A cheeky opinion from our star volunteer Drew Boyd - hits a spot!
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Peel cathedral's gardens are worth a visit - they even feature boards with tree species with some lovely notes.
Plantation management consultation closes tomorrow. Below are our points. Feel free to use some of it in your own reply. The more people ask for the same thing, the better! consult.gov.im/environment-food-and-agriculture/isle-of-man-plantation-management-plans-2025-2045/
- fully support increased native broadleaved plantings along riparian areas, glens, forest rides and fringes
- more ecological areas should be created, or allowed to transition to
- more ecological areas of the plantation estate could help the government with its 30 by 30 ambition (protecting and enhancing 30% of land and water for wildlife by 2030)
- the plan states an increase in broadleaf woodland from 12.24% in 2030 to 15.57% in 2045. This level of ecological ambition is disappointing. However if high ecological ambition is put on low-impact silvicultural systems and long term retention, with both of these treatments to be focused on gradual transition to a native broadleaved dominated understory, there would be significant ecological gains.
- more transition zones between plantations and open land by planting species such as elder, rowan, hawthorn, juniper, eared willow and bog myrtle
- economic rationale for planting the vast majority of the estate not clear, especially considering the island's changing demographics and likely further rising costs of labour decreasing economic returns of manx forestry products
- little of the current timber is used for domestic market; it is unlikely that the timber quality can be significantly increased and costs decreased to make it the usual choice for builders and other large consumers
- economically marginal areas should be planted up with tree species that provide much more for ecosystem services, there is an ecological opportunity cost for not doing that!
- strategy needs to be adequately funded
- removal of tree shelters at planting sites and invasive species removal are just some of the issues which were markedly under resourced for at least the last decade
- all income from sale of forestry products should be set aside for further improvements of the plantations as adequate resourcing has been critically under-prioritised
- Pg6, point 5: add ‘to work to ensure that the valuable biodiversity resources are properly managed, effectively conserved for future generations and nature recovery is promoted’
- page 35 viii) If you think you need to put in a drain you are probably planting the wrong tree for this location, unless this is to maintain track and path infrastructure. You might find our published list 'right tree for the right place' useful: woodlandtrust.im/which-trees-to-plant/
- page 35 planting more than 1,000 broadleaves per hectare should be unnecessary, restricting tree growth potential and increasing costs of material and labour. It would be better to raise quality of some of the plantings to raise survival rates rather than just cramming more trees accepting lower survival rates
credit: The Manx Wildlife Trust kindly shared their draft with us which helped us formulate the above.
consult.gov.im
Find and participate in consultations run by the Cabinet Office of the Isle of Man Government