Our Experience of Flora Introduction & Native Woodland Creation - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Can’t See the Woods for the Trees? Our Experience of Flora Introduction & Native Woodland Creation Tim Hall, Head of Estate & Programmes-Scotland

Protect, Restore & Create

21,000 ha of native woodland since 1980

Sylvan Beauty?

Formonthills, Glenrothes

Formonthills 2017 6

Forest of Flowers Plough to a depth of 50-100cm thus inverting soil profile Bury fertile top soil and existing seed bank Sow with wildflower seed (plant or sow trees/shrubs)

Wheeldon Copse-Planted Trees Summer 2003 Autumn 2003 Summer 2006 Spring 2004 Summer 2007 Autumn 2009

Botany Bay-Sown Trees May 2008 Tree seedlings 2008 Glade 2009

Key Points: Deep Ploughing & Soil Inversion • Requires soil inversion • Only suitable for already heavily modified, light, non- stony, low carbon soils • Sites more receptive to colonisation and tree regeneration even many years later • Big visual impact delivers people engagement benefits • Biodiversity benefits for invertebrates (and birds?) • Lower noxious weed issues • Low/zero chemical regime • Costs (2003): £1,300-£2,700/ha 10

Discussion Points • Should we be doing more flora introductions? • If so, how do we pay for it? • What about other introductions-fungi, deadwood? • Are there organisational cultural challenges to overcome? Are we too focused on the trees? • Where shouldn’t we do it?

Thank you…over to you!