Science

Next UK government should build a 'forest of Britain' connecting Land's End to John O'Groats


A ‘Forest of Britain’ running from Land’s End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in the north of Scotland should be planted by the next UK government, a think tank has said.

The project would serve to connect various existing conservation sites and could be established as part of the celebrations of the Queen’s platinum jubilee in 2022.

Alongside celebrating the UK’s natural landscapes, the project would also help encourage ecotourism, support British timber and help combat climate change

The proposal forms part of the Policy Exchange’s ‘Bigger, Better Forests’ report which considers UK land use post-Brexit, outside the EU Common Agricultural Policy.

Scroll down for video

A 'Forest of Britain' running from Land's End in Cornwall to John O'Groats in the north of Scotland should be planted by the next UK government, a think tank has said

A ‘Forest of Britain’ running from Land’s End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in the north of Scotland should be planted by the next UK government, a think tank has said

WHAT IS THE ‘FOREST OF BRITAIN’? 

The ‘Forest of Britain’ is a proposal by the ‘Policy Exchange’ think tank. 

It would see a two-mile wide forest planted that ran from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

The forest would link up various natural reserves — including Dartmoor and the North Pennines.

Such an extensive development would likely end up containing around 300 million trees. 

It would aim to support the genetic diversity of Britain’s tree species, focusing on native species and hardwoods.

The forest is envisaged as a moment to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee in the year 2022.

‘We all want to see more trees in our not-sufficiently-green and pleasant land. The scientific case is unanswerable,’ wrote BBC broadcaster John Humphrys in the foreword to the report.

‘On the macro scale climate change is a real threat to the planet. The more trees there are to absorb carbon dioxide the greater our prospects of limiting the greenhouse effect.’

Meanwhile, he added, ‘doctors agree that trees have a beneficial effect on those who spend time near them — above all young children whose developing hearts and lungs suffer from the particulates that trees are so effective at absorbing.’

‘The brutal reality is that those who own the most land in this country need incentives to grow trees in the numbers that are needed, which is where this report may prove so valuable.’

‘As it makes clear, most land managers think forestry is simply not worth the effort.’

The proposed Britain-spanning forest would aim to connect as many conservation sites as possible, the report states, including local and national nature reserves, national parks, sites of special scientific interest and special protection areas.

‘It would be a two-mile-wide corridor for wilderness, including tree cover and a host of open land types such as scrubs, heaths, bog, peat and coastline,’ the report said.

‘It should also aim to support the genetic diversity of Britain’s tree species, focusing on native species and hardwoods.’

According to the Policy Exchange, a forest that wended its way from Land’s End to John O’Groats via Wales and the Lake District would end up covering around 2,400 square miles (around 6,200 sq km) and contain over 300 million trees.

‘Rather than set targets for the number of trees to be planted — which can be misleading — ministers should focus on the amount of carbon we need to be sequestered in trees,’ said Policy Exchange Communications Director Amy Gray.

The report notes that the United Kingdom presently only has 13.1 per cent tree cover — making it the fourth-least forested nation among the other members of the European Union, for whom the average coverage figure is around 38 per cent.

According to the Policy Exchange, the 'Forest of Britain' would wend its way from Land's End to John O'Groats via Wales and the Lake District would end up covering around 2,400 square miles (around 6,200 sq km) and contain over 300 million trees

According to the Policy Exchange, the ‘Forest of Britain’ would wend its way from Land’s End to John O’Groats via Wales and the Lake District would end up covering around 2,400 square miles (around 6,200 sq km) and contain over 300 million trees

The report notes that the United Kingdom presently only has 13.1 per cent tree cover — making it the fourth-least forested nation among the other members of the European Union, for whom the average coverage figure is around 38 per cent

The report notes that the United Kingdom presently only has 13.1 per cent tree cover — making it the fourth-least forested nation among the other members of the European Union, for whom the average coverage figure is around 38 per cent

‘Once the artificial separation imposed on British agriculture and forestry by the Common Agricultural Policy is abolished we must seize the opportunity to manage our land better,’ said report author and environmental adviser Benedict McAleenan.

‘Trees play a vital role in carbon sequestration – we need to plant more, but the right trees in the right places,’ he added.

‘We also need to manage our forests and woodlands better, creating more skilled jobs in rural areas and developing the market for British timber in constructing the low carbon homes we need.’

‘The whole nation can unite around a Forest of Britain to mark Her Majesty’s platinum jubilee. Running the length of Great Britain, it would celebrate our national landscape and restore trees to their rightful place at the heart of the kingdom.’

The proposal forms part of the Policy Exchange's 'Bigger, Better Forests' report which considers UK land use post-Brexit, outside the EU Common Agricultural Policy

The proposal forms part of the Policy Exchange’s ‘Bigger, Better Forests’ report which considers UK land use post-Brexit, outside the EU Common Agricultural Policy

Alongside the ‘forest of Britain’ proposal, the think tank’s report also advocates for a revised Forestry Act and so-called ‘Natural Capital Strategies’ to establish each region’s ecology, land, water and forestry priorities.

The report proposes that farmers should be supported in the pursuit of more diverse land-management approaches to incorporate the farming of woodlands and agroforestry, which would see trees integrated with grazing land and arable crops.

It is also suggested that construction firms should use more British-sourced timber, aiming to use wooden frames in 40 per cent of English, Welsh and Northern Irish new housing projects by the year 2025.

The policy exchange is also recommending a new form of investment vehicle — the so-called ‘Natural Capital Investment Trust’ — which would assist individuals and community groups to support environment schemes like woodlands.

‘It is not so very long ago that we regarded our home-grown woodland as a great natural resource. We must do so again,’ added Mr Humphrys.

‘We must reduce our dependence on imported timber and give farmers the incentive they need to see their woodland for what it is: a potentially great natural asset.’

The 'Forest of Britain' project would serve to connect various existing conservation sites and could be established as part of the celebrations of the Queen's platinum jubilee in 2022. Pictured, Elizabeth II planting a tree during a visit to the Newmarket Animal Health Trust

The ‘Forest of Britain’ project would serve to connect various existing conservation sites and could be established as part of the celebrations of the Queen’s platinum jubilee in 2022. Pictured, Elizabeth II planting a tree during a visit to the Newmarket Animal Health Trust

The report comes as many of the UK political parties pledge, in the run up to the December 12, 2019 general election, to plant more trees to combat climate change should they come into power.

The most ambitious target comes from the Labour party, who have promised to plant 2 billion trees by the year 2040 — the equivalent of 100 million each year.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have pledged to plant 60 million trees each year until 2045, while the Conservatives have promised 30 million each year until 2024.

The full findings of the report were published on the Policy Exchange website.



READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.