The amazing impact of trees

Woodland creation is a fantastic way to bring about a huge increase in biodiversity!

From the moment the trees are planted, the lack of mowing or grazing means that the grass between the trees is allowed to grow. This leads to an increase in mice and voles, which provide rich pickings for barn owls and other birds of prey.

As trees grow, they cause local shade and cooling. Even on a small scale, this creates a variety of microclimates which support different wildlife.

Once there are fruits on the trees they become food for birds, small mammals and insects.

When the trees drop their leaves they contribute to soil improvement, via decomposition by microscopic creatures. This is the carbon-rich basis for healthy soil.

Beneath the soil, tree roots interact with fungal networks which become a highly complex but vital communication system. Trees become effectively ‘social’ with the aid of these messengers and transport links.

Trees provide shelter and a wind break; they filter and clean fresh water; they reduce flooding and their roots

stabilise soils, preventing erosion.

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The Benefits to Nature of Rewilding and Woodland Creation

There is no universally accepted definition of rewilding, but in general, it is about allowing land to return to a self-sustaining ecosystem. This is a dynamic process, with no predefined end point. It often means that humans stand back and let nature take control. Conservation grazing by native cattle and other animals is an important element in many rewilding projects.

Research has shown that managing land using the principles of rewilding has a fantastic impact on biodiversity.

Agricultural land will often have been contaminated with chemical fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides or treated with high concentrations of manure. Although this may be seen as desirable for increasing crop yields,

it has a very detrimental effect on soil, native wild flowers, fungi and invertebrates. Once these farming practices are ceased, the soils will gradually begin to recover and plant seeds that are either already in the soil, or arrive naturally, will begin to germinate.

Biodiverse flora will be the first noticeable changes, perhaps beginning with the familiar nettle, docks and thistles, depending on local conditions. Over time, thorny scrub may develop, with gorse and blackthorn dominating. This, in turn, allows for the ‘pioneer’ tree species to arrive, such as Silver Birch, Hawthorn and Elder. These trees will eventually grow to form a canopy, creating shade, which will eventually reduce the scrub cover. Later, woodland flowers may arrive, and later still woodland and meadow fungi species.

In parallel with the botanic recovery, animal life will also increase. The plants will provide the habitat and food source for animal life to thrive. Invertebrates will be the first to arrive, followed by small animals and birds. A large enough rewilded area can ultimately become home to larger mammal species such as hare, deer, fox and badger.

The natural processes of re-generation can be accelerated by planting trees. In the early stages of tree growth their direct impact is limited. However, the cessation of mowing or grazing means that the grass between the trees is allowed to grow. One of the main impacts of this in the initial stages of woodland creation is an increase in mice and voles, which provide rich pickings for barn owls and other birds of prey.

As the trees grow their interactions with the environment are numerous and complex. Their leaves absorb sunlight and, in doing so, cause local shade and cooling. Even on a small scale, this creates different microclimates which support different wildlife.

As soon as there are fruits on the trees they become food for birds, small mammals and insects. Leaves can host ‘leaf-miner’ insects and similarly fungi. Lichens and moss will eventually grow on bark. When the trees drop their leaves they contribute to soil improvement, via decomposition by microscopic creatures. This is the carbon-rich basis for healthy soil.

Beneath the soil, tree roots interact with fungal networks which become a highly complex but vital communication system. Trees become effectively ‘social’ with the aid of these messengers and transport links.

Trees provide shelter and a wind break; they filter and clean fresh water and their roots stabilise soils, preventing erosion. They reduce flooding by taking up water.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide, in order to photosynthesise, to produce the sugars they require to grow. This is crucial, as carbon dioxide is the principal greenhouse gas causing climate crisis. Possibly most important of all, trees produce Oxygen – yes, they give us the very air we breathe.