Connected Conservation in a Circular Economy
Devon’s woodland economy is finding yet more creative ways to link local trade and good conservation management of the woods. Some of these circular connections are intentional while others seem to happen in an organic way when an opportunity arises. In a recent communication between Dave Rickwood of the Woodland Trust and Mike Gardner, a local timber sawyer, Mike pointed out that he had been asked to provide timber to make dormouse nest boxes for NHBS, a Totnes based ecological supplies company. As Mike sources much of his Douglas fir timber from Fingle Woods and other local sites, he explained to Dave, “I thought you might be interested to know that we are selling some of your Douglas I bought for regular orders … to be made into Dormouse boxes for NHBS in Totnes.” He also has orders for timber inserts to replace the glued plywood in dormouse nest tubes and tunnels, a more wildlife friendly solution.
He went on to say, “So your Douglas grown in dormouse habitat is being made to monitor and provide nesting boxes for other dormouse habitats elsewhere, so it pays for the preservation and expansion of your dormouse habitat and preserves further dormouse habitat. They never taught me that in Forest economics at University!”
Mike runs ‘Woodmanship’ which is one of several small timber-based businesses in the Dartmoor area. Bringing his broad experience from studying ecology and forestry, working in coppicing and woodland management and picking up skills in Scotland and Cumbria, he has even spent time in the USA before returning to Devon with a passion for what he describes as “added value British forestry”. He now manages woodlands with an eye focused on flora and fauna while producing sustainable timber products from wood fuel to timber beams for house construction. He sees it as “a productive way to lead life.” His timber mill has grown over the last 20 years into a business that, not only sustains him but employs up to 10 people through the seasons. His timber mill runs most days, but he always needs more good quality material from local sources. “To supply timber for construction, timber frames and cladding, there is a demand that is always needing more trees. To avoid running out we need to plant trees for both biodiversity and the local economy.” The woods owned by the Woodland Trust and National Trust have kept his supply chain going.
Standing in his ‘rewilding’ meadow on the ridge overlooking the Teign Valley he explained, “This field is being left to nature. We don’t really manage it though it may be grazed by a few deer here and there. The scrubby growth around the edges provides cover which could produce some timber poles but the main thing is that it is sucking up carbon and we’ve seen some priority wildlife species here including the grizzled skipper, pearl-bordered fritillaries and marsh orchid.”
Other specialist products he and his team produce are tepee and tent poles, saw dust for animal bedding and charcoal for the growing local tourism businesses. Sawmill ‘slabwood’ waste is converted to biofuel, always with an eye on efficiency of resources. “The bulk of the timber passes through the sawmill which is working most of the week. We are also off grid. There are 10-12 kW of solar panels and a 110 kW generator but, through the Spring and Summer we use solar and charge up batteries when the machinery isn’t working.” As well as the sawmill there is a planer and a new kiln under construction. Mike demonstrated how the planer can be set up for profiling tongue and groove floorboards while pointing out where the swallows nest in the roof of the workshop.
“I’m using a lot of timber from local woods here. This Coast redwood is a wonderful material. It probably came out of Fingle Woods. This has many uses, possibly dormouse boxes and the rest is going to make human houses. I even built my own timber framed house here.”
Mike is clearly proud of what he does, achieving a balance of good conservation management of local woods that is entwined with local businesses and work for several skilled people and, in a round-about way the dormice and Mike’s workforce have connected in a virtuous living circle.
by Matt Parkins
