Fingle Woods - More Space for Nature
The initial (2014) Conservation Plan for the woodland restoration at Fingle Woods sets out the aim of restoring around 350 hectares of Plantation on an Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS) in the Teign Valley. It gave details of the species of wildlife that would be prioritised, described how habitats would be managed and highlighted the areas of important heritage features that would be protected as part of the overall conservation project. After many years of poor management, this ground-breaking plan, known as “Bringing Fingle Woods Back to Life” would be a blueprint for wildlife and heritage restoration on a landscape scale.
As well as the restoration of woodland, a successful biodiverse ecosystem requires other habitats within the matrix including wet woodland, heathland, grassland, meadows and wood pasture. Moving from a single species of planted conifer towards an optimum balance of diverse habitat will take time but, at Fingle, it is beginning to take shape. In just five years of work, small pockets of species rich habitat are appearing along the river, beside the streams, on sunny banks and along the rides. This kind of diversity not only suits wildlife but appeals to us too. We humans can feel the richness and see the burgeoning life around us and are happy to immerse ourselves in these woods. Open spaces are the essential sunny spots within a woodland that provide the diverse habitat where nature can take hold, and they are on the increase. But, is there an effective way we can measure progress? As the patches of grassland and heath emerge and pockets open up around the woods an Open Space Survey has been going on to track these transformations. Recording and making sense of the various evolving habitats and changes to biodiversity is an important part of the Fingle Conservation Plan.
As well as the restoration of woodland, a successful biodiverse ecosystem requires other habitats within the matrix including wet woodland, heathland, grassland, meadows and wood pasture. Moving from a single species of planted conifer towards an optimum balance of diverse habitat will take time but, at Fingle, it is beginning to take shape. In just five years of work, small pockets of species rich habitat are appearing along the river, beside the streams, on sunny banks and along the rides. This kind of diversity not only suits wildlife but appeals to us too. We humans can feel the richness and see the burgeoning life around us and are happy to immerse ourselves in these woods. Open spaces are the essential sunny spots within a woodland that provide the diverse habitat where nature can take hold, and they are on the increase. But, is there an effective way we can measure progress? As the patches of grassland and heath emerge and pockets open up around the woods an Open Space Survey has been going on to track these transformations. Recording and making sense of the various evolving habitats and changes to biodiversity is an important part of the Fingle Conservation Plan.
This area of Fingle Woods between Willingstone Cottages and the River Teign has changed considerably between 2014 and 2019. In 2014 there were a few small areas of open space where earlier forestry work had left open space and natural regeneration was taking place. In 2019 there were large areas where stands of larch had been felled (pink hatching) and restocked with broadleaves. There are also a number of smaller areas where ride sides and edge habitats have been improved. The blue hatching shows where the riparian (stream and riverside) habitats have been opened up.The Future - How will we know if the habitats are healthy?At this point in the restoration project there are signs that habitats are improving, and some species are gaining a foothold in areas where management work has been successful. As the restoration work continues, monitoring the flowering plants, ferns, lichens, birds, insects and mammals will carry on, comparing them with today’s data and the original baselines from 2014. As the habitats continue to change, this species data will be used alongside repeated Open Space Surveys to demonstrate how the incremental increase in the diversity of habitat will affect the species of plants and wild animals. Fingle Woods Open Spaces 2019Survey by Matt Parkins (Raven Quest) and Tom Williams (Dartmoor UAV Services)Report and photography: Matt ParkinsGIS mapping and data: Tom Williams
