Thousands of New Trees for the Isle of Wight

1 April 2010

A Forestry Commission scheme to plant tens of thousands of trees in new woodlands across the Isle of Wight is being re-introduced.

The last time the grant initiative was on offer between 2001 and 2006, the extra funding enabled new woodlands to be planted across the island equivalent to the size of 355 football pitches.

Now the Jigsaw Scheme is being brought back as an incentive to private landowners, in a bid to reconnect blocks of ancient woodland to allow wildlife to move more freely. Last time it was so successful that the Island’s woodland cover was increased from 10 to 12 per cent.

Parkhurst Forest, which is managed by the Forestry Commission, is a stronghold for important species such as Red Squirrel, Barbastelle and Bechstein bats and the Pearl Bordered Fritillary Butterfly. Therefore, it is a key forest around which the Forestry Commission would like new planting.

Michael Pittock, Beat Forester for the Isle of Wight, said:
“Years ago urban development and agricultural removal of woodland left blocks of ancient forest scattered across the Island. These discrete blocks make it harder for rare species to migrate and survive extreme climatic conditions and other threats, so now we are putting parts of the jigsaw back together.”

The Forestry Commission is working closely with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to help landowners with applications and provide guidance on where, how and what to plant. The grants are available to landowners with a minimum of 0.25 hectares to plant. Those who can offer public access may be given priority.

Richard Grogan, from the Wildlife Trust, added:
“This is such fantastic news for the island. Extending woodlands provide a huge benefit to rare species, including red squirrels, dormice, long-eared owl, wood cricket, narrow-leaved lungwort and several species of bats. Not only has this but it also provided a huge improvement in the quality of life for people on the Island, too.”

Helen Butler, of the Wight Squirrels project, commented:
“I am a big fan of the Jigsaw Scheme as it will allow red squirrels to reach and colonise otherwise isolated woodland.”

One of the largest applications for new woodland planting during the previous run of the Jigsaw Scheme was from the Briddlesford Estate, owned by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species. The Trust planted 9.7 hectares in a core area for the Red Squirrel, linking two separate parts of ancient woodland near Havenstreet.

In addition to the Jigsaw Scheme planting on private estates, the Forestry Commission will be planting over 6,000 new trees on the public estate at Parkhurst Forest next year as part of the forest design plan.

Michael Pittock concluded by saying:
“Over the long term we hope that the newly planted woodlands combined with the management of our existing forest will see the Island’s wildlife increase, halting the decline of our rarest species and giving them security for decades to come.”