3 minute read
Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE
When you can’t see the wood for the trees
THE rewilding bubble appears to be bursting, with some confusion over its meaning and application. There seems to be no end to tree planting schemes next to or adjoining existing woodland or copses. If land has been allocated for tree planting and if it’s adjoining existing trees then surely the natural process whereby the surrounding grassland is allowed to grow into scrub would be the most costeffective, labour-saving and safest way for the woodland to be enlarged?
I’m sure people don’t need to be told that new trees and woodlands have sprung from this type of non-interference for a very long time, with some amazing success. Where trees grow in a natural setting, they don’t need plastic or any other type of manmade guard to survive; nature provides its own guard, indeed it’s called scrub.
If, for example, we allow grass to grow and it gradually turns into scrub, then young woodland, we get not only a wonderful example of plant succession but a process worthy of study by educational establishments.
Nature changes constantly. When, for example, high winds blow down part of a woodland the space that is created is then exploited by plants and animals that prefer a more open environment. Some grazing animals will work hard to keep these areas open, the light promotes flowering plants, predators may well move on those grazing animals and, finally, new scrub is created where small birds can nest and feed on an abundance of insects, seeds and berries.
Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against planting trees, and in some cases it’s the only thing you can do, but if we are really doing it for so-called rewilding then surely, we should be allowing nature to do what it does best? And nature’s way really doesn’t cost the earth.
I hear that even Tony Juniper, the chair of Natural England, has mentioned that maybe we should drop the word rewilding and go for the more all-rounded wording of nature recovery instead.
In one area that I know only too well, I would have to say that
By CHRIS SPERRING MBE
Mr Juniper is right. Because of so-called rewilding local people have turned against the concept with some anger. This is mainly because of trees being planted in community open spaces, and people not being properly aware of what’s going on; this is what I would call the classic “top-down” approach.
There are, however, some wonderful communities doing some excellent nature work; two of these are (and there are many others) the “Rewilding Chew Garden-by-Garden” group and the “Westbury-sub-Mendip Tree group”. Indeed, I have seen at Westbury-sub-Mendip local people growing trees from local stock to later plant out around the community. So projects like this which may or may not be under the rewildling heading are bringing local people together to reshape their local environment in a much more ground-up approach.
I believe it’s projects like these that will have longevity and that the forced top-down projects may fade away over the course of the next local political elections.
Nature can do its own seeding and there’s some wonderful science behind this; for example, according to one study the jay, a member of the crow family, was responsible for creating an entire oak woodland. The thing is, it’s often said that jays forget where they bury their winter store of nuts and seeds, hence we end up with a new woodland.
I wonder if we are underestimating the intellect of the jay? I wonder if it’s planting the acorns deliberately for future jays to feast upon … clever birds.
The next walk at the Hawk and Owl Trust’s Shapwick Moor Nature reserve is on Friday, October 21st, starting at 10am and finishing at midday and this month we will be looking out for autumn birds. I bet we will see some jays planting trees. This walk is free with spaces limited to 15 people. If you wish to come, then please book through www.hawkandowltrust.org.uk.
On Saturday, October 1st I will be leading two walks for the Mendip Rocks! geology event at Westbury-sub-Mendip quarry, please see the Mendip Rocks website for details.
Nature’s way: young trees growing through bramble and hawthorn scrub
Trees protected by plastic guards
