Part 2 (Part 1 available in link below). Filmed at Stourhead (Western) Estate - with David Pengelly BSc(Hons) FICFor looks at how financially viable CCF is, why forest owners should consider it and what Government and the Timber industry could do to support it.
Continuous Cover Forestry, or CCF, is a method of timber production that avoids clear felling. Instead, it uses selective harvesting, which reduces the impact on the flora and fauna in the woodland.
We've talked in other films about whether it is possible to have a forest that is multifunctional, that provides recreation for people, habitat for biodiversity and also has a harvestable product such as timber. See past films such as Rewilding the Treescape with Alastair Driver - • Rewilding: Regeneratin...
In a nutshell, the claim is that using Continuous Cover Forestry management techniques woodlands can be diverse, resilient, and profitable through timber sales. Cost and disruption can be kept to a minimum by replacing the felled trees through natural regeneration rather than planting.
Sounds promising. But is it too good to be true?
Tom and Charly want to explore how CCF can meet the many demands that we place on our woodlands.
Last year, Tom was working on the National Timber Strategy (for England) , which emphasised the need to increase timber production in England while enhancing woodland diversity and resilience in the face of climate change and emerging threats. See - www.nationalwo...
Charly and Tom were eager to see how this approach to forestry is different to others. They want to learn how it can improve the economic potential of woodlands while enhancing their ecological condition.
Some History of the Estate: The Hoare family occupation of the Stourhead landscape began with the acquisition of Stourton in the early 18th Century. At this time only 25% of the existing land was woodland.
The present forest and land-use pattern at Stourhead was largely created by Nick Hoare’s ancestors, starting in 1741 they embarked on a major forest establishment project, and also created the Park and outstanding designed landscape garden to the south of Stourhead House which is now in the ownership of the National Trust.
Subsequent members’ of the Hoare family maintained and developed a pioneering interest in forestry and managed woodland has become Stourhead (Western) Estate’s primary land-use.
The principal management objective for the 650-hectare conifer dominated forest is to create a resilient forest capable of sustainably producing high quality and high value timber, whilst generating significant levels of biodiversity and a high-quality landscape. David has been a Forestry Consultant to Stourhead (Western) Estate since 1998
www.selectfor.com
The present owner, N.C. Hoare and his predecessor, H.C. Hoare, have begun to bring this 250-year initiative in sustainable afforestation to its culmination with the inspired work of David Pengelly and others.
David has a Forestry and Agri-environment consultancy business in the Wessex area. And is Director of SelectFor Ltd who specialise in CCF, providing consultancy, training, research and forest monitoring practices.
www.stourhead.com
2 окт 2024
