Climate change captures headlines but it is not the only factor that shapes the environment

Whatever the causes of climate change few people question the fact that the climate is changing. The dilemma for me is that climate change is such a vast and complex problem I am always at a bit of a loss about how best to contribute. I wanted to put my energies into saving something rather closer to home where those who contributed could directly see the benefits for themselves. To establish something that future generations could enjoy and benefit from in a very direct and practical way. This was the inspiration for KWES.

One of the key aspects of KWES’s work is maintaining and preserving Kent’s woodland, especially its ancient woodland which now accounts for less than 2% of the UK’s land cover. Kent is particularly rich in ancient woodland much of which is neglected and under threat.

Ancient woods are the jewel in our woodland crown. They are the UK’s equivalent of the world’s tropical rain forest, our richest sites for wildlife and contain many archaeological features providing evidence of past land use. But, not all ancient woods are the same. They vary from the native pinewoods in the Cairngorms of Scotland to the moist and lichen-rich oak woods of the Atlantic seaboard as well as the flower rich coppice woods in south-east England.

Kent’s ancient woods are also some of our most beautiful – many have carpets of bluebells, wood anemones and wild orchids in spring and summer followed by spectacular autumn colours later on.

However, this is not the whole picture because there are actually two broad types of ancient woodland – Ancient Semi-Natural Ancient Woodland (ASNW) and Planted Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS).

Ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) has developed naturally on undisturbed soils. The long continuity of semi-natural ancient woods and their undisturbed soils makes it the most valuable natural habitat.

It supports a huge range of wildlife (including more threatened species than any other UK habitat) many of which require stable conditions (i.e. relatively unchanging compared to land outside the woods). Often, these species are unable to move easily so do not colonise new areas easily.

Ancient woodland cannot be replaced. Woods planted or growing up today will not become ancient woods in 400 years’ time because the soils on which they have developed have been modified by modern agriculture or industry, and the fragmentation of natural habitats in today’s landscape hampers species’ natural movements and interactions.

Our remaining semi-natural ancient woodland is therefore irreplaceable. If we lose what little we have left then it is gone forever. Preserving and maintaining ancient woodland ensures that local communities can continue to enjoy a key part of the nation’s heritage and that one of the key ingredients that makes Kent such a beautiful and enduring place is not lost.

According to the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan, in the last 100 years, 46 species of broadleaved woodland have become extinct in the UK, it would be a shame to lose any more.

KWES welcomes its new apprentices

It is estimated that there are around 46,000ha of woodland in Kent, made up of mixed and coniferous woodland. Around 85% is native, broadleaved woodland, and 53% is ancient semi-natural woodland. Source: Kent Biodiversity Partnership.

At KWES we feel passionately about maintaining and restoring Kent’s remaining ancient woodlands whilst providing training and employment for ex-service personnel; young people and ex-offenders in Kent.

As a new charity that only began training four apprentices last year we are delighted to now have 16. This is thanks to KWES–XP ( the Kent Woodland Scheme Expansion Project) receiving £1,001,000 (one million and one thousand pounds) from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund which will go towards training costs to create 31 new jobs.

KWES apprentices will learn how to manage woodlands sensitively, learn the skills of coppicing trees on a rotation basis and extracting timber with care, minimising the damage to the environments in which the work is done. This will help to regenerate these woodlands and increase their biodiversity which makes them so valuable a part of the UK’s natural heritage (our equivalent of tropical rain forest). It will also allow these ancient woods to provide local and sustainable timber.

The apprentices are now embarking on a training programme of professional qualifications awarded through the Awarding Bodies Consortium (ABC) on behalf of the Royal Forestry Society. The aim is that KWES and KWES-XP will train 16 new apprentices a year so that at the end of their three year training period they can secure a worthwhile job.

In spite of the recent inclement weather morale at KWES is high as we embark on this new and exciting venture. Over the coming months we aim to use this blog as a way of keeping you aware of the highs and occasional but inevitable lows as KWES and their apprentices set about maintaining and restoring Kent’s ancient woodland. We hope that you will help and support us on our journey.