In this episode of Down in Dorset, the mini-series from Second Nature! Autumn is officially setting in across the county, and after a busy couple of months, Tim and Lizzie are back together to tackle one of the most vital-and topical-conversations in farming and conservation today: the state of our hedges and trees.
From the historic decline of UK woodlands to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and the practical realities of farming through extreme weather, we’re exploring how nature recovery and food production can go hand in hand.
To help us break it all down, Tim and Lizzie were joined in the studio by three brilliant guests:
- John Calder, Project Manager for The Great Big Dorset Hedge Project
- Jo Garlick & Holly Savage, From the Forestry Commission
Together, we look at what’s currently happening across the Dorset landscape, how farmers can practically integrate trees and hedges onto their land, and what we can all do to help restore our natural corridors.
In this episode, we chat about:
- Our Favourite Dorset Hidden Gems: The team shares their absolute favourite local spots-from the spooky, beautiful holloways at the Symondsbury Estate and pub lunches after walking Golden Cap, to the breathtaking beech tree avenue at Kingston Lacy. 🍃🌊
- A Brief History of UK Woodlands: Jo breaks down how England’s woodland cover dropped to a shocking 5% after WWI, leading to the creation of the Forestry Commission, and why we’re now pushing for 16.5% tree cover by 2050. 🌲
- The Great Big Dorset Hedge Project: John shares the incredible work being done by 400+ volunteers across 150 farms to survey, restore, and replant hedgerows as vital ecological building blocks for wildlife and carbon capture. 🦔🌾
- Shade, Shelter, and Willow Forage: Why trees and hedges are becoming a complete necessity for livestock welfare during summer heatwaves and droughts-and why cows love browsing on nutrient-rich willow trees! 🐄🌳
- Right Tree, Right Place: How small changes, like filling hedge gaps, planting field corners, or establishing shelterbelts, can transform a farm’s resilience without taking valuable land out of food production. 🚜
- Bridging the Town and Country Divide: How volunteer projects are getting local residents out into fields, sparking conversations about where our food comes from, and building stronger rural communities. 🤝
🌳 If you would like to learn more about the Great Big Dorset Hedge Project, please email: greatbigdorsethedge@gmail.com
🌲 If you would like to learn more about the work of the Forestry Commission:
Email Swwoodlandcreation@forestrycommission.gov.uk Or
Complete Get support to plant trees and woodland – GOV.UK