What wildlife rich looks like:
Healthy native trees across Devon of all ages, with lots of dead and decaying wood and supporting a wealth of wildlife (insects, bats, birds, lichens, fungi etc).
Healthy native trees across Devon of all ages, with lots of dead and decaying wood and supporting a wealth of wildlife (insects, bats, birds, lichens, fungi etc).
To be added
Ancient and veteran treesA tree that has reached a great age compared to others of the same species and has cultural, landsca... More are irreplaceable habitatsThe natural environment in which an animal, plant or other organism lives. More
Lots of trees don’t grow in woodlands. Individual trees, lines of trees and small copses are scattered everywhere across Devon’s rural and urban landscapes. They provide important wildlife habitatThe natural environment in which an animal, plant or other organism lives. More (shelter, nesting sites, food) for a host of common and rare insects, birds, bats, lichens and mosses. They can also provide stepping stones for wildlife and dark tree lines provide flight lines for bats.
Forest Research calls these trees and copses Trees Outside Woodlands. Their mapping shows that in Devon they cover nearly 40,000 hectares, making up almost one third of tree cover. The lowest cover is in the uplands of Dartmoor and Exmoor, whilst some of the highest canopy cover is in Plymouth. The Trees Outside Woodlands map is shown on the LNRS Viewer under ‘Other Useful Layers / Woody Habitats’.
In the countryside they include a very wide range of native and non-native speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More (sycamore, horse chestnut and sweet chestnut being examples). In Devon’s villages, towns and cities native trees are scattered amongst a wide range of exotic and ornamental speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More. In Plymouth, for example, there are over 54 recorded tree speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More.
Trees outside woodlands also have huge social and economic benefits. In towns and villages they provide shade, absorb pollutants and reduce noise. Trees help to create beautiful places to live, provide a sense of tranquillity and daily contact with nature. Trees also provide huge benefits on farms and the practice of proactively integrating them into the agricultural landscapes is now known as agroforestryA way to manage land that combines trees and hedges with agriculture to provide environmental, econo... More.
Trees capture and store carbon, produce oxygen, reduce pollution, reduce flooding, improve our soils, support wildlife, and lots more. They are essential to life across Devon.
There are separate sections of the LNRS for Ancient and veteran trees, Orchards, Wood pasture and parkland and Hedgerows.
To add following Consultation to ensure the latest data is used.
Area and distribution
Forest Research data shows that the total area of Trees Outside Woods in Devon is 39,114 haHectare: an area of 10,000 square metres, or 2.47 acres More . (RK unsure as to whether we can use this figure – why?)
Condition
Little is known about the health of Devon’s Trees Outside Woodlands.
Given the huge value of trees there is currently huge momentum nationally and in Devon to increase tree cover, including trees outside woodlands. This is largely driven by climate change but also by an increased awareness and appreciation of trees. Community groups, local authorities and other organisations across Devon are looking for opportunities to increase tree cover and to ensure that any trees that do need to be felled are replaced. This provides a huge opportunity to increase tree cover. It is important that trees are not planted where this will harm other wildlife-rich habitatsThe natural environment in which an animal, plant or other organism lives. More or speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More – see Where to focus action.
There are huge opportunities to improve the inclusion of trees (alongside other wildlife habitatsThe natural environment in which an animal, plant or other organism lives. More) in the design of new developments and infrastructure projects. This must be done to maximise multiple benefits (reducing noise and air pollution, flood control, shade, contact with nature etc).
There are demonstrable financial and environmental benefits from having more trees and woods on farms. In fields and hedges they assist with land stabilisation, water retention, shade and shelter. When planted in more structured patterns in grazed land (known as silvopastureA system that combines trees with grazing land. More) or arable land (known as silvoarable) fruit and timber trees can be an integral part of the productive farming process delivering financial benefits alongside nature recovery.
Many trees outside woodlands, especially in towns and villages, are subject to some sort of management. Reasons include safety, visibility, nuisance, damage and subsidence. When done well management can enhance the health, longevity and appearance of the tree. However it can often be done badly and this can exacerbate safety and nuisance issues and shorten the life of the tree. Widespread adoption of high quality tree care will assist nature recovery and be cost effective.
