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Project
origins
In 2000 the Woodland Trust acquired two Plantation Ancient
Woodland (PAW) Sites in SE Dartmoor. This built onto existing PAW
sites already being restored, within a significant area of prime
biodiversity importance. The project is part of the Trust’s
PAWS restoration research programme and allows further opportunities
for the creative application of standard forestry techniques for
wildlife gain. Access improvements to and within the area to allow
extraction of timber have been complicated and required the co-operation
of numerous landowners and authorities, and the consideration of
numerous scheduled species, with the main extraction road crossing
a plethora of designated areas. As part of the process the Woodland
Trust is also managing the restoration of 5ha of PAWS on English
Nature property.
Action
for biodiversity
The gradual restoration of ancient woodland communities from dense
conifer stands will reconnect, buffer and consolidate extensive
areas of upland oak and upland mixed ash woodland. Many UK BAP priority
species are present in the area and will benefit as a result of
these landscape-scale, habitat driven operations. These include:
dormouse, bat species, wood ant, fritillary butterflies and numerous
birds.
Relationships
to sustainable development
The project will restore a large area of biodiversity-poor plantation
to biodiversity-rich broadleaved woodland. The creation of new timber
extraction tracks has greatly improved the recreational potential
of the woods, meaning more people can enjoy them. Thus their percieved
value has been increased, helping to protect them.
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