What naturally regenerates on a felled woodland site if it isn’t replanted? How can different ‘natural regeneration’ treatments influence the range of timber and other income streams possible from a felled site left to naturally regenerate?
Bennel Wood, a 13-hectare site near Dalbeattie, is being established as a ‘Woodland Laboratory’ to explore different natural regeneration treatments and approaches. The project will work with natural processes to explore how they can deliver wider financial, community wealth building and biodiversity benefits.
The Woodland Laboratory project is being led by Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, a not-for-profit organisation aiming to support trees, habitats and the people that depend upon them in our region. Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands will trial a number of different treatments on the Woodland Laboratory site, monitoring the impact this has on the naturally regenerating trees, and the variety of benefits that can result – including ecological and community benefits, through to income streams in due course.
2025 is being used for the gathering of baseline data. Precise trials are still to be confirmed but are likely to include different rates of thinning and tree protection, through to options like companion planting with different species and innovative treatments that work with natural processes.
McNabb Laurie, Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands Manager, said:
“This is very exciting. We’ll be using the Woodland Laboratory to trial a number of different naturally-inspired treatments and approaches, using both established methods and innovative ideas. These will all explore how we can influence natural regeneration processes on a recently felled site, and the variety of a variety of benefits that can result – both in terms of ecological and community benefits, as well as timber production and potential income streams.
We’ll also be using the Woodland Laboratory as a venue for education and school visits to track progress, partnering with research and further education institutions. We have already been able to commission a number of local contractors and companies to support us, evidencing economic development benefits at this early stage.
Throughout it all, there will be a focus on effective data gathering and sharing of findings, so we can all learn about what part natural regeneration can play in land use discussion. Rather than copying what has happened elsewhere, we want to innovate right here in Scotland’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone.”
A webpage has been published to highlight progress at the Woodland Laboratory, here: https://dgwoodlands.org.uk/bennel-wood-woodland-laboratory/.
South of Scotland has been officially designated Scotland’s ‘Natural Capital Innovation Zone’ (NCIZ), recognizing the region’s unique, unrivalled qualities which together provide a huge opportunity to drive forward the wellbeing economy. The NCIZ aims to capitalise on the South’s geographical location and strong and successful partnership working to drive change and build robust and resilient communities and enterprises. Establishing the NCIZ as a living lab, learning hub for the whole of Scotland allows for the creation of solutions that are scalable, sharable and sustainable and critically, puts Scotland back in its leadership role of addressing the global challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.
The Woodland Laboratory purchase has been funded to date by a range of partners, including a £75,000 grant from South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE).
Jayne Ashley, SOSE’s Head of Natural Capital, said:
“The Woodland Laboratory project is exactly the type of scheme we want to encourage in Scotland’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone, with the Dalbeattie woodland trial aiming to deliver both biodiversity and economic benefits for the area.
“The South of Scotland is perfectly positioned to be leading the way in creating a wellbeing economy from natural capital.
“Through continuing to work together, we can further natural capital opportunities, attract responsible investment and drive forward innovation to benefit our region and the rest of Scotland.”
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands benefits from ongoing support from a range of partners, including Woodland Trust Scotland, Scottish Forestry and Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Environment Team. Work by Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is being boosted thanks to a major grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, aiming to deliver a tangible response to the twin crises we face and to maximise the benefits delivered in the region.
For more information about Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, follow them on social media, visit the website www.dgwoodlands.org.uk or sign up for the newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iAlL6k.
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is a membership organisation. If you’d like to join as a member, visit the website.
More information on the Natural Capital Innovation Zone is available at www.investinsouthofscotland.com/nciz.
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is registered in Scotland as a SCIO, number 052525.
For any further info, please contact [email protected].
