural woodland • Our oldest woodlands • Been modified in the past • Strong historical link to the landscape• Immensely important, being a direct descendant

from the once extensive and complex post-glacial woodland

WOODLAND CREATION

After the fire

Progress so far• 1995 – 2006 = 660ha• 2006 – 2008 = approx 166ha• 2009/10 = 127ha• Total planted to date = 953ha 2065 acres

2000 good sized football pitches 8.26 sq km 3.2 sq miles

• Present target = 100ha/yr until 2020

Where have we been planting these trees?

Hawthorn leaves make a refreshing tea.

• Where will we be planting new woodlands in the future?

“Alder flowers dye clothes green” – Robin Hood’s house keeping tip to Maid Marion

Existing special qualities

What needs to be taken into consideration when planting a new woodland.

• Archaeology• Landscape (Woodland Design Guide)• Access• Nature conservation value.

Forest Habitat Networks

Linking The Dales’ Woodlands

Druids use hazel to invoke invisibility

Forest Habitat Network

Aim:

• To identify areas which if planted with an appropriate New Native Woodland would provide significant woodland conservation benefits.

Rowan berries have been ground and used instead of flour

• “A habitat network is a configuration of habitat that allows species to move and disperse through a landscape. Networks can be produced for a particular type of habitat. For example, a forest habitat network focuses on how woodland species utilise woodland habitat and disperse through this and other habitat types in the wider landscape.” (Forestry Commission, 2007)

What is a habitat network?

The result is:

• Increased connectivity;• Less fragmentation;• More continuous woodland cover;• Improved corridors for the movement of species;• More robust and sustainable habitats;• Lower risk of species extinctions.

Priorities

• Filling in gaps to join pockets of woodland;• Increasing the width of narrow bands of

woodland;• Increasing the overall area of woodlands;• Planting on sites that were wooded historically

but no longer retain tree cover.

• Also need to consider what might eat new trees.

• Deer, Sheep, rabbits, voles all destroy woodlands

• Hence the use of plastic tree shelters

• Plastic tree shelters are many and varied

• Want protection for the tree but

• Not so that it grows so well that it bends over when it grows too tall

Current favoured guard is A***n shelter guard. Biodegradable. Tree Environment

Where does the money come from for planting new woodlands?

•National Park Authority

•Forestry Commission

•Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust

•Agri-environment Schemes

•Woodland Trust

•Land owner