Rewilding

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  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited December 2019 #122

    But the thousands of trees the environmentalists want to plant are hardwoods.Surely as public owned land and 10,000's of thousands of acres countrywide now felled of their softwoods ( Public owned ie Forestry Commission) .I don't know where the funding for these trees are to come from but my best bet will be yours and my pockets. 

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited December 2019 #123

    I don’t mind paying for trees, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the environment which helps to keep me alive. What would you rather spend money on?

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited December 2019 #124

    I pay to use the forests of Yorkshire, they are maintained so the public can enjoy them & a crop can be maintained & sold on. I like the idea. I doubt I’m alone in not expecting something for nothing👍🏻

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited December 2019 #125

    I think woodlands are quite special places. As well as the obvious environmental benefits of tree cultivation, I spent a huge amount of my childhood in the woods, climbing trees, making camps, all the things kids used to. As an adult I enjoy walking in the tranquility of woodland, maintained or ancient and it’s a great adventure playground for my grandchildren who enjoy simple pleasures like looking under old tree trunks for bugs. The Forestry Commission, in my view, does a great job at opening up accessibility to woodland. A favourite of mine locally is Cardinham Woods, near Bodmin. A great example of woodland managed for the enjoyment of all and a great retreat from the madding crowd in high season.

     

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,300 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2019 #126

    The Forestry Commission land we have been walking in locally, for the last 30 or more years, evolves. Of course large areas are felled, it's a productive forest. However, they have been replanted. Some areas with rapid growing soft wood, the main cash  crop. Other areas with mixed planting, to improve diversity and encourage the more recent cash crop of visitors to the forest. Many of the areas that were felled when we first started visiting and looked like a battlefield, are now full of very large pines, or more open developing woody glades. Like R2B we pay to use our forest and think the annual pass very good value for money.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2019 #127

    Rewilding is not just about planting trees, it's much, much than that. It's about whole Eco systems and the flora and fauna that potentially could once again inhabit the 'space'. Got to think holistically many would advocate. That includes climate change and forms of human 'interference'. We don't own this planet alone.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2019 #128

    Do you know why the FC was set up, it's an interesting part of our history and why we need to grow our own. They also do research, we need healthy trees too. I believe it's the centenary of the FC this year. smile

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2019 #129

    Where we live the ancient  bluebell woodland mostly broadleaf,with some trees hundred of years old, that are now reaching the end of their lifespan are although are being monitored some are having to be felled as they are beyond saving, but with the assistance of the Forestry commission, English nature and the Woodland trust many new broadleaf saplings have/are being planted , to ensure it is there for future generations, but we have a problem with deer (mostly munjac)that may soon have to be culled as they have no predators,these day to help

    Ps centenary  of our Garden City next yearcool

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited December 2019 #130

    If that is the Discovery pass SL, me too. I use the Forests around once a month & it pays for itself(x2) so I can drive straight out thanks to ANPR👍🏻

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited December 2019 #131

    Great believer in planting trees particularly broadleaf.( Have planted 100's on my own land)Its where they are planted is the issue. The "environmentalists" seem to want to plant on new land ( none owned by them, but dictating to the owners). Just seems that with the vast acerage of Sitka now being felled and going to be felled over the next few decades, this land wold be ideal for the new trees. After all most of it is owned by us and of very little economic value. Ideal for trees and recreation me thinks.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2019 #132

    One thing that seems to have been "forgotten"about land ownership?and tree replanting is the millions of trees that have been felled in this country (as well as others)to open the land up in the first place,I very much think that where ever trees are being planted were probably forests in past anyway, wink

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,035 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2019 #133

    Agriculture, rural affairs, farming will start to get very interesting after Brexit. From what bit of reading I have done, there’s going to be a move away from Grant Aid in terms of how much land is owned, towards rewarding those who put forward more environmentally friendly and worthwhile projects. Let’s hope there’s few loopholes for the “come and kill brigade” and more emphasis on lots of the extremely good projects and high quality and welfare farmers out there. 👍

     

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited December 2019 #134

    We the ordinary farmers have always looked for a balance. We need to feed the country ( yes the ever increasing population since the land was covered in trees).We have put up with short term  thinking imposed by government measures, very often influenced by  academics in offices. The present landscape is Man made- and its easy to criticise with our mouths full. The final balance will always be achieved by man whether it is predator control, climate issues, or the actual use of our  land mass. In every case "Single Issue" zealots have made matters worse. We the little man will continue to do our bit as we see fit, thinking of the next generation. Have a Merry Xmas everyone (but remember with your mouth full),

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2019 #135

    We alter the landscape at our peril, recent flooding incidents prove this. Dredging and canalising of water courses is a real problem for many. Rewilding may have very positive benefits.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited December 2019 #136

    One thing that I’ve noticed in our Global village is we’re eating most things from all over the world. Frozen veg from South Africa was a Surprise. Not much has a little red tractor or a union flag on it🤷🏻‍♂️. So anyone’s mouth can be filled from many, many sources. I’m thinking the days when the public can be held to ransom are long gone👍🏻

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited December 2019 #137

    That has been well proven MSF👏🏻👍🏻

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited December 2019 #138

    Great Rocky- export the problem, out of sight. Burn down the rainforest to grow the exotic foods at huge environmental expense. As I said criticise with your mouth full.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,300 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2019 #139

    Yes, Discovery pass,  ours is ANPR also. However, it's not quite straight out as the system runs at about the same speed as this web site.😂

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited December 2019 #140

    I don’t buy exotic foods-other places around the world grow everyday produce too, they just do it cheaper👍🏻

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited December 2019 #141

    You mention foods earlier. You cant have it both ways.ie exotic foods for us in the west whilst the local Africans starve. Easy to spout with our mouths full.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2019 #142

    A lot of produce in the UK comes from Thanet Earth see HERE

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited December 2019 #143

    I do have some sympathy with farmers, it’s greed and the geo-political system rather than industry that creates the tension. Whether we like it or not, some folks can’t do without strawberries at Xmas and tomatoes in February regardless of the implications of their habits. The market will always provide whether that involves covering substantial parts of Spain and Italy in plastic, or imports (and all that involves) from the other side of the globe. Those who need to earn their living in the more regulated (welfare & standards) areas of the world are at a disadvantage with those who are not so regulated - chlorine washed chickens anybody? Meanwhile, huge swathes of forest are cleared to make way for more cheap meat for disgusting fast-food chains or covered in oil palms, slowly but surely destroying the eco-system that sustains us all. 

    Other than that, it all seems to be going well! 🥴

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2019 #144

    We waste food, around 7 million tonnes of it a year. frown

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited December 2019 #145

    May I suggest that you visit one of the clear fell conifer plantations that is occurring around the country. You will be amazed at the devastation, ie churned up peat bogs etc. These are supposed to be the carbon retainers. I would not mind betting that more greenhouse gases are released as part of this deforestation than the humble car produces. Extrapolate that to the way the Brazilian rainforests, the Alaskan forests etc are being cut down with similar large machinery and the problem is massive.I am a pragmatic environmentalist and see that these Sitka plantations have reached their maturity and  need cutting down with the consequences. Just use the space for the Reforestation and the thousands of trees  they tell us we need to plant. Whether that mitigates the problem I dont know but my guess is that what  we humans try to do is insignificant in the Cosmic world ( How much has the NZ volcano put out). I will keep doing my own thing on a small scale and use my life long experience to try and balance nature in my own small world.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited December 2019 #146

    That’s easy to spout with your mouth full🙄🙄

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited December 2019 #147

    My mouth is full of totally sustainable, traceable food, mostly self produced. So yes I can speak with my mouth full. I also realise how much damage consumerism of exotic and out of season foods do to the localities and the people of those areas.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited December 2019 #148

    I prefer fairtrade, I’m helping those who can’t help themselves, no big subsidies, no Govt hand outs. If they don’t sell they don’t survive👍🏻. 

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited December 2019 #149

    Take a good look  at Fairtrade and you will find it far from fair. Its OK some of us do our little things, with no hype whilst others do a lot of noise, prevaricating and blame everyone else. Its OK if its not NIMBY.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited December 2019 #150

    Thanks for the heads up👍🏻. I prefer my choices to be MY choices & from sources I trust. Have a good day.

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited December 2019 #151

    As usual we have gone way off topic. Don't believe any of the advertising/tracability slogans, Red tractor, Fairtrade etc. Just remember the Tesco Beef and todays revelation that the "Fresh" turkeys you will be buying at Xmas were slaughtered last month and artificially chilled and coated I Carbon Dioxide, but sold as Fresh".