Deer Management – Is It Really Necessary?
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LN o.48 ivinSUMMER 2018 gWoods MAGAZINE The WILDLIFE ISSUE Deer management – is it really necessary? PLUS Burning issues for clean air Dealing with protected species Axing questions – choosing tools for green woodworking CONTENTS here is an animal theme running through the summer issue of Living Woods. Depending on the nature of the critter, the response of Twoodland owners is either conserve, cull or cook and all of these reactions can be contentious. Ecologist and woodland consultant Petra Billings provides advice on what to do if you discover protected animal species in your woodland. Deer manager David Hooton explains why managing deer numbers is beneficial for woodland, and bushcrafter Craig Fordham demonstrates how to make a sturdy adjustable pot hanger for woodland cook-outs. We look at a topical item affecting us all: wood-burning stoves and clean air, and review Dr Qing Li’s book Shinrin-Yoku, on the tradition of Japanese forest bathing. Judith Millidge Editor [email protected] 6 3 News and updates from the woodland world 5 View through the trees by Julia Goodfellow-Smith 6 Protected species in woodlands by Dr Petra Billings 9 Burning issues: the Clean Air Strategy 10 Deer management – is it really necessary? asks David Hooton 13 Firelighting for beginners. Sure-fire instructions from David Alty 9 14 Axing questions – choosing woodworking tools by Maurice Pyle 16 Making an adjustable pot-hanger by Craig Fordham 20 Book review: Shinrin-Yoku by Dr Qing Li reviewed by Matt Larsen-Daw 22 Woodnote Clare Gibson examines the mighty oak tree 24 Woodlands Awards 2018 & Events 25 Courses and Acknowledgements 20 Cover A FALLOW DEER IN A SUNLIT WOODLAND. (Photo courtesy Siska Vrijburg/Unsplash) Published by Living Woods Magazine Ltd, 19 Half Moon Lane, London, SE24 9JU LivingWoodsMagazine.co.uk 2 Living Woods SUMMER UPDATE @Woodland News ASH TREE POPULATIONS DEVASTATED BY JUST TWO FUNGAL SPORES Scientists at the Earlham Institute at the University of Edinburgh have analysed the DNA of ash dieback fungal samples from the UK, Norway, France, Poland and Austria and found that they showed little diversity. In fact, they probably all originated from just two spores. This limited mix of genes in the fungus across Europe would be expected to curb its impact – but instead ash dieback threatens 95% of all European ash trees. The finding suggests that the arrival of a third fungal spore from overseas would be enough to intensify the disease and wipe out prohibited. DON’T MISS SAWFEST! Europe’s remaining ash European ash trees are Sawfest is a new three-day festival based at the populations. under increasing threat Bamford Quaker Community in Sheffield on 27-29 In its native Asia, the fungus from invasive pests such July. It celebrate everything to do with traditional Hymenoscyphus fraxineus is as ash dieback. Other hand saws. Organiser Gavin Phillips claims the event widespread and extremely pests and diseases, such is a first and promises ‘three days of saw joy’ for diverse, but relatively as the Emerald ash borer woodworking and traditional tool enthusiasts. harmless to the native Asian beetle, have been found ‘All human-powered saws of any length are welcome ash species. in Russia and could push – especially the rusty, the bent and the blunt, because Dieback disease in the remaining European they are cheap and teach you a lot’. European ash is caused by ash trees to the brink. Ash Full listings and tickets: www.sawfest.co.uk the same fungus, which has borer beetle has already jumped to a new host. The caused five ash tree species fungal bodies, each about in the US to be threatened the size of a match head, with extinction. produce thousands of tiny Researchers recommend spores that spread on the creating seed orchards to wind. breed ash trees that are less Tree populations take a susceptible to dieback and The trees encountered on long time to recover from other pests. Initial research “ a country stroll disease, so it is vital to in the UK and Denmark is restrict the movement of enabling selection of trees Reveal a lot about potentially infected plants for development. a country’s soul. into and around Europe, The full article is published W H Auden researchers say. Movement in the scientific journal, of ash trees into and Nature Ecology and around the UK is currently Evolution. ” Living Woods 3 SUMMER UPDATE @Woodland News TREE HEALTH and recognises that it is RESILIENCE STRATEGY important to consider both species diversity and genetic The new Tree Health variation within and among Resilience Strategy published populations. by the government at the ‘It is now up to the end of May has been broadly sector work together, with welcomed by forestry Government support, to organisations. Part of the 25 bring more woodland into Year Environment Plan, it management as well as to focuses on delivering three plant new woodland which outcomes to build resilience: is adapted to environmental resistance, response and pressures and is resilient to recovery. It aims to increase expected future conditions.’ the extent of our woodlands, LEAVES ON THE LINE beginning the work during improve the diversity of the bird nesting season, until species and ensure that they 977 Woodland-loving Jo Johnson, the Minister for are managed and healthy. million commuters are probably the Environment, asked them Simon Lloyd, Chief horrified by Network to stop. Executive of the Royal broadleaf trees Rail’s plans to cut down Network Rail is the UK’s Forestry Society said, in England. one million trackside trees fourth largest landowner ‘The strategy clearly spells 18 for every in order to improve rail and has responsibility for 10 out the many benefits of person efficiency. The company million trees. According to well managed woodland added insult to injury by Chief Executive Mark Carne, who was interviewed on Radio 4’s Today programme, the company is trying to manage habitats for biodiversity, but more critically, ‘We have to chop down trees that are at risk of landing on the railway and causing danger to rail users.’ Some 900 trains hit fallen trees in 2014 and no one would dispute that safety must be at the heart of Network Rail’s tree management programme. A tree with a diameter of just 150 mm is regarded as sufficient to cause a derailment. ‘I don’t think Network Rail are in the forestry business,’ said transport writer Christian Wolmar, drily. But perhaps they could take a little more advice from arborists and learn about the benefits of coppicing. 4 Living Woods VIEW THROUGH THE TREES VIEW THROUGH THE TREES Julia Goodfellow-Smith eyes up the quadruped neighbours. ne of the reasons I love providing food and habitat for a range of woodlands so much is the insects, animals and birds, so Nicola and variety of life in them. There James have left some areas uncleared. are the trees, of course, but But, what about the ponies? They are also shrubs and ground flora, plains animals, how are they enjoying Olichen (one of our beech trees is bright living in a woodland? Unlike many horses orange!), birds, animals, butterflies and kept in a field, the ponies have different other insects. areas open to them, which means that they So I was rather shocked the first time I can choose to sunbathe, be in the shade of saw where the ponies had been in Raven’s the trees, eat or walk around their track. Wood. The ground was muddy and James says, ‘The ponies have never completely churned up, and there was not been happier. Although there are open a plant in sight. I wasn’t at all sure that areas in the woodland, they have proved Nicola and James were doing the right themselves to be entirely adaptable. They thing – it looked as though the ponies even choose to sleep amongst the trees JULIA GOODFELLOW-SMITH) (PICTURES COURTESY were completely destroying the habitat at night rather than in one of the open that I love so much. areas.’ I am very pleased to report that I And then I looked up. Behind the was wrong about the ponies destroying area that the ponies were in, I could see the habitat. In fact, they have supported a bramble forest. The tops of the trees James and Nicola’s conservation efforts. were visible above the brambles, but The woodland has opened up and is now The ponies have nothing else. The trees had been densely manageable. The trees have a much better “ even created paths planted and now needed thinning but were chance of thriving now that they have completely inaccessible. been thinned. The number of birds has across the steep Nicola says that, at that stage, there increased, and the ground flora is growing slopes, effectively was little bird life in the woodland, and back. Wild daffodils have returned to terracing the hillside there was certainly no ground flora or the more open areas and the meadow shrub layer apart from the brambles – and promises to provide a more varied habitat and improving in some places, giant bracken. The bird than the dark and enclosed woodland that access for woodland feeders are now busy with a variety of preceded it. birds, darting in and out of the woodland. There is more to do yet, but, thanks to management. After Nicola and James have strimmed a lot of hard work and the support of the the bracken and brambles, the ponies are ponies, Raven’s Wood appears to be well allowed into the area to nibble on any on the way to being a productive and new growth and trample the roots.