WoodsMeet

Thursday 25 March 2021, 11am, online.

Come along to our spring WoodsMeet to meet two of our project managers - John Morris (ELMs) and Nick Marsh (Woodland Biodiversity) and hear about their projects. We will also be discussing the England tree planting programme - it's ambitious! Can we really plant 30,000 hectares per year by 2025?

John Morris, Project manager for the Small Woods ELMS Test & Trial, will give an update on progress and review some of the results and information gleaned from our recent regional workshops. ELMS is the new Environmental Land Management scheme that Defra will be introducing to replace Countryside Stewardship in 2024. The new ELM grant payments are to deliver “public goods”. Areas of policy we are considering include woodland management plans, woodland advisory services and collaboration. We will be making recommendations to Defra with a final report by the end of the year. This is a once in a generation opportunity to influence how the management of small woods is supported.

Nick Marsh will introduce our new Woodland Biodiversity Project where we aim to help support members and other woodland owners in improving biodiversity in their woodlands across the Severn Trent area.

The England Tree Strategy: the aim is to plant 30,000ha per year. What are your views? And how can we help ensure that any new woodlands are managed appropriately? Come along and share your opinions and views.