Researchers at the University of Plymouth are part of a new partnership project which will help to re-establish Dartmoor's ancient woodland pastures and temperate rainforests.
Around 8.5 hectares of native trees will be planted within a carefully selected area of Harford Moor, helping to reconnect existing woodlands so nature can thrive and habitats can become more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
The tree planting uses an innovative approach known as the Miyawaki Method, and while this approach has been used elsewhere, the planting on Dartmoor is thought to be the first upland trial of its kind in Europe for the purpose of improving flood resilience.
Locally native trees including oak, downy birch, hawthorn and willow will be planted in small plots across the site. The plots will have different densities of native trees with some plots fenced off to exclude livestock.
Dartmoor National Park Authority is leading the work through its Headwaters project, a natural flood management programme funded by the Environment Agency and Devon County Council.
The University's role in the project work builds on extensive research in recent years examining some of the UK's temperate rainforests.
On Dartmoor, that work has included exploring the most effective ways for them to thrive and support climate mitigation, as well as gathering the opinions of landowners and graziers about tree regeneration within the landscape.
Working closely with the partners to design the trials, the University's monitoring and research as part of the new project aims to:
- Better understand how tree planting can support enhanced natural establishment of trees within tree-diminished landscapes;
- Determine how quickly restoration methods can reduce water run-off and flood risk; and
- Examine how, in the longer term, these planting approaches may support biodiversity and carbon storage.
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