Woodland Strategy 11.34 Mb - the Dorset AONB

Section 7
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Woods and forests have the potential to provide an excellent resource for tourism, physical
activity and enjoyment of the countryside, and as a potential resource for learning and
education for all ages. Walking the Way to Health, Active Woods and Space for People are
recent initiatives aimed at understanding and promoting the use of woods for healthy living.
There is an increasing need for people to learn and experience the natural world and
understand the biodiversity around them in order to encourage sustainable development.
The Forest Education Initiative and the Woodland Trust’s ‘Trees For All’ campaign highlight
the importance of connecting children and adults to the natural world.
Tourism plays a major role in Dorset and could be an important source of revenue for
woodlands. Dorset’s woods contain archaeological and cultural heritage sites and there is
also the opportunity to increase wood usage around existing tourist sites. There is potential
within Dorset to develop woodlands as areas to visit to enhance the experiences of tourists
that come from further afield. People visiting one tourist attraction may well be encouraged
to visit nearby woodland if it is well signposted and way-marked.
Education
Trees, whether individuals, veterans or grouped together as woodlands and forests provide
ideal formal and informal education and learning opportunities. Increasingly woodlands
and forests are being used as outdoor classrooms, with activities linked to the National
Curriculum, as well as for more informal education such as guided walks or forest trails. It is
important that those who are not familiar with woodland management practices understand
the processes and techniques used in order to ensure woodlands remain healthy, and all their
associated species and habitats are sustained. Raising awareness, at all ages and levels, of
woodlands and their value for biodiversity, local economies and rural employment engenders
support and a sense of pride that supports the management of woodlands.
Encouraging people to visit woodlands and interpreting what is happening, and why, is
fundamental to their understanding of the reasons woodlands are managed and why the
woodlands of Dorset are such a valuable resource. Increased opportunities with appropriate
access are to be encouraged for educational purpose and need not be detrimental to other
woodland activities. Educating woodland users is essential.
Woodland Ownership
70% of the county woodland is in private ownership and 55% of these are less than 100
hectares. In the past many of these woodlands were worked, producing quality timber,
coppice products, and shooting. With the increase in imported timber and coppice products
many woodlands are not managed as it is uneconomic to produce timber and associated
products. With such a large proportion of Dorset’s woodlands owned and managed
individually, the complexities of achieving a structured, sustainable approach to their
management are increased. A co-ordinated, integrated approach to woodland management
is essential to ensuring their continued survival and importance for biodiversity, as well as
improving their economic value Engaging with woodland owners and understanding their
motivations would enable a targeted approach through advice, training and grant aid.
Woodland & Trees
Local planning authorities should identify any areas of ancient woodland in their areas that
do not have statutory protection (e.g. as a SSSI). They should not grant planning permission
for any development that would result in its loss or deterioration unless the need for, and
benefits of, the development in that location outweigh the loss of the woodland habitat.
Aged or ‘veteran’ trees found outside ancient woodland are also particularly valuable for
biodiversity and their loss should be avoided. Planning authorities should encourage the
conservation of such trees as part of development proposals.
Through policies in plans, local authorities should also conserve other important natural
habitat types that have been identified in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
section 74 list, as being of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity in
England and identify opportunities to enhance and add to them.
Habitat Networks
Local authorities should aim to maintain networks by avoiding or repairing the
fragmentation and isolation of natural habitats through policies in plans. Such networks
should be protected from development, and, where possible, strengthened by or integrated
within it. This may be done as part of a wider strategy for the protection and extension of
open space and access routes such as canals and rivers, including those within urban areas.
Timber Production & Quality
The cost effective production of timber is greatly determined by the economies of scale
required. Other than for the Forestry Commission and some of the larger private estates,
cost effective production of timber is difficult to achieve, especially without financial aid such
as the England Woodland Grant scheme. In recent years the timber market has been very
poor, resulting in many woodland managers to delaying harvesting in the hope that the
market will improve. In 2006 timber prices improved and many owners have benefited.
Woodland owners utilise the income from timber production to achieve other woodland
orientated objectives, such as improved biodiversity, improved recreation opportunities and
improved sporting opportunities. The decline in income has an obvious knock-on effect for
the management of the forests and woodlands, and if the market does not pick up, or
alternative outlet found, many areas will go un-harvested, resulting in a loss of income and
possible further losslack of sustainable management .