The Forestry Commission celebrates 100
years of forestry in 2019
To mark its centenary in 2019, the Forestry Commission has unveiled an ambitious
programme of public engagement across
England’s forests.
Created in the wake of the First World War, following the passing of the Forestry Act in 1919, the
Forestry Commission is now England’s largest landowner. Originally established to replenish the
country’s strategic timber reserve, it no
w leads world
-
class research and actively manages 250,000
hectares of forests to benefit people, nature and the economy. It is the Government’s expert forestry
advisor
and
work
s
with other landowners to help protect, improve and expand England’s forests.
To celebrate
this
centenary and the important benefits forests provide for our wellbeing, economy and
environment, a year of events is planned.
The programme will see:
o
New areas of woodland creation and tree
-
planting projects to ensure the economy, envir
onment
and our wellbeing continue to benefit from forests well into the future;
o
Nature
-
lovers invited to take part in The Big Forest Find, England’s largest public survey of forest
wildlife;
o
Artists and writers commissioned to shine a light on the beauty, diversity and productivity of our
forests;
o
Runners and walkers challenged to take part in a new series of 10km events taking place on
forest trails around the country, revelling in the enhan
ced sensory experience of being immersed
in woodland, and
o
A celebration of excellence in woodland management and its importance in maintaining
sustainable forests for the future
Forestry Commission Director, Ian Gambles said,
‘While we are celebrating th
e achievements of the past century in 2019, we will also be looking ahead
to the next 100 years. Through our programme, we want to inspire everyone to share our passion for
trees and forests, ensuring they are resilient to the changing climate and other ch
allenges the future
may bring.’
The Forestry Commission runs
woodland creation
grant schemes and is well on track to meeting the
Government’s target of planting 11 million trees
over the course of this parliament
, by working with
landowners to create well
-
designed woodland which will provide a wide range of environmental
benefits. In our centenary year alone, we expect to see 2.4 million trees planted as a result of
Government funded
-
planting schemes.
Amongst other woodland creation in 2019, the Forestry
Commission will plant a new 100 acre resilient
forest adjacent to
Sence Valley
in the National Forest in 2019. Reflecting the Forestry Commission’s
ethos, it will be an economically sustainable and productive mix of broadleaf and conifer trees that
provide
timber and new and improved habitats for wildlife, whilst alleviating flooding, offering
increased public access, storing carbon and improving water quality. On the London fringe, Berwick
Glades Community Woodland in the
Thames Chase Community Forest
will
almost double in size,
offering generations of city
-
dwellers ready access to the many benefits of forests including cleaner air
and more green space for recreation.
Centenary avenues
, glades
and
individual trees
will also be planted across England. From
a new maple
glade at Gloucestershire’s Westonbirt Arboretum to a restored tree avenue at Chopwell in Gateshead,
new landscape features will be created culminating in a new commemorative avenue at Eggesford in
Devon on 8 December 2019, marking the 100
th
an
niversary of the first tree planted by the Forestry
Commission.
In 2019 Forestry Commission woodlands will host
The Big Forest Find
, the largest forest ‘bioblitz’ to
have taken place in England. Seasoned and budding wildlife enthusiasts will be invited t
o discover
what’s in their forest by taking part in expert
-
led events to record their rich biodiversity. These events
will be an opportunity to learn about the many ways forests are carefully designed and managed to
provide homes for wildlife, and how the
balance of forest environments are nurtured and protected by
the creatures that live in them. The resulting data will contribute to a baseline for forest biodiversity to
be referenced in the future.
The programme begins in October 2018, with the unveiling
of a new sculpture by Turner prize
-
winning
artist
Rachel Whiteread
in Yorkshire’s Dalby Forest, co
-
commissioned with 14
-
18 NOW.
Nissen Hut
is a
concrete cast of the interior space of the distinctive military structures invented by Major Peter Nissen
during the First World War, and
were used to house work camps on Forestry Commission land after
the organisation was established in 1919
. Placing this sculpture deep in the heart of the forest will
create a moving testament to the lasting relationship we
have had with our changing landscapes over
the past century.
In 2019, two
writers in residence
will spend time in forests to create new work that reflects the
breadth and diversity of the landscapes that have been created and looked after by the Forestry
Commission over the past century. From observing expert foresters designing and planting productive
forests, to nurseries preparing tree saplings for planting, tracking wildlife rangers and watching our
world
-
class scientists at work, two writers will hav
e unprecedented access to England’s forests. An
application process for writers will be opened in autumn 2018.
The Forestry Commission’s forests will be brought to life for a new generation of nature lovers using
virtual reality platform
Google Expedition
s
. Accessible to millions of school children around the UK,
Google Expeditions will allow young adventurers to explore the forest from the school room
–
whether
that is a view of a tree canopy from an osprey’s nest or following a forester going about a day
’s work.
Artist and film maker
Amanda Loomes
has been commissioned to create a new work,
The
Custody
Code,
that tells the behind
-
the
-
scenes stories of England’s forests, their timber, and the people who
work in them. Filmed in Forestry Commission sites ac
ross England, it will show the chain of custody for
sustainable timber, highlighting the stages and scale of timber production from seed to finished
product. The film will be shown in forests around England in 2019.
As the country’s largest landowner, For
estry Commission sites present an unparalleled resource for
helping to improve public health. In its centenary year, the Forestry Commission will continue its long
history of embracing the many ways in which forests can help enhance wellbeing, starting wit
h
Forestry 100
-
a series of 10km running events around England, challenging people to run 100km of
forest trails country
-
wide in our centenary year.
Good Woods
will be an online celebration of woodland management across the industry
–
shining a
spotlight on committed landowners who have designed and maintained sustainable, resilient forests
that provide clear benefits for people, the environment and the economy.
PK Khaira
-
Creswell, Director, centenary programme said,
‘Over the past 100 years, the Forestry Commission has been the privileged custodian of the nation’s
forests. We are proud to have created, and care for, some of the most varied and beautiful places
in
the country. Our forests reflect a century of learning and innovation as we have pioneered new ways
to plant, design and manage sustainable woodlands for people, wildlife and the economy. Our
centenary programme will tell the story of this shared herit
age, offering opportunities to learn about
forests and the important resource they represent for our culture and communities.’ Source Forestry Commission
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