Last month, the
mayor of London, Boris Johnson made a significant tree faux pas.
In response to
the growing environmental backlash over the implementation of the High Speed 2
project, Boris stated that the average life expectancy of a tree “can’t be more
than 60 years old” and that “there is no tree in this country over 200 years
old” (The Telegraph, 2014).
Unsurprisingly,
Boris was wrong on both of these accounts. Records from The Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Website
show that there are many Oak trees in this country that are over 1,000 years
old. Moreover, a mature Oak tree can reach 400 years old.
This ignorance of
basic environmental facts is not as an uncommon as you would think. A recent
poll by the BBC Wildlife Magazine indicated that half of school children aged
between 9-11 are unable to identify the names of common plants and animals such
as the bluebell or daddy-long-legs (The Independent, 2014).
However, this
lack of knowledge in a senior politician is worrying. If plans for HS2 go
ahead, then 84 Ancient Woods could be completely destroyed or negatively
impacted on by building works. If Boris
and other MP’s don’t recognise or understand the value of woodland,
particularly ancient woodland then they are unlikely to make efforts to protect
it.
So how do we
define ancient woodland? And why does it matter so much to those rallying
against HS2.
In accordance
with The Woodland Trust definition ‘Ancient woodland is woodland which has been
continuously wooded or managed since 1600’ (Woodland Trust, 2014). Over time, complex ecological communities of;
fungi, lichen, plants and insects have developed within the soil.
As such, ancient woodland
contains some of the most biologically diverse and threatened species of plants
and animals in the country. For instance, the extremely rare ‘Bechstein bat’
roosts in the holes of old broad-leafed trees such as Oak and Ash. Their decline
is thought to be due to a mixture of habitat loss and pesticide use (The
Wildlife Trusts, 2014).
Species of plant
such as the UK’s favourite spring-plant, bluebells are also best suited to life
in ancient woodlands. The undisturbed soils in combination with the moist and shade
provided by the under canopy of mature trees forming the best growing
conditions for the plant.
Each Ancient
Woodland is unique, the particular climate, geography and history of management
makes each wood unique.
At present,
little is known about how ecological communities within ancient woodland’s
evolve. What we do know, is that if destroyed, we will be unable to research
ancient woodland and expand our scientific knowledge of the relationships
between species of plants and animals and soils.
Those in favour
of HS2, argue that the project will bring environmental benefits by decreasing
the number of car and air journeys made thus reducing carbon emissions (HS2,
2014).
In the 2012
environmental impact assessment of HS2, mitigation proposals put forward
included the translocation of soil from ancient woodland (moving it elsewhere
and planting new trees within the soil). Scientifically this is an unproven and
dubious method of mitigating the loss of ancient woodland. The soils of ancient
woodland are influenced by a number of different factors, including the
microclimate and geology of the local area.
As such, it is
difficult to see how such a movement could completely compensate for the loss
of a habitat which includes mature trees, rare plants and animals as well as microorganisms
present in the soil.
Looking forward,
it is important to recognise the importance of protecting Ancient Woodland in
the UK. Their environmental benefits include their use as a carbon store, the
high levels of biodiversity present within them and their role as a
inter-connected buffer zone-enabling the dispersal and movement of various
species of flora and fauna around the countryside.
Moreover, Ancient
Woodland presents an untapped resource of scientific knowledge. There are still
many things we do not know about Ancient Woodland and the way in which it
develops over time. It would be sheer ignorance to not expand our environmental
awareness, I’m sure Boris would agree.
For more
information on Ancient Woodland and HS2 please follow the link to The
Woodland Trust website:
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/campaigning/campaigns/hs2-rail-link/
