Landscape Restoration Works at Fingle Woods (and beyond)

Since the ‘Making Space for Nature’ report was published in 2010, the Fingle Woods team has embraced the principles of wildlife habitat conservation across the Dartmoor landscape. The review, written by Professor Sir John Lawton, was “set up to look at our wildlife sites and whether they are capable of responding and adapting to the growing challenges of climate change”, and, ten years on, Natural England acknowledged the impact that the Lawton report has had, but also noted that, “there has been far too little progress towards establishing the ‘more, bigger, better and joined’ spaces for nature called for in the report”.

One of the areas where this landscape nature conservation has been working well is in some of Dartmoor’s river catchments and the woodland management expertise from the Fingle team has played an invaluable role in its success. While Fingle has a focus on woodland restoration and improving the quality of woodland soil structure to prevent erosion, it is also concentrating on water quality and managing woods to improve aquatic habitats and reduce downstream flooding. In a holistic approach to wildlife conservation, entire ecosystems must be understood and supported to thrive once again. From the tallest trees and woodland glades to the wet grassland and the sediment and silt in the streams and river, no link in the chain of life can be missed.

These local, small volumes of timber that may otherwise not be financially viable, can be extracted and economically transported these short distances. Farm woodlands are notoriously difficult to manage as the financial returns for accessing woodlands on steep ground are slim but with the expertise of the Fingle Woods team, this may improve and provide support for local farmers at a time when diversification and local supply are becoming ever more important. The coordination of this project is something that will be included in a newly developing strategic project called ‘Dartmoor Wooded Valleys’. If all goes well, there will be mutual benefit from bringing together Ancient Woodland conservation, peatland and water catchment restoration and providing skilled work for local people, proving that Dartmoor landscape restoration works at Fingle Woods and beyond.by Matt Parkins Further information:Southwest Peatland PartnershipRead the Lawton Report hereSee the 2020 Natural England blog here