Private landowners on the Isle of Wight are being offered a chance to reconnect blocks of ancient woodland through the return of a funding scheme made available by the Forestry Commission.
Between 2001 and 2006, new woodlands equivalent to the size of 355 football pitches were planted on the Island thanks to the Jigsaw Scheme.
This year sees the return of that funding initiative, which aims to expand ancient woodland, allowing wildlife to move more freely.
Michael Pittock, Beat Forester for the Isle of Wight, said:
“Years ago urban development and agricultural removal of woodland left blocks of ancient forest scattered across the Island. These discrete blocks make it harder for rare species to migrate and survive extreme climatic conditions and other threats, so now we are putting parts of the jigsaw back together.”
Specific criteria for funding
If you’re thinking you’d like to take advantage of the scheme and add a few trees to your back garden, the grants are available to anyone with a minimum of 0.25 hectares to plant.
If you offer public access more the better as these cases will be given priority rating.
Help available from The Wildlife Trust
Working closely with The Forestry Commission have also been the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
They’ve offered support to the landowners from helping with applications to providing guidance on where, how and what to plant.
Richard Grogan, from the Wildlife Trust, added:
“This is such fantastic news for the island. Extending woodlands provide a huge benefit to rare species, including red squirrels, dormice, long-eared owl, wood cricket, narrow-leaved lungwort and several species of bats. Not only this but it also provides a huge improvement in the quality of life for people on the Island, too.”
Welcomed by squirrel fans too
Helen Butler, of the Wight Squirrels project, commented:
“I am a big fan of the Jigsaw Scheme as it will allow red squirrels to reach and colonise otherwise isolated woodland.”
More trees for Parkhurst
We also learn that over 6,000 new trees are planned for Parkhurst Forest next year as part of the forest design plan.
Michael Pittock, added:
“Over the long term we hope that the newly planted woodlands combined with the management of our existing forest will see the island’s wildlife increase, halting the decline of our rarest species and giving them security for decades to come.”
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