Improving Wildlife Habitats
It is important that woodland areas are properly managed to ensure a healthy habitat for native plants and animals to flourish. Many wildlife species cannot survive in forests that have become dense and overgrown.
Coppicing, felling and replanting wooded areas helps fill the woodland with natural light, encouraging the growth of many wild flowers, birds and butterflies.
We work closely with The Springbok Sustainable Wood Heat Co-op which is rejuvenating large areas of woodland throughout Surrey. Sidney Wood is part of the Springbok Estate and is providing a perfect habitat for woodland butterflies including Silver Washed Fritillaries, White Admirals, Small and Large Skippers and the rare Wood White. Marbled White butterflies which have never been seen in a woodland setting before can also be found there, as well as the stunning Purple Emperor butterfly.
Other species which benefit from sympathetic woodland management are Nightingales and the Common Dormouse.
Sustainable Wood Fuel
All wood supplied for Biomass Energy must meet the government’s sustainability requirements. This consists of a greenhouse gas emissions limit and specific land criteria.
To be fully sustainable, the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere in burning wood will be locked up again and stored by the new trees that are planted to replace them. The only increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide comes from transport and processing, so it’s important to use locally sourced fuel.
This makes Biomass Energy one of the most climate-friendly forms of power available to us.
If you own your own woodland and wish to save on both carbon emissions and fuel bills, you can register on to the Biomass Suppliers List (BSL) and self-supply your own wood as fuel.
Further guidance on woodland management is available from the Forestry Commission website.
Please contact our friendly knowledgeable team based in our office in Sussex if you would like more information on renewable energy and its benefits to natural habitats and wildlife.