FAT substances from sheep could be used to boost the growth of temperate rainforest on Exmoor as the national park authority (ENPA) seeks to significantly expand the forests.

The park authority is developing innovative plans for increasing rainforest to create an expansive mosaic of woody and complementary habitats to help deliver nature recovery, natural flood management, and carbon capture.

The dynamic habitat will be developed as part of a distinctive, traditionally farmed landscape.

ENPA’s woodland team has been designing and trialling tree establishment methods, which aim to work more closely with natural processes.

The team is experimenting with everything from soil micro-organisms which occur in natural tree colonisation to deer protection using a product derived from lanolin, the fatty substance in sheep’s wool.

An applied nucleation plot at Little Halsecombe, on Exmoor, with a complementary mixture of 45 trees and shrubs providing protection and shelter as well as seeding and regeneration potential. PHOTO: ENPA.
An applied nucleation plot at Little Halsecombe, on Exmoor, with a complementary mixture of 45 trees and shrubs providing protection and shelter as well as seeding and regeneration potential. PHOTO: ENPA. ( )

Senior woodland officer Graeme McVittie said: “Conventional tree establishment techniques have relied on mass tree planting over quite large areas and a method of protection and maintenance which might not always be appropriate in more sensitive upland landscapes.

“The alternative methods we are trialing here with researchers from Plymouth University will hopefully result in a more sustainable and resilient outcome, at a pace more compatible with natural processes.

“We are familiar with the concept of ‘right tree right place’, this is about ‘right tree right pace’.”

One element of the project involves introducing naturally occurring soil micro-organisms to support tree establishment.

The role and importance of ‘mycorrhizal’ communities in supporting tree establishment and, ultimately, healthy woodland communities, is better appreciated today.

Now, as trees are planted, some will have a pellet inoculated with woodland ‘mycorrhizae’, others will receive fungal-rich soil sourced from a local woodland, and a third group will have activated ‘biochar’ added.

Introducing mycorrhizal pellets to trees being planted on Exmoor. PHOTO: ENPA.
Introducing mycorrhizal pellets to trees being planted on Exmoor. PHOTO: ENPA. ( )

Others will receive no treatment as a control and the effects of each will be monitored by the university researchers.

Mr McVittie said: “We will be designing the planting in such a way that trees can begin to naturally recolonise from nuclei or ‘seed islands’.

“This nucleation technique is a halfway house between natural colonisation and conventional plantation techniques.

“This is often used in tropical forest restoration, where the absence of suitable seed trees rules out natural colonisation, but plantations might be difficult for various reasons.

“This approach gives nature a helping hand.”

Mr McVittie said protecting trees from the browsing effects of deer was a constant challenge, often achieved through fencing or tree tubes.

He said: “Both work, but neither are great solutions.

“Rather than forcing solutions which ultimately do not fit, it is about providing the landscape with the resources and ability to regenerate, restore and adapt.

“This completely natural, biodegradable and non-toxic product made from lanolin does seem to work to deter deer, but we want to trial it at scale and establish the practicalities of repeat application over years until the trees are established.

“We have a quite a few sheep on Exmoor so perhaps there is a business opportunity here for somebody.

“Ultimately, this project is about restoring natural processes from a primary level, deploying more sustainable and appropriate protection and establishment methods.”