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For centuries native trees and woods have provided services and benefits to farmers and society. The Woodland Trust believes that an increase in native trees and woods can play a vital role supporting productive agriculture and helping farms adapt to climate change, whilst providing a range of benefits to society as a whole.
There is likely to be an increase in severe weather including heat waves, higher intensity rainfall and storms. Half of all farmers believe they are being affected by climate change, and over 60 per cent expect to be affected in the next 10 years2. Farming systems are already beginning to adjust. Changes include drilling dates for crops, pest and disease control regimes, selection of varieties and in some cases speculative changes in the types of crops3. Planting trees now can bring immediate gains in productivity while also making the farm more resilient to a changing climate.
Adapting farming systems to climate change Mitigating Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions Improved environmental performance Improving sporting opportunities Generating income Wildlife conservation
Trees and woods have the advantage of being able to deliver multiple benefits simultaneously. For instance, trees along watercourses can help improve water quality while supporting pollinating insects and providing a source of woodfuel.
At least 39 crops grown for their fruit or seed are insect pollinated, and a further 32 need insects for propagative seed production12. Pollination supports food production in the UK to the value of 1bn per year13
Penny Mayes
diseases such as various blights7. Crop yields can be seen to increase as a result of use of windbreaks which improve the microclimate and promote plant growth8. Wind related soil erosion can also be reduced on vulnerable soils. Native deciduous trees are ideal for windbreaks, providing sufficient shelter to slow the wind without creating turbulence on the lee side. In addition they can increase the abundance of pollinating insects9,10,11 providing shelter and a food source, particularly when integrated into hedgerows. In addition trees removed as thinnings from plantations or as coppice can be chipped and used to produce bedding for housed livestock. This can have cost advantages over straw and reduce the release of volatile nitrogen compounds into the air14.
improves oxygen levels in the watercourse to the benefit of fish and other wildlife18.
Trees as buffers to water courses reduce sedimentation and lower water temperatures, increasing the oxygen levels to the benefit of fish and other wildlife
Coed Cymru
to heat the average three bedroom house. Using native tree species has the added benefit of supporting wildlife. When located around farm buildings, trees can contribute towards the mitigation of air borne pollutants including ammonia, a powerful GHG, emitted from livestock units. Trees are able to intercept some of these emissions through dry deposition on the leaf and bark surfaces24,25. It has also been suggested that slowing wind speeds and capturing particulates around livestock units may help reduce spread of airborne animal diseases26.
for use on site. Smaller diameter timber and branch wood can be used for fencing, as firewood or chipped for livestock bedding.
Wildlife Conservation
Expansion of native woodland to buffer and extend habitat, particularly ancient woodland and semi-natural habitats, can help increase their resilience to climate change by reducing the impact of activities on adjacent land. It also provides space for wildlife to spread out from existing habitat. Newly created woodland can see a rapid increase in the abundance of insects amongst establishing trees, attracting birds, particularly species of open country such as sky larks and linnets. The abundance of insects also attracts foraging bats; up to nine species of bats have been found to use even very early stage woodland28. Whilst many of the less mobile plants associated with ancient woodland will not colonise for many years, other woodland plants, such as lords-andladies, herb-robert, wood avens and honeysuckle are faster to colonise. Targeted woodland creation may also help the movement of species through the landscape as climate change alters their natural range29. The planting of individual trees is also important, providing habitat for many species and stepping stones across the landscape. Many of our most important ancient trees are found in fields and along hedges; providing the next generation of ancient trees is vital to the survival of species reliant on this habitat.
Generating income
In most cases timber production is compatible with the other uses for woodland. Establishment and management of native woodland to produce timber may help diversify farm income while reducing our national dependence on imported timber. Larger timber may be sold off the farm or converted
In addition to its other benefits, native woodland can produce timber and diversify farm income
Peter Wakely
References
1 UK Climate Impacts programme. Available at: http://www.ukcip.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=142 [Accessed 26th March 2010] 2
Forum for the Future. Available at: http://www.forumforthefuture.org/node/3029 [Accessed 26th March 2010]
3 Farming Futures, Climate change series, focus on olives. Available at: http://www.farmingfutures.org.uk/documents/Sectionper cent20Attachments/Mark_Diacon_CS8_WEB.pdf [Accessed 26th March 2010] 4
Slusher, J. P., and D. Wallace. (1997). Planning tree windbreaks in Missouri. MU Guide G5900. University Extension. University of Missouri-Columbia.
