DevonFloodplain Woodland Project

Nick Whatley & Richard Knott

Fisheries, Recreation and Biodiversity Team (Devon)

March 2009

Project aims

An EA led partnership project to conserve wet woodland and riparian woodland in areas which will:

• improve water quality• reduce flood risk• enhance BAP priority habitat.

Selected areas will be targeted for habitat restoration and creation works.

Partner involvement: Natural England, Forestry Commission, Woodland Trust, Devon Wildlife Trust, National Park Authorities, South West Water, Southwest Forest.

Project targets

Inventory of sites within 9 target areas by March 2010

Management advice given to at least 15 land managers by March 2011

Restoration of 25 ha of degraded woodland within target areas by March 2012

Creation of 15 ha of woodland within target areas by March 2012

Project plan

Phase I Scoping study (Dec 2008 – Mar 2009) • Identification of target areas.

Phase II Targeting & partner involvement (Apr – Oct ‘09)

• Opportunity / constraint mapping.

Phase III Delivery (Nov 2009 – Mar 2012)

• Advice and practical work.

Phase IV Monitoring (Nov 2009 on)

• Results summarised in final report.

Target area selection (Phase I)

The target areas have been chosen because they are:

• waterbodies which are ‘at risk due to nutrients from diffuse pollution’

• within the CFMP policy units that increase flooding

The highest priority areas meet both criteria.

WFD high risk from nutrients

CFMP Policy option 6

Woodland cover 55 800 ha

Wet Woodland 2580 ha

Wet Woodland 2580 ha

Opportunities vs Constraints

Landowner objectivesSoil typeTopography and aspect Other priority habitats or speciesDesignated sitesExisting agri-env agreementCurrent land useHistoric featuresWoodland habitat networks…

The next phase?