Woodland Planting Frequently Asked Questions

Urban woodland creation is a recognised method for local authorities and other land owners to lessen the impact of habitat loss, adapt to climate change and create more climate resilient cities. This is reflected in both Dundee’s Climate Action Plan and Dundee’s Biodiversity Action Plan. This project will help us to deliver actions within these plans, as well as contributing to national and international climate and biodiversity goals. 

Urban trees have always been part of towns and cities, providing a visible and spiritual link to the countryside. As towns and cities have grown, they have incorporated estate woodlands and gardens, such as Templeton Woods and Camperdown in Dundee.

The new areas of woodland created by this project will enhance our existing woodlands and make them more sustainable for future generations of people in Dundee. They play an important role in our urban landscape and these benefits are being increasingly referred to as ‘Ecosystem Services’. Some services provided by Dundee Woodlands include:

Provisioning services- timber production, biofuel, mulch for horticulture and wild food

Regulating services – pollution reduction, carbon sequestration and storage, soil protection and flood mitigation

Cultural services- recreation, mental and physical health, landscape and historical value, social cohesion and education

Supporting services- oxygen production, carbon cycling, water cycling, soil formation and biodiversity

It is thought that climate change will negatively impact on Scottish Woodlands. Currently, experts believe that:

• Summers will be become warmer and winters milder
• Rainfall distribution will change, leading to drier summers in eastern Scotland
• Increased frequency of high intensity rainfall leading to increased occurrence of landslips, wetter soils, soil erosion and sedimentation of water courses
• Decreased winter cold and fewer frost days
• More frequent and stronger winds
• Changing weather patterns are expected to increase the likelihood of attack by pests and pathogens.

Ways in which woodlands can become more resilient against these negative impacts is to:

• Increase species diversity
• Increase the diversity of tree ages
• Increase the diversity of canopy height
• Increase the overall woodland area

Increasing the resilience of woodlands will also benefit the ‘ecosystem services’ referred to above. Not only will the woodlands provide a recreational space for visitors’ health and wellbeing and an important biodiversity resource, they will also have much wider community benefit.

The three sites were selected due to existing mature woodland nearby. This, as well as aligning with the objective to increase woodland size and connectivity, also enables native plants and animals in the existing woodland to quickly move into these new areas. The new woodland also has great potential as a future resource for people, being either close to residential areas or in well-used parks. Once the new trees are much larger and growing well, the aim would be to provide increased access to and through them with additional signage and seating.

No, planting trees helps to reduce flooding. Trees slow down the rate at which rain hits the ground. This means that as rain slowly drips down through the leaves the rate at which water gathers on the ground surface is slowed. This provides more time for the water to soak into the ground rather than running along it. The tree roots also help the water to penetrate the ground faster and to keep the water in the soil rather than letting it run off. This water can then be used by the tree to help it grow or it will slowly disperse through the soil. Although the trees being planted in these woodlands are still very young and will have limited immediate effect in reducing flooding, their positive effect on water management will increase as they grow.

Dundee City Council recognises the importance of natural light and this has been accounted for in the design of this project. The woodland planting has been positioned well away from the boundary of residents' properties. Additionally, smaller trees will be located close to the edges of the planted areas and at reduced densities, as well as along the ridgeline of Balgay Hill. The species chosen are mainly deciduous, in that they will lose their leaves in the autumn and winter months resulting in more light during darker times of the year and when the sun is lower in the sky.

The funding for this project along with general good practice for urban woodlands requires the use of predominantly native tree species. Native species are those which arrived in the UK over 10,000 years ago at the same time as other plants and animals. This means that the other plants and animals and have evolved a close relationship with these trees, becoming reliant on them for food, breeding sites and shelter. Other species have been introduced largely over the last 400 years or so and although they support a range of species in their native areas, they do not have the same long history with species in the UK. This means that native species have the most benefits for our biodiversity.

The individual characteristics of the sites, such soil type, soil depth and water content, have also been considered to ensure that the right trees are planted in the right places. This helps to increase the tree survival rates.

Size of Tree	Small	Medium	Large
	Blackthorn Hawthorn Hazel Holly	Alder Silver Birch Wild cherry Crab Apple Hornbeam Goat Willow Field Maple Rowan	Beech Lime Oak Scots Pine

In addition, Riverside Nature Park will have a small orchard area with a mix of apple, plum and pear trees.

The deer fencing will be 1.8m (6 ft) and an example of what it might look like is provided.

 

An example of the type of deer fence that will be used for the tree compartments.

As these sites are located within or close to urban areas there will always be the potential for antisocial behaviour. To prepare the ground for the trees, the grass and some scrub will be cut to ground level. Once the trees are planted the fencing will discourage most people, as well as deer.

Yes. There will be a community planting day held for each site where members of the public will be invited to come and help plant up a section of woodland. The exact times and dates for these days will be communicated nearer the time.

The aim is for the overall project to be completed in around 8 weeks. The exact time at each individual site may vary and the work will also be weather dependant. Some machinery will be on site to prepare the ground for planting and to build the fencing, where required. All the trees will be planted by hand.

Currently each site has a mix of habitats, but are mostly grass with some small shrubs and scattered trees. The existing habitat will be disturbed during the initial planting, but mature trees will be protected and shrubs will be left if possible. As the new trees grow and mature, the ground vegetation will adapt too. However, to ensure that the new trees survive, some focussed ongoing weed and scrub removal may be required. Initially, access to deer and rabbits will be restricted as much as possible using the fencing. This will be removed once the trees are large enough to withstand some foraging damage. The new habitat will mature slowly, allowing wildlife and plants to adapt. It is anticipated that new wildlife will colonise these areas from the surrounding woodlands. Areas of Lochee Park are now designated as naturalised and biodiversity grasslands and Riverside Nature Park has the largest wildflower meadow in Dundee, which is an important habitat for breeding skylarks.

The new woodlands will need some management in the future. Initially this will be ensuring that as many of the young trees survive as possible. Long term management will be required to deal with tree failure and the results of storms or pests and diseases. To maintain as naturalistic woodland as possible and to ensure the health of the trees themselves, some felling may be required when the trees are mature.

The Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund is supporting the project, with additional funding coming from Dundee City Council.