We’re working with D&G Woodlands to build a 40ft storage and volunteer space for their “Woodland Laboratory.” This project explores natural regeneration and sustainable forestry. We interviewed them to learn about their goals, research and our collaboration. Discover how they’re innovating woodland management in Scotland’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone.
What inspired the creation of the Woodland Laboratory, and what are the primary goals you hope to achieve?
The ‘Woodland laboratory’ plan will work for us on a number of levels. It will – and infact is already – increasing our knowledge about natural regeneration, the consents and approval process of land ownership and also giving us a focus for community and school work.
Much of the research over the years on what grows back on recently felled sites was carried out elsewhere in the UK, and this will give a South of Scotland angle on that, and it could inform other smaller or sub-optimal sites in the region of the potential for natural regeneration as part of the forestry mix.
The most exciting part of the project will be the different treatments we use and how this influences the rate of natural regeneration, and the potential these have to influence the community, ecological or income stream options in a woodland.
Bennel Wood has been described as an ‘awkward’ site for commercial planting and felling. It was badly affected by Storm Arwen. It is not ideally suited to current commercial practices and so can be an example of how to make these ‘awkward’ sites a part of the productive forestry mix – while potentially delivering a range of other benefits.
Can you explain the concept of “natural regeneration” in more detail for our readers, and why it’s a focus of this project?
With this site, we are interested in what happens if you don’t manually re-plant a site after felling. What establishes first, what grows best and how can different treatments influence this.
Restocking a site after felling is expensive and requires inputs of labour and materials. Natural Regeneration could play a part in letting us harness natural processes and reduce our interventions, while still delivering benefits. The site was cleared a year ago and there is already a lot of new growth coming through – particularly Birch but also Oak and others.
The precise list of treatments we are exploring through this project are still under discussion but we are excited to explore further:
- Different forms of tree protection
- Companion planting – how trees benefit from different companions planted around them
- Different rates of thinning and management
- New Bio-technological approaches – fungal treatments and trial techniques
What are the anticipated ecological benefits of the project, beyond timber production?
Bennel Wood is 13 hectares in size. Depending on how you look at it, that is enormous or tiny! On a south of Scotland stage, it is small, but as a trial site for new techniques it is a perfect size.
As part of our establishment works this year we’ll be improving paths around the site and establishing ponds and wetland features. This will create a variety of habitats, with a range of ecological niches.
The main ecological benefit will be delivered through use of the site as a destination for school and education groups. We are currently exploring options with research partners and would love to use Bennel Wood to inspire the next generation of ecologists.
What is the long-term vision for Bennel Wood after the initial trial period?
Focus at the moment is on gathering baseline data that will guide future years work, and then considering the different treatments we use.
The longer-term ambitions for Bennel Wood are to be a nimble and useful exemplar of different techniques and treatments.
When we get to year 10 and onwards, we want to start genuinely considering the question of income potential from an ‘awkward’ forestry site like this. That could include timber products but also broader than that – from health and wellbeing opportunities through to events and activities.
How does this project fit into the larger context of woodland management and biodiversity efforts in the region?
Dumfries & Galloway is a driving force of our commercial timber industry. The UK is the second highest importer of timber in the world – areas like Dumfries & Galloway are vital in our production of more home-grown wood.
Dumfries & Galloway is also a vital food-producing region. We are 8% of Scotland’s land mass but it was commented recently that 50% of Scotland milk comes from our region.
The question of land use is complex but there is fundamentally only so much land to go around. We need to tailor different decisions to each site under consideration, and make sure we have a full understanding of each options.
We are using the ‘Woodland Laboratory’ angle to explore how natural regeneration – often seen as risky or less financially appealing – can play its part. Natural Regeneration would never be seen now as the primary method to be used for timber production, but its only by better understanding the merits of all options that we can make the best decisions in the land use debate.
This project is not without risk from a woodland management point of view – what if trees don’t grow, what if we cant make them pay their way etc. It is the same for the question of biodiversity – what if Natural regeneration on Bennel Wood doesn’t deliver the biodiversity improvements. But its only by trying new things – and innovative treatments that we can find this out.
Rather than relying on discoveries elsewhere, we want to learn new things right here in Scotland’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone.
What is the significance of being located in Scotland’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone?
We have received support from South of Scotland Enterprise due to the recent designation of Dumfries & Galloway as part of Scotland’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone.
The Natural Capital Innovation Zone is about trying to think of new ways to engage with and measure and deliver Natural Capital benefits. It looks at benefits in the broadest possible way, from community wealth building through to ecological and economic impacts.
The Natural Capital Innovation Zone – the first of its kind in the world – was designated by Scottish Ministers in 2024. Click here for more info.
How did the partnership between D&G Woodlands and Iron & Pine come about?
We were aware of your work, and – because it is Dumfries & Galloway – obviously even knew a couple of your employees! The proximity of your workshop to the site meant we couldn’t not approach you about the project!
We were impressed by your local supply chains and your ambitions to do the work locally but also well.
Sometimes the best thing about living in Dumfries & Galloway is the slight 1970s feeling to things, but in business relationships there is a need for modern thinking and high standards.
What role will the modular building play in the Woodland Laboratory’s operations? How will it benefit the volunteers and researchers?
Bennel Wood has a clear ‘entrance’ to the site and the Modular Building will welcome people into the Woodland Laboratory. It will primarily act as a tool and equipment store but will also have a volunteer/visiting groups rest area for when the weather is truly terrible.
How important is it to D&G Woodlands to work with local contractors and companies like Iron & Pine on this project?
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands aims with all of its work to ensure as much funding raised as possible ‘sticks’ in the region. We make a point of raising money on the national stage and then spending it locally – it delivers an economic benefit from everything that we do.
We are a team of three people, all of whom live in the region. We want maximum local benefit from our activities.
It is particularly exciting that we are exploring the idea of off-grid roof mounted solar panels on the modular building – it has allowed us to work with you and Dumfries-based Fusion Renewables to do what might be a bit of a ‘first’.
This feeds back to the Natural Capital innovation Zone heading – we want to push on, and to innovate. To be doing that with local firms, with us taking a bit of an additional risk to try new things but knowing that you’ll be able to share the learning with other clients in the future is doubly rewarding.
If you’re interested in a space like D&G Woodlands, get in touch!
