Once more to satisfy an element of Care of People ethic of my permaculture course, I share with you all the latest assignment, Forests & Trees. All I ask of you is to consider the questions, consider your locality and think about the application of sustainable ideas to the natural world.
1. Consider the native forest on your site or in your area if your site does not have forest already on it. Some native species will potentially be of direct benefit to you. Think of ways to use native species from the forest (both plant and animal). Identify species that could be used for human consumption, animal consumption, fuel and structural uses.The species that we have listed below are not all necessarily found at our site, but are native to Sussex chalk soils. We have included shrubs and understory too as they play an important part in providing foodstuffs for both human and animal consumption.
Trees
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Ash makes a very good fuel which can burn even before it is dried; it was often coppiced for this reason.
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Pedunculate Oak (English Oak) is renowned for its strong timber and is used in construction of buildings, boats and furniture. In our environment it plays a key role in providing a habitat for a diverse range of insect, birds and mammals. Its fruit (acorn) is a favourite of pigs and squirrels.
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Beech is a popular choice for fencing, when coppiced it can be incorporated into hedges and can also be used for fire wood although unlike the Ash, needs to be dried out before it can be burnt.
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Field Maple can be used for fuel and like other maple varieties can be tapped for its sweet sap.
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Hornbeam is a particularly hard wood which means it is pretty difficult to work and thus only used for smaller purposes like cogs, yokes and mallets. It can burn particularly hot due to its hardness which lends itself to smelting.
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Spindle Tree has a brightly-coloured fruit which is provides food for birds.
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Holly provides not only a reasonable windbreak for property, but also a reasonably safe habitat for birds and small mammals. The ubiquitous holly berry provides winter food for these creatures too.
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Gean (wild cherry) is primarily used as a furniture wood, although in years gone past apparently it was sought after by smokers who would fashion their pipes from Gean. The fruit is hugely attractive to birds.
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Goat Willow primarily used due to their pliant stems to make baskets or other such wicker-type products.
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Whitebeam another hardwood that can be used again for tool handles, the berries provide food for birds.
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Rowan provides berries which can be made into jams or jellies which, according to some culinary sites, is an excellent accompaniment to game.
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Yew can be a tricky plant as much of it, in any condition is toxic. The fruit is partially edible so birds can enjoy it and receives an occasional mention as ideal for Longbows!
Shrubs
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Common Dogwood provide berries for both birds and mammals, which is said to be preferred over “human” fruit meaning it is a sensible choice for planting amongst orchard and soft-fruit plants.
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Hazel beloved by my brother and I, provides a number of uses. Due to its flexibility it can be twisted or even knotted and turned into natural structures or fences, baskets or furniture. The nuts are edible and are often taken by mammals.
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Hawthorn the fruit or haw is edible and can be used in jellies and jams as well as in some herbal remedies too.
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Ivy provides a dense evergreen shelter as well as providing food and grazing to insects, birds and deer.
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Privet offers shelter as a semi-evergreen plant throughout the year to birds and small mammals
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Blackthorn fruit is similar in size and use to plums, but is commonly turned into Sloe Gin here.
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Bramble produces the delicious blackberry which is awesomely tasty, but also plays an important role in providing food to insects and birds.
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Elder berries are edible by both human and animal alike; the flower heads can also be used to make infusions or yummy wine. All parts of the plant have medicinal properties and can be used to treat flu-like symptoms.
2. What influences currently threaten the native forests of your region? You may wish to think in terms of competition for the space occupied by forest, excessive harvesting of forest resources, pollution etc.Sussex is one of the most wooded counties in the whole of Britain, with the Weald (a section of Sussex) containing the greatest woodland cover. According to Sussex Biodiversity Partnership the major threats to Sussex woodland are;
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Development (domestic and commercial, one assumes) resulting in woodland loss and fragmentation.
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Inappropriate management, which again I can only assume means deforestation (?).
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Excessive deer browsing which can result in changes to species composition and simplification of woodland structure.
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Climate change, which could put certain woodland types, like Beech, at risk.
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Agricultural intensification including, reseeding, ploughing and use of fertilisers.
(http://www.biodiversitysussex.org/habitats/woodland)
The UK being the size it is, supporting the population it has (approximately 60 million) will always threaten native forests; especially when you consider that the timber in ancient woodlands is sort after as a strong & reliable building material, as well as occupying space that could be used for domestic and commercial purposes. It is only the continued work by groups like National Trust, English Heritage and the Sussex Woodland Trust, and a well lobbied council like West Sussex or East Sussex County Council that protects what we currently have.
3. Do you think that a ‘sustainable’ harvest of materials from the native forests in your region is possible? If so, under what conditions?A Sustainable harvest of materials is absolutely possible in this area. The local area provides a sustainable market in firewood of differing qualities and types, although we have not tested each of the following sites claims of sustainability:
http://www.fromthewood.com/firewood.html
http://www.heritageconservation.biz/
http://www.logskentandsussex.co.uk/
http://www.nef.org.uk/logpile/
http://www.woodnet.org.uk/woodlots/About%20WoodLots.htm
http://www.ajscrafts.co.uk/common/home.aspx
http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/leisure/explore_west_sussex/wildlife_and_landscape/trees_woodlands_and_hedgerows/wood_fuel.aspx
Furthermore you can find suppliers of all things wood locally, for construction or for building furniture which also claim use of sustainable wood supplies:
http://www.greenwoodcraftsman.co.uk/richswebsite/about.html
http://www.englishhurdle.com/page2.htm
http://www.sussextrugs.com/about_us/about_us.html
http://www.traditionalboundaries.com/about/
http://www.robswoodlands.co.uk/products.htm
Our point being that the knowledge, the motivation and the market for sustainably managed woodlands is widespread in the Sussex area, but as with all things in modern western civilization, education is all important. People need to be provided information about the importance of a sustainable approach to woodland management and tree use. They need to know that trees can be used for modern purposes in a sane and “green” manner and that one of the best methods of conservation is robust sustainability!
