The Restoration of Wooded Landscapes Proceedings of a conference held at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, 14–15 September 2000 Edited by Jonathan Humphrey, Adrian Newton, Jim Latham, Helen Gray, Keith Kirby, Elizabeth Poulsom and Chris Quine The Restoration of Wooded Landscapes Jonathan Humphrey, Adrian Newton, Jim Latham, Helen Gray, Keith Kirby, Elizabeth Poulsom and Chris Quine Forestry Commission: Edinburgh © Crown Copyright 2003 First published in 2003 by the Forestry Commission, 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 7AT. Applications for reproduction of any part of this book should be addressed to: HMSO, Licensing Division, St Clements House, 2–16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ. ISBN 0 85538 589 8 HUMPHREY, J., NEWTON, A., LATHAM, J., GRAY, H., KIRBY, K., POULSOM, E. and QUINE, C. ed. (2003). The restoration of wooded landscapes. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh. i–vi + 1–158pp. Keywords: restoration ecology, forest habitat networks, biodiversity, landscape ecology, native woodlands, biodiversity action plans, habitat action plans Printed in the United Kingdom on Robert Horne Hello Matt FCRP001/PPD(KMA)/LTHPT-1000/MAR03 Front cover: Strathyre Forest, looking south. Near Callander, Scotland. Enquiries relating to this publication should be addressed to: Policy & Practice Division Forestry Commission 231 Corstorphine Road Edinburgh EH12 7AT Tel: 0131 334 0303 Fax: 0131 316 4344 Acknowledgements This publication comprises the proceedings of the conference ‘The Restoration of Wooded Landscapes’, held at Heriot Watt University 14–15 September 2000. The editors would like to express their thanks to the British Ecological Society Forest Ecology Group and the Millennium Forest for Scotland Trust for providing generous financial support for the conference. The Forestry Commission funded the publication of these proceedings. Margaret Plews and Gillian Macintosh (Forest Research) gave sterling support to the conference organisers (Jonathan Humphrey and Adrian Newton) and ensured the smooth running of the conference administration. Jenny Claridge helped with the final editing of the proceedings. ii Contents List of Contributors iii Preface iv Section One: Introduction and Context 1. The UK policy context 3 Tim Rollinson 2. Restoration of wooded landscapes: placing UK initiatives in a global context 7 Adrian Newton and Valerie Kapos Section Two: Research and Modelling tools 3. The processes of species colonisation in wooded landscapes: a review of principles 25 Paul M. Dolman and Robert J. Fuller 4. Establishing native woodlands in former upland conifer plantations in Ireland 37 George F. Smith, Daniel L. Kelly and Fraser J.G. Mitchell 5. Modelling the potential distribution of woodland at the landscape scale in Scotland 47 Alison Hester, Willie Towers and Ann Malcolm 6. Applying an Ecological Site Classification to woodland design at various spatial scales 59 Duncan Ray, Jonathan Clare and Karen Purdy 7. Applications of spatial data in strategic woodland decisions: an example from the Isle of Mull 69 Helen Gray and Duncan Stone Section Three: National and Regional Planning 8. The contribution of the Millennium Forest for Scotland initiative to forest restoration 77 John Hunt 9. Developing forest habitat networks in Scotland 85 George Peterken 10. A management framework to optimise woodland biodiversity in Wales 93 James Latham 11. Woodland restoration and forest planning in Forest Enterprise 101 Wilma Harper 12. The National Trust for Scotland approach to woodland restoration 109 James Fenton and Chris York 13. Costs and benefits associated with restoring plantations versus woodland creation 115 Simon Pryor Section Four: Local Case Studies 14. Geltsdale, Cumbria: restoring wood pasture at the landscape scale 127 Iris Glimmerveen 15. Corrimony: an example of the RSPB approach to woodland restoration 133 Neil R. Cowie and Andy Amphlett 16. Woodland improvement on the Woolhope Dome, Herefordshire 141 Humphrey Smith, Mark O’Brien and Elizabeth Vice 17. Ettrick: a habitat network in the Scottish Borders 147 Andrew McBride Section Five: Conclusions 18. The restoration of wooded landscapes: future priorities 153 Jonathan Humphrey iii Editors Valerie Kapos UNEP – World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Jonathan W. Humphrey, Elizabeth G. Poulsom and Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL. Chris P. Quine 01223 277314 [email protected] Woodland Ecology Branch, Forest Research, Northern Daniel L. Kelly Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY. Trinity College, Dept. of Botany, Dublin 2, Ireland. Adrian Newton +353-1-6082208 UNEP – World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Ann Malcolm Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL. MLURI, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, Grampian, AB15 01223 277314 [email protected] 8QH. 01224 318611 [email protected] Jim