trees being planted!

[david156]

Hi all.
Thought i'd just share this with you all.

Just seen on the news that the government is going to let the forestry commision to mass plant trees. Apparantly they will plant an area approx 4% of the uk, increasing the forestry area from 12% to 16%. and they will use a lot of brown field sites, old mines etc... Hope they will plant broadleaved as well as coniferous trees.
If they do it right this should be good news for british wildlife.

We can but hope!

David

[pressld2]

Should be excellent if, as you say, they do it right!

I wonder if it's connected with the "Tree O'Clock" thing that they were plugging on Autumn Watch?

Dave P.

[Jason Claxton]

Yes planting trees would be great ,but a balance of habitats needs to be achieved,for example planting trees on rough grassland would result in a loss of another habitat.And also will the planted trees be from local genetic stock.Mixed woodland does also have benefits for the diversity of species,though I would like to see more broadleaves in general.The idea could be potentially a good one.

[Monkey Orchid]

Where did you see this reported, David? I've just had a (very brief) look at the Forestry Commision website, and I can't see anything about it in their press releases. I'd be interested to know more.

I did find an article on the website which said that an independent panel of scientists, chaired by Professor Sir David Read, has recently released a report which suggests that 10% of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions could be sequestered if an extra 4% of the country was planted with new woodland over the next 40 years.

If the government has accepted the findings of the Read Report and has conclusively stated they will support (and fund) such a project, that would be good news... Especially if the project is carried out taking into account issues such as those raised by Jason in his post.

[david156]

hi.

I heard about it on the BBC news.
Hope this link works.

BBC News - More forests planned to tackle climate change

Cheers David.

[Monkey Orchid]

Thanks for that, David. I watched the BBC report. No mention in it of how the government will ensure the project goes ahead - where the funding will come from etc... I'll keep an ear open for future announcements.