Natural England - Wood Fuel for Elstead and Surrey
Wood Fuel for Elstead and Surrey
24 June 2010
Linking heathland management at Thursley National Nature Reserve with landscape conservation in the Surrey Hills AONB and efficient fuelling for local schools. New wood pellet fuelled power plant being installed at Elstead School
The Surrey Hills is one of the most wooded Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty with almost 40% woodland cover. Woodland, in fact, is one of the defining features of the Surrey Hills landscape. Despite this, much woodland in the county is not properly managed and much of the wood resource is underutilised. This has a negative impact on biodiversity and resource efficiency and also affects public access to the woodland.
A new way of managing and utilising some of the county’s resources is set to change that though, with Thursley Common, one of the key National Nature Reserves in the South East, playing a vital role. Already there is a rapidly growing local market for wood fuel in the form of logs, wood chip and wood pellets. A Surrey Hills Wood Fuel Working Group has been established to encourage people and organisations based in and around the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to adopt wood fuel as their primary method of heating and to use the wood fuel now being produced locally. Surrey’s neglected woodlands therefore present a significant opportunity for the revitalisation of the local economy through the development of a supply of local renewable energy.
The group aims to:
Promote the professional development of wood fuel production in the Surrey Hills AONB and the sustainable management of its forest;
Assist and advise the six local authorities in the AONB and neighbouring authorities to promote the use of wood fuel in new developments;
Create and maintain awareness among developers and end users of the benefits of using wood fuel as an energy source;
Work and coordinate with wood fuel producers and suppliers of wood burning equipment, to ensure that the developing market is fully realised; and
Provide an annual rolling programme of community outreach, marketing, training and advice.
In the southern part of the county, Thursley National Nature Reserve is one of the last remaining fragments of Surrey heath and includes areas of lowland heath, mire and woodland. The site supports a range of typical heathland wildlife including large invertebrate populations and it is managed by Natural England. Essential woodland management on the site, to maintain the quality of the key habitats, results in the felling of inappropriate pine trees which can be used as a wood fuel resource. The new wood pellet fuelled power plant at Elstead School therefore offers the opportunity to combine the efficient management of Thursley Common with a sustainably sourced and efficient heating system for the School.
“This combination gives us a warm glow, bringing together the benefits of heathland restoration from the felling of the surplus pine woods and the need for an efficient heating system for the school,” says James Giles, Thursley National Nature Reserve manager. “We are maintaining the special features of the reserve and its role in the landscape of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, warming the school children and offering them the chance to learn more about minimising carbon waste and the natural environment. It’s a great combination and we are working closely with all the partners for this.”
National Nature Reserves give the public a chance to experience at first hand a wide variety of wildlife. Designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) by Natural England, they are internationally significant and safeguarded under European law.
ENDS
For further information, please contact John Rennie from Natural England’s South East Advocacy and Partnerships Team on 0300 060 2616, email: john.rennie@naturalengland.org.uk
Notes to Editors
Natural England is the government’s independent advisor on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public. We run England’s Environmental Stewardship green farming schemes which deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland. The Environmental Stewardship grants deliver conservation of wildlife, maintain landscapes and natural resources and protect historical features. See www.naturalengland.org.uk for more.