Latham Andrew McBride Countryside Council for Wales, Plas Penrhos, Ffordd McBride Habitats, Elm Tree Cottage, New Blainslie, Nr Penrhos, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2LQ. Galashiels, Selkirkshire, TD1 2PF. 01896 860326 01248 370444 [email protected] [email protected] Helen Gray Fraser J. G. Mitchell Scottish Natural Heritage, 2 Anderson Place, Edinburgh, Trinity College, Dept. of Botany, Dublin 2, Ireland. EH6 5NP. 0131 447 4784 [email protected] +353-1-6082208 Keith J. Kirby Mark O’Brien English Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough, Coventry University, School of Natural & Environmental PE1 1UA. Sciences, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5BF. 02476 888 374/639 George F. Peterken List of contributors Beechwood House, St. Briavels Common, Lydney, Gloscester, GL15 6SL. 01594 530452 Andy Amphlett [email protected] RSPB Abernethy Forest Reserve, Nethybridge, Simon Pryor Invernesshire, PH25 3EF. 01479 831476 Oxford Forestry Institute, South Parks Road, Oxford, [email protected] OX1 3RB. 01432 851411 [email protected] Jonathon Clare Karen Purdy Forestry Research, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Forest Research, Alice Holt Lodge, Wrecclesham, Midlothian, EH25 9SY. 0131 445 2176 Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LH. Present address: The Peak [email protected] District National Park Authority, Aldern House, Baslow Neil R. Cowie Road, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1AE. RSPB, Dunedin House, 25 Ravelston Terrace, Edinburgh, Duncan Ray EH4 3TP. 0131 311 6500 [email protected] Forestry Research, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Paul M. Dolman Midlothian, EH25 9SY. 0131 445 2176 School of Environmental Science, University of East [email protected] Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ. 01603 593175 Tim Rollinson [email protected] Forestry Commission, Policy & Practice Division, 231 James Fenton Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 7AT. National Trust for Scotland, Highland Regional Office, 0131 334 0303 [email protected] Abertarff House, Inverness, IV1 1EU. 01463 232 034 George Smith [email protected] Trinity College, Dept. of Botany, Dublin 2, Ireland. Rob J. Fuller +353-1-6082208 [email protected] British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Humphrey Smith Norfolk, IP24 2PU. 01842 750050 [email protected] Coventry University, School of Natural & Environmental Iris Glimmerveen Sciences, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5BF. East Cumbria Countryside Project, Warwick Mill, 02476 888 374/639 [email protected] Warwick Bridge, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA4 RR. Duncan Stone 01228 561601 [email protected] Scottish Natural Heritage, 2 Anderson Place, Wilma Harper Edinburgh, EH6 5NP. 0131 447 4784 FE Forest Planning, Forest Enterprise, 231 Corstorphine [email protected] Road, Edinburgh, EH12 7AT. 0131 334 0303 Willie Towers [email protected] MLURI, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, Grampian, AB15 8QH. Alison J. Hester 01224 318611 [email protected] MLURI, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, Grampian, AB15 8QH. Elizabeth Vice 01224 318611 [email protected] Coventry University, School of Natural & Environmental John Hunt Sciences, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5BF. Millennium Forest for Scotland Trust, 20 York Road, 02476 888 374/639 North Berwick, East Lothian, EH39 4LX. 0141 229 2001 Chris York [email protected] Scottish Natural Heritage, 17 Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen. 01224 642863 [email protected] iv Preface This publication comprises the proceedings of the conference ‘The Restoration of Wooded Landscapes’, held at Heriot Watt University in September 2000. The principle aim of the conference was to bring together researchers, practitioners and policymakers to allow a full and free exchange of views, information and ideas on the theme of native woodland restoration at the landscape scale (areas in excess of 1 km2). This includes creating new native woodland, restoring planted ancient woodland, and expanding existing native woodlands. There are currently a large number of initiatives throughout Britain concerned with the restoration of wooded landscapes. Increasing resources are being channelled into woodland restoration, and partnerships of private and public organisations and individuals are becoming larger and ever more complex. The recently published Habitat Action Plans for native woodlands require a strategic approach to the design and implementation of restoration schemes at the landscape scale and, in particular, the creation of woodland habitat networks. There are a number of gaps in the information required to undertake such a strategic approach, and indeed the approach itself has been questioned. In many respects the pace of restoration has been such that the science has often been struggling