5 Smith, B.D., and Lewis, T. (1972) The effects of windbreaks on the blossom-visiting fauna of apple orchards and on yield, Annals of Applied Biology, 2:72 Issue 3 , pp 229 335. Published Online: Feb 26 2008 at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119679793/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 [Accessed 26th March 2010] 6 USDA National Agroforestry Centre, Conservation Buffers, Energy Conservation: site, Available at: http://www.unl.edu/nac/bufferguidelines/guidelines/4_opportunities/9.html [Accessed 25th March 2010] 7 Hodges, L. and Brandley, J.R. 1996. Windbreaks: An Important Component in a Plasticulture System. Agronomy and Horticulture Department, University of Nebraska. HortTechnology. 6(3) pp 177-81. Available at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1391&context=agronomyfacpub [Accessed 25th March 2010] 8 Sudmeyer, R., Hall, D. and Jones, H., The effect of tree windbreaks on grain yield in the medium and low rainfall areas in Western Australia, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia. Available at: http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/PC_91078.html?s=1001 [Accessed 26th March 2010] 9 Merckx, T. et al. 2009. Effect of field margins on moths depends on species mobility: field-based evidence for landscape-scale conservation, Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 129 pp 302-309 10 Merckx, T. et al. 2009. Optimising the gain from agri-environment schemes, Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 130 pp 177-182 11
Creation of shade and shelterbelts which improve animal welfare, protect crops and reduce energy consumption On farm energy production from woodfuel Screening of livestock housing to help capture emissions of ammonia and other pollutants Use of native trees to create buffer strips for watercourses and woodland which can help to attenuate flooding Expansion of areas of ancient woodland through native woodland creation Native woodland creation which contributes to the movement of wildlife across the landscape More individual trees in the landscape including in fields and hedges
http://www.unl.edu/nac/bufferguidelines/guidelines/4_opportunities/9.html
The Bee Farmers Association of the United Kingdom, The economic value of bees. Available at: http://www.beefarmers.co.uk/articles/p2_articleid/5 [Accessed 26th March 2010]
12 13 Defra. 2010. Defras Climate change plan 2010. Available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environamnet/climate/index.htm [Accessed 1 April 2010] p.7 14 Centre for Alternative Land Use (2005) Woodchip for animal bedding and compost, Technical Note. Available at: http://www.calu.bangor.ac.uk/Technicalper cent20leaflets/050104woodchipbeddingcompostrev3.pdf [Accessed 26th March 2010] 15 Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Agroforestry Forum, downloaded at: http://www.macaulay.ac.uk/agfor_toolbox/manage.html 16 Carroll, Z.L.Bird, S.B., Emmett,B.A.Reynolds, B. and Sinclair, F.L. (2004) Can tree shelter belts on agricultural land reduce flood risk?, Soil use and management, 20, pp 357-359 17 Calder, I.R, Harrison, J., Nisbet, T.R. and Smithers, R.J. (2008) Woodland actions for biodiversity and their role in water management, The Woodland Trust, Grantham 18 Forest Research, The role of riparian shade in controlling stream water temperature in a changing climate. Available at: http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/riparianshade [Accessed 26th March 2010] 19 DEFRA, Farming - agriculture and climate change. Available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/environment/climate-change/ [Accessed 26th March 2010] 20 Tabler, G.T., Windbreaks for poultry farms, University of Arkansas, Division of Agricultural, Cooperative Extension Service. Available at: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/384/windbreaks-for-poultryfarms [accessed 25th March 2010] 21 USDA National Agroforestry Centre, Conservation Buffers, Energy Conservation: site. downloaded at: http://www.unl.edu/nac/bufferguidelines/ guidelines/4_opportunities/7.html
Planting of native trees and woods can bring multiple benefits to the farm
Jones, B.W.; Oreszczyn, T. 1987. The effects of shelterbelts on microclimate and on passive solar gains. Building and Environment. 22:,
22 23 Woodfuel introducing the benefits, Forest Research. Available at: http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/fr/ infd-66sj5v [Accessed 26th March 2010] 24 Theobald, M. R., et al. Potential for ammonia recapture by farm woodlands: design and application of a new experimental facility, The Scientific World. Available at; http://www.cababstractsplus.org/abstracts/ Abstract.aspx?AcNo=20023039112 [Accessed 26th March 2010]
Sutton, M.A. et al. 2004. The role of trees in landscape planning to reduce the impact of atmospheric ammonia deposition, in Smithers, R.J. (ed) Landscape Ecology of trees and forests, ialeUK
25
Dee, S.,Otake, S., Oliveira, S., and Deen, J. 2009. Evidence of long distance airborne transport of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Vet. Res. (2009) 40:39
26 27 The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Woodland edge. Available at: http://www.gwct.org.uk/ education__advice/english_entry_level_stewardship/ habitat_issues/342.asp [Accessed 26th March 2010] 28 Blakesley, D. (2006) Woodland Creation for Wildlife a guide to creating new woodland for wildlife in Kent and East Sussex, East Malling Research Station, Kent 29 Woodland Trust, Space for Nature. Available at: http://www.treeforall.org.uk/AboutTreeForAll/ WhyTreeForAll/Science/spacefornature.htm [Accesses 26th March 2010]
The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity and we want to see a country rich in native woods and trees enjoyed and valued by everyone.
Our aims 1 to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees 2 to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future 3 to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
The Woodland Trust offers advice to farmers on tree planting and woodland creation. The Woodland Trust's team of advisers is contactable on 08452 935676 or via email at woodlandcreation@woodlandtrust.org.uk If you are interested in find out more information about the work of the Woodland Trust or more details of membership, please contact your nearest Woodland Trust office:
The Woodland Trust Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6LL. Telephone 01476 581111 enquiries@woodlandtrust.org.uk The Woodland Trust Scotland South Inch Business Centre Shore Road Perth, Perthshire PH2 8BW Telephone: 01738 635829 scotland@woodlandtrust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust 1 Dufferin Court Dufferin Avenue Bangor County Down BT20 3BX Telephone: 028 9127 5787 e-mail: wtni@woodlandtrust.org.uk The Woodland Trust Wales (Coed Cadw) 3 Cooper's Yard Curran Rd Cardiff CF10 5NB Telephone: 08452 935860 info@coed-cadw.org.uk
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
4459 08/10
Gordon Murray
The Woodland Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales no. 294344 and in Scotland no. SC038885. Registered in England no. 1982873.