Thousands of hectares of ancient woodland that have been planted with non-native trees and impacted by invasive species such as rhododendron will be brought back from the brink through a once in a lifetime project, generously funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The Woodland Trust Scotland has launched the exciting project with partners RDI Associates Ltd to work with woodland owners in two priority areas in the north of Scotland, the Great Glen and Three Firths, and the Cairngorms and Hinterland.
1,600 hectares of planted ancient woodland in each area will be in a process of restoration by the end of the four year project, which has been awarded £1.9 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Woodland owners and land managers can access free specialist support and advice to help them manage and restore planted ancient woodland in a way that allows them to reap the side benefits of restoration, which can include the production of wood fuel, improving game management, providing shelter for livestock and making woods more resilient to climate change and disease.
Peter Lowe from the Woodland Trust Scotland said: “Ancient woodland is one of Scotland’s richest habitats supporting hundreds of rare and threatened species. We’re working in 10 priority areas across the UK, including the Cairngorms and the Great Glen to encourage landowners to bring the planted ancient woodland on their land back from the brink.
“Many of the ancient woodlands converted to plantations up until the 1980s are reaching economic maturity. It’s time to think urgently about the future management of these plantations and how to unravel decades of decline by beginning a process of restoration. If this is not started soon the chance to restore the smothered ancient woodland will be lost forever.
“We understand how to apply careful management techniques to ensure that restoring ancient woodland can be carried out alongside existing forestry or game interests, while also helping to revive and protect remaining ancient woodland species, and make these woodlands more resilient in the face of threats including climate change and pests and diseases.”
Just one per cent of Scotland is covered by ancient woodland, an extremely complex and rich habitat which is irreplaceable and is home to some of Scotland’s rarest species. Restoration of this habitat is a gradual process that involves the careful removal over time of non native or invasive species that shade out the struggling remnants. By slowly allowing more light to penetrate the forest canopy, these last fragments can start to recover, reversing decades of decline.
Before the value of ancient woodland was widely recognised, from the First World War to the 1980s, nearly 40% of the UK’s surviving ancient woodland was converted into plantation as a result of the national drive to increase timber reserves. In addition countless hectares have been degraded through the presence of other non-native invasive species such as rhododendron ponticum.
Claire Glaister from RDI Associates Ltd said: “We are delighted to be partners with the Woodland Trust on this exciting project and are looking forward to working with land owners and managers in order to support them with the management and restoration of their ancient woodland.
Scott Petrie from Scottish Land & Estates said: “Restoring ancient woodland can be a win-win situation for landowners because it delivers widespread environmental benefits as well as offering benefits for their business. Sensitive restoration work can be combined with activities including producing wood fuel and managing woodland for game and forestry.”
Duncan Bryden, Convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority said: “Enhancing woodlands in the National Park is one of the key objectives in the Cairngorms Nature Action Plan, so we are delighted it has been chosen as one of the two project areas in Scotland.
“Conifer plantations make up nearly half of the total woodland in the Park and more than a third of these are on Ancient Woodland sites. The project is a fantastic opportunity to build on the years of sensitive and considered management in many of the well-managed plantations which still retain features of our native pinewoods.”