Conservation Value of Semi-Natural Oak Woodlands in Britain

¶ … conservation value of semi-Natural oak woodlands in Britain

Historically oak woodlands have produced a wide range of both commercial and non-commercial products as well as conservation and tourism benefits. However, woodlands are also vulnerable to human impact and this has "reduced the original forest cover in each area and there is concern that oak woodlands are still at risk, especially from impacts associated with increasing residential land-use conversion. (McCreary and Kerr)

The period of time over which woodlands in Britain have been negatively impacted stretches over millennia and therefore the damage to these areas is extensive. This has resulted in aggressive management strategies in the UK to increase woodland cover through government funded planting programs. (ibid)

Oak woodlands are habitats having oak and birch as the dominant species in the canopy. Other species of trees that are often found in the area or habitat include holly, rowan, hazel and alder. Oak woodlands in England often tend to be many years old. For example, the oak woodlands in Greater Manchester are estimated to have been wooded continuously since 1600 AD. Secondary woodlands are those that have naturally colonized open ground, usually after the land has been used for some other purpose. More recent woodlands are less ecologically interesting than ancient woodlands and are also less diverse.

Presently the status of oak woodland in the UK is deemed to be an internationally important habitat and is listed as a Priority Habitat in the United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan. While similar types of woodland occur on the continent, the woodland in the UK are internationally recognized as important due to their range and extent of their important and distinctive plant and animal communities. In terms of conservation this is an important factor as the woodland in Britain and Ireland are home to a variety of species, some of which form a substantial part of the world population of that species. (Habitat Action Plans) Some of these species that these woodlands are habitat to include the following: breeding birds that may include the redstart, wood warbler and pied flycatcher. Other species of conservation concern that can be associated with upland oak woodlands include the bluebell, badger, red deer and roe deer. (ibid)

The extent of oak woods is estimated to be between 70,000 and 100,000 hectares in the UK. These woods are concentrated in the following areas: Argyll, Devon, Cumbria, Lochaber, Gwynedd and Cornwall (ibid). Today the "total forest-cover in Britain is estimated to be a little over 10%, with approximately two thirds of this consisting of conifer plantations. " (McCreary and Kerr) However, while conifer plantations do provide timber for the manufacture of wood products they "do not provide the same range of values inherent in native woodlands, including wildlife habitats, aesthetics, recreational opportunities, and vital ecological functions." (ibid)

Realizing the importance of hardwood forests the UK government has initiated programs to sustain existing woodlands and expand tree cover.

For the past 5 000 years woodlands in Britain have "provided essential timber used for energy, tools and building materials." (Ibid) During the 19th and early 20th centuries Britain relied heavily on imported timber, particularly from its Empire. However, the First World War made it clear how dependent the country was on imported timber and its vulnerability to naval blockades. And because imports were restricted, many existing woodlands were heavily exploited. This led to the formation of the Forestry Commission in 1919, which set the objective of establishing a strategic reserve of timber in the event of another major conflict. Unfortunately, the Second World War occurred before much of the new planting had started to produce timber, so again the existing woodlands were exploited and many were felled. (ibid)

These important areas have also provided a habitat for game and locations for grazing for domestic livestock. In addition by being conservation-worthy, these woodlands are also valuable as recreational and tourist areas. The value of these areas has increased in relation to their scarcity in the face of increased urbanization

As wooded areas have become scarcer in relation to numbers of people in the country, and the relative rarity of large blocks of undeveloped natural land has increased, the value of existing woodlands to provide recreational opportunities has increased. Such areas are especially critical near cities where opportunities to experience natural landscapes are so limited. (ibid)

Other aspects that make these areas so important for conservation are the utilization of the woodlands for "hiking, hunting, and wildlife viewing; the presence of these areas can improve the quality of life for nearby residents by providing a desirable visual landscape. Trees enhance the beauty of the countryside and can screen housing developments or industrial complexes. " (Ibid) These woodland areas also help filter out pollution in the environment. Another important aspect that affects conservation is employment in the areas.

While the value of the actual wood products that are extracted from woodlands is often relatively small compared to the other values these areas provide, ensuring a continual supply of wood products through planting programs also provides employment and helps sustain rural economies." (ibid)

However, one essential aspect from a conservation point-of-view is the fact that the woodlands are a critical wildlife habitat. Many animals are dependent for their existence on the shelter and food that the woodlands provide. This means that change in the habitat has a subsequent affect on the presence and abundance of the various species of animals in that area. Another important factor is that, unlike agricultural areas, woodlands have wide structure diversity and provide a wide variety of "habitual elements" that can provide for and support a greater number of species. (ibid)

There are a number of areas that require urgent conservation efforts. One of the areas that have declined in recent years is the Greater Manchester area, which is not classified as a scarce habitat; and another area of concern is the semi-natural oak woodlands of the Quantocks, These are nationally important wildlife habitats and rich in species, including Red Deer. Grazing has declined over the years. (The countryside Agency) An area that has great conservation value is the Glentrool Oakwoods, which is a complex mix of ancient and semi-natural oak woodland. This area has recorded "36 breeding bird species... And a nest box scheme was established in the early 1970s to encourage the breeding of the Pied Flycatcher. Red squirrel is well established. Pine Martin was re-introduced into the Caldons in 198081. Bat box monitoring has taken place since 1991 and four species of bat have been recorded." (Glentrool)