The latest episode of our Counting the Earth podcast is now available! Listen here.
In this episode, Alice and Sue take you on an exploration of the past, present and future of the UK’s woodlands.
Sue visits the enchanting Heartwood Forest in Hertfordshire, where she meets Chris Nichols from the Woodland Trust to uncover the latest insights from the Bunce Woodland Survey. The survey reveals how our woodlands have changed over the past 50 years, and highlights the pressing challenges they face today, from climate change to shifts in land use.
Looking to the future, Alice and Sue then speak with UKCEH scientist Stephen Cavers to discuss whether the UK is on track to meet the Government’s ambitious goal to plant 30,000 hectares of trees by the end of 2024 and investigate the role of genetics in building forest resilience. Tune in to discover how past lessons inform future strategies, and why every tree counts in the journey towards a more sustainable landscape.
Related information
50 years of change in British broadleaved woodlands: Read the full report here [PDF].
Find out more about the Bunce Woodland Survey
The Bunce Woodland Survey project was carried out by UKCEH and commissioned by the Woodland Trust, with significant financial contributions from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the David Family Foundation, Welsh Government, Defra and Natural England, and a number of smaller contributions from charitable trusts and individuals.
Woodland Trust
Future of UK Treescapes Project
Learn more about our podcast series, including previous episodes. Find the latest episodes on Spotify, Apple, Google, or wherever you get your podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and give us a review.
Producer: Rachael Buchanan
A Boffin Media production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology