Chris's Forester Column, May 2009

‘The Heat is On!’ by Chris Wooldridge of Transition Town Newent

Problems lurk beyond hedge

We are fortunate to live in a beautiful area blessed with a rich biodiversity.  In springtime we thrill to the amazing spectacle of new life: swallows return to their old sites, primroses and bluebells decorate our woods and glades, trees renew their leaves, butterflies and bees forage for nectar. Or is it still quite like that?  Biodiversity is essential for the health of all life on this planet yet intensive agriculture often seems at war with nature. If the hedgerows and roadsides are alive with wild flowers and birdsong, on the other side of the hedge we too often see a sterile landscape of uniform monoculture.  

Current research suggests that the most productive food growing systems acre-for-acre are those based on permaculture and organic gardening principles. Coincidentally these are also best for conserving biodiversity. As peak oil and climate change reduce the option of mechanised chemical farming, and society increasingly values and puts an economic price on landscape and wildlife, our future food supplies will surely come from labour intensive ‘gardens’, not lifeless rolling prairies.

I detect some anger about firewood supplies in the Forest. Word reaches me that prices have increased substantially and the Forestry Commission’s policy of auctioning standing timber to the highest bidder will squeeze out small firewood providers and private individuals. The timber may end up anywhere in the world, neither a sustainable nor rational policy for encouraging local energy supplies. Shouldn’t The Forestry Commission allocate some of its timber to local needs? Is the alternative co-operative, green-field, coppice planting?  Will this be in competition with food production?

Seed saving saves money and saves those precious varieties adapted to local conditions. You can find out all about it if you get down to the Lower George Café, Newnham on Tuesday June 2 at 8:00pm for Transition Forest of Dean’s seed-saving meeting.