Correspondence

eAlert: 21 July 2022

Published 21 July 2022

Applies to England

• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland
• Publication for Wales

1. Forestry Commission operational update

1.1 Find out about how we are prioritising to help support our core work.

We have experienced high levels of interest in both woodland creation through our England Woodland Creation Offer and woodland management through Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier. We need to balance the needs to process these grants as well as cover our regulatory duties whilst we continue to recruit and train additional staff (particularly within our Area teams) over the summer months.

Find out more in our operational update.

2. Addressing the possible shortfall of oak for the 2022/23 planting season

2.1 Find out how to approach this planting season.

We are aware of the strong cultural links that many people in Britain have with oak and it is often the first choice of species when considering creating woodland. 

This coming planting season we are facing the possibility of insufficient supply of oak whips from nurseries to meet demand this autumn for our two native species of oak - Pedunculate (Quercus robur) and Sessile (Quercus petraea). 

This is due to limited oak seed produced last autumn (2021). Oak trees (and several other native species) produce seed in natural cycles and this together with a very wet spring, meant a particularly poor supply of seed across much of Western Europe.

As a result, land managers may need to think more creatively about how they approach planting projects this season, assessing availability of oak and considering the possibility of a more diverse planting scheme.

Whilst this news is disappointing, it does give project managers a chance to think differently about species choice. This could result in greater diversity in new woodlands as people select alternative replacement species to oak.

These diverse woodlands can be more resilient to current and future threats if the species are site-adapted and, in turn, can deliver positive benefits for both wildlife and people. 

Read the Forestry Commission’s latest blog to find out more. We also recommend talking to your Forestry Commission Woodland Creation Officer/Woodland Officer to get expert local advice and guidance.

3. A change to the larger eight toothed bark beetle (Ips typographus) demarcated area

3.1 Find out about the changes.

A revised Notice on the Ips typographus demarcated area came into force on 20 July 2022.

The demarcated area has been extended to cover parts of Hampshire, whilst continuing to cover Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, City and County of the City of London, Greater London, East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent and Essex within the boundaries shown in the IPS Demarcated Area map.

Woodland managers, landowners and the forestry industry are being urged to increase their vigilance to the risk of the tree pest Ips typographus – also known as the larger eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle.

Jane Hull, Forestry Commission Area Director for the South East and London, said:

The enhanced plant health enforcement actions announced today will prevent this potentially damaging pest from becoming established, protect the forestry sector, and ensure our vital spruce are retained within the landscape.

More information can be found on the GOV.UK page Larger eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) and in a press release Forestry Commission introduces further controls to tackle bark beetle tree pest.

4. Nature-based Solutions for Climate: apply for a habitat creation grant

4.1 Are you looking to create or restore habitat at a landscape scale? Read on to find out more.

The Nature-based Solutions for Climate programme offers one-off grants to partnership-led pilot projects. Projects must achieve habitat creation and restoration at a landscape scale - an area of at least 500 hectares in size.
Successful applications will receive part of a £5 million pot from public funding.

The pilot aims to:

• learn how carbon accumulates in, and is released from, different habitats across the country
• show how private and public funding can combine to achieve economically viable and long-term environmental objectives
• understand the benefits of considering nature-based solutions at the landscape scale
• provide evidence to inform future grant schemes

The pilot is co-sponsored by BEIS and Defra and is led by Natural England in partnership with the Environment Agency, RBG Kew and the Forestry Commission.

Applications are open from 7 July 2022 and close on 29 August 2022 with the funding running until the end of March 2024.

Find out more about the grant on the GOV.UK page Nature-based Solutions for Climate: apply for a habitat creation grant and in the Natural England blog post New Grant Scheme Opens: Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change at the Landscape Scale.

If you have any questions about the application process or the programme please contact Natural England at: sofnbsforclimatechange@naturalengland.org.uk