Regenerative Forestry

Our forest restoration trial focusses on rehabilitating degraded forestry landscapes by bringing regenerative forestry approaches to existing commercial plantation. Our approach is focused on 

• improving soil quality, minimising disturbance and keeping it covered with a wide range of plant species with varied rooting depths. Nurturing the mycorrhiza and soil fauna.
• Recreating more natural drainage systems with soils with a higher water holding capacity, reduced erosion, slow flowing vegetated ditches, more pools and light and shade along the stream.
• Increasing structural diversity both within the woodland and along rides and glades.  We want to see big old trees and regenerating saplings on a short walk through a wood.
• Using a wider range of tree and shrub species and matching them closely to the soils and likely future climates.
• Working towards continuous cover forestry producing high quality timber so woods are cherished in the future.
• Achieving the right mix of mammals, not too many deer but perhaps our native woods evolved alongside small numbers of pigs and cattle.

This work helps restore ecosystem functions, enhance biodiversity, and sequester carbon in the long-term. We already know that reforestation can significantly increase carbon sequestration and improve soil health (Houghton, 2019).