Tree management must be undertaken at the right time of year – both for the tree and to minimise impacts on wildlife (including meeting legislative requirements) e.g. avoiding disturbance to nesting birds and roosting bats.
Native trees and other wildlife have evolved together and retaining, replacing and increasing native trees must be a priority. However there are opportunities to grow a wide range of non-native and ornamental speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More that support wildlife and to reflect climate change. In urban areas a wide range of tree speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More can deliver cooling, pollution control and water flow reduction. In farmed landscapes tree speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More can be selected for their fruiting, fodderFood, such as hay or silage, for cattle and other farm animals. More and shade potential.
There is funding available from DEFRA, the Forestry Commission and organisations such as the Woodland Trust to support the planting of trees outside woodlands.
Better (healthy and wildlife rich) and more trees outside woodlands across Devon in rural and urban areas.
For links to detailed guidance and funding see Find out more.
Manage trees to maximise their wildlife value by following best practice guidance.
Headline actions include:
Increase tree cover across Devon in urban and rural areas. Follow best practice guidance regards speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More selection, spacing, aftercare etc.
Consultation question: Other actions needed here? Discuss with Woodland Trust / Devon Tree Officers Group etc.
Increase agroforestryA way to manage land that combines trees and hedges with agriculture to provide environmental, econo... More across Devon draft – need to discuss and get actions from the farming group
Trees cover should be expanded across Devon other than in sensitive areas (see below).
Mapped High Opportunity Areas include:
Tree planting and natural regeneration should be avoided in the following High Opportunity Areas:
Advice should be obtained before carrying out tree planting in the following High Opportunity Areas to ensure that it adds to, rather than harms, wildlife.
See Mapping
Important:
To be written through Consultation
In North Devon the Innovative Farmers network has established a Silvopasture Network trial across 7 farms. This trial, supported by FWAG, Rothamsted Research Centre and the Woodland Trust is looking at how tree planting and farming can be integrated to mutual benefit.
As a major local food producer Riverford Farms is advocating AgroforestryA way to manage land that combines trees and hedges with agriculture to provide environmental, econo... More noting its benefits for food, climate and nature. See Riverford Information Dartington Hall Trust has hosted a range of AgroforestryA way to manage land that combines trees and hedges with agriculture to provide environmental, econo... More trials (in conjunction with the Woodland Trust) for many years. Dartington Agroforestry
Trees Outside Woods are literally everywhere – so just look around!
Always follow the Countryside Code and stick to footpaths and sites that are managed for public access.
AgroforestryA way to manage land that combines trees and hedges with agriculture to provide environmental, econo... More examples – Dartington Estate? and by arrangement with the North Devon SilvopastureA system that combines trees with grazing land. More network. Devon silvopasture network
Add more links and tidy up through Consultation
Add links to the Devon Tree and Woodland Strategy – discuss with the woodland group
Forest Research has just published a national map and report for Trees Outside Woodlands
Information on agroforestryA way to manage land that combines trees and hedges with agriculture to provide environmental, econo... More funding options are available from Forestry Commission Guidance
The Woodland Trust has information on agroforestryA way to manage land that combines trees and hedges with agriculture to provide environmental, econo... More and funding.
The Soil Association Handbook is an excellent background to the subject
AgroforestryA way to manage land that combines trees and hedges with agriculture to provide environmental, econo... More has significant government interest and funding available. The starting point is Defra Agroforestry Guidance
AgroforestryA way to manage land that combines trees and hedges with agriculture to provide environmental, econo... More Plans can be supported through the Agroforestry Plan Support Payment and the Agroforestry Plan Templates. Payments include Tree Payments , Fruit Tree Payments and Species diversity payment
To confirm and finalise list
Nature Rich.
Manage Trees outside Woodlands for nature recovery
More, Larger and better connected
Long Term. Expanded as part of 16.5% woodland cover by 2050
Short term. Part of 3,000 ha’s of new woodland by 2030
Short Term. Priority to delivery new AgroforestryA way to manage land that combines trees and hedges with agriculture to provide environmental, econo... More schemes