Day 056 - 28 Nov 94 - Page 26
1 diversity, is it not?
2 A. Not entirely so.
3
4 Q. But in general?
5 A. If you would -----
6
7 Q. In general?
8 A. In general, one would have to say that a natural forest
9 has its own biodiversity, but a forest which is
10 regenerating as either a natural regeneration or as a
11 plantation has its diversity as well. It is equally true
12 to say that a land which was not forested which becomes
13 forested encourages new wildlife on a broad basis.
14
15 Q. Would you describe the replacement of English ancient
16 woodlands after the Second World War with coniferous
17 plantations as good management?
18 A. I would have to ask you where any English woodland of
19 ancient character was removed in order to plant coniferous
20 forest because, generally speaking, the planting of
21 coniferous forest has been on land which has been open
22 space, heathland, hillside, up the hill rather than down in
23 the lowlands where the ancient woodlands exist.
24
25 Q. Is it a fact that after the Second World War a large
26 percentage of UK ancient woodlands were felled; is that a
27 fact?
28 A. A great deal of land was cleared for agriculture.
29
30 Q. But just is it a fact that something equivalent to 50 per
31 cent of UK ancient woodlands have been felled since the
32 Second World War?
33 A. I think it is a fairly broad statement of the factual
34 position as it was, but that is not directly relevant to
35 the planting of coniferous trees.
36
37 Q. No, forget coniferous; is it a fact that half of the
38 ancient woodlands have been felled approximately since the
39 Second World War in Britain?
40 A. As there is no absolute record of all the woodlands
41 that make up that ancient, it is very difficult to say
42 whether that is an accurate figure or not.
43
44 Q. But approximately?
45 A. I think it would be fair to say that agriculture and
46 development has been responsible for a considerable loss of
47 ancient woodlands in England.
48
49 Q. Right, and that the general replanting of woodlands since
50 the Second World War, the plantations have been coniferous;
51 is that correct?
52 A. Not so much replanting if you are talking about the
53 ancient woodlands of England.
54
55 Q. Wherever they have been established?
56 A. Where new forest has been established.
57
58 Q. It has been coniferous?
59 A. A high proportion of it has been coniferous until
60 recent years.
