Countryman Diary - January 2011
As we were going to press we were still awaiting further news about the Government’s proposals for selling off areas currently under the wing of the Forestry Commission.
In October the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs sent a letter to MPs outlining its intention to fundamentally reform the public forestry estate, with diminishing public ownership and a greater role for private and civil society partners. The Government also restated its commitment to biodiversity and other public benefits which woodland provides.
The Forestry Commission’s estate covers around eighteen per cent of England’s wooded areas, all of great importance in the provision of access, biodiversity, carbon storage and many other public benefits. Some of the land is producing much of our domestic timber, other areas are almost entirely devoted to public benefit, and others are a mix of the two.
According to the Government, this new approach will mean a reduced role for the State and a growing role for the private sector and civil society. What happens in real life when profiteers and landowners get their hands on these areas is one for conjecture.
There have been comments for and against the proposals — everyone from dog walkers to big business is contributing their views.
And of course there are many who feel that the land belongs to the people, and that the Government has no right to sell it off anyway.
But until the actual detail is known it’s difficult to make a fair judgement.
A Woodland Showcase
Standing within the tree-rich parkland and 350 acres (140 ha) that surround Micklefield Hall, it’s easy to forget that you are still within the M25.
The elegant Grade II Georgian house in Hertfordshire was designed by Sir John Soane in the early eighteenth century. Its farmland is managed for profit and pleasure, but also benefits the local environment and wildlife. More relevant, it could soon have a woodland showcase illustrating why trees are so important.
Owners Jamie and Anna Rankin are dedicated to creating an estate with profitable commercial activities such as weddings and special events at the hall. But a twenty-five-acre (10 ha) site next to the M25 and due out of Countryside Stewardship next year is earmarked for tree planting with a difference: a template for the woodland of the future “For all our sakes we must illustrate the end uses for trees,” Jamie explains, “reminding ourselves of the merits of planting and managing woodland to demonstrate how useful trees can be for future generations.”
Jamie, who studied farm management at Cirencester’s Royal Agricultural College, has integrated tree-planting across the farm. Traditional cricket bat willows already contribute financially, cropped on a twenty-year cycle for commercial sale. And new hedges and native trees now define fields, create wildlife corridors and provide character across a landscape that includes ancient woodland and newer planting from five to twenty-five years.
The Woodland Trust, now working with landowners to plant new woods and trees on their land through its More Trees More Good campaign, is helping the Rankins with grants, design, species and planting advice.
The value of trees for shade, shelter, wood fuel and their ability to cut a holding’s greenhouse gas emissions is also coming higher on landowner agendas, suggests John Tucker, the trust’s woodland creation director.
“On wood fuel, for instance, it’s very appealing to think that five to seven and a half acres (2-3 ha) could provide enough firewood to save £1,000 to £1,500 over oil costs within as little as the average twelve years trees require to reach coppicing level.
“We offer a wealth of practical support. Our advisers will visit larger sites to offer funding and species advice. For smaller schemes we supply expertise and share costs through our own MOREwoods scheme. “It’s time for landowners to see that trees can work on their land.”
You can find out how trees can work for you by calling the Woodland Trust on 0845 2935689 or visiting the website www.moretreesmoregood.org.uk/planting.
Good news for stone-curlews
Two decades of vital help from farmers has seen the population of one of our rarest farmland birds more than double, with 370 breeding pairs in 2010. The recovery of the stone curlew is a great illustration of the effectiveness of targeted conservation action and conservation organisations working closely with farmers.
But, with conservation funding squeezed in the Comprehensive Spending Review, the RSPB is concerned that the recovery may be halted as some farmers will miss out on payments.
Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s director of conservation, explains:
“Farmers have rallied to the cause of the stone-curlew, and the bird’s UK recovery owes much to their support.
“Stone-curlews nest in bare open areas, often choosing farm fields where their nests or young could be lost to routine farm operations. RSPB project officers help farmers to identify threatened nests and take action to protect them. We also provide advice to farmers using green farming schemes, including the Higher Level Scheme, to benefit this bird.
“However, we are concerned that the recent temporary freeze in new agreements will mean that some farmers who were ready to introduce measures for stone-curlews in spring 2011 will miss out.
“This would be a setback to recent progress. Stone-curlews are a good example of why scarce money needs to be targeted towards clear environmental needs.”
Competition Winners
LaCrosse boots: Mrs V E Johnson, Beaconsfield; Mr Alex Hyde, North Ferriby; Mrs Vanessa Harris, Poole.
Nicholas Crane Coast books: Mark Barnard, Hove; Mrs S Matthews, Wimborne; Ms V M Oakes, Thundersley, Essex.
Lady Chatterley’s Lover books: Mr and Mrs Brooke, Southwell, Notts; Steve Andrews, Lancaster; E Horner, Shrewsbury; Christopher Elmore, Reading; Mr N Honeybone, Thatcham, Berkshire.
National Geographic DVDs: R Bosworth, Ashbourne; Mrs L Lambourne, Otley, Mrs M John, Winchester.
Honey Gift Basket: P Taylor, Lyme Regis.
Derimon Smokery Hamper: Mr P J Wisniewski, Droitwich.
… and a Happy New Year
On behalf of The Countryman staff I wish readers and advertisers a very happy and, dare I say it, prosperous, New Year.
Paul Jackson
Editor
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