Biodiversity boost as fragmented woodland gains connectivity

Lantern established the Greenscape Facilitation Fund group with landowners and managers across Surrey, to encourage collaboration across landholdings and bring about environmental improvements at a landscape scale. 

Funded by Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund, Greenscape focussed on woodland habitats and initially involved nine landowners including the Surrey Wildlife Trust, the National Trust, Waverley Borough Council and a number of private estates in the area. 

Lantern was lead facilitator for the project and, with Petra Billings of Woodland Consultancy, worked closely with group members to deliver shared priorities.  

The project area is a key part of the western weald and its extensive but fragmented woodland still retains elements of its original significant biodiversity. The project’s cohesive approach – which by the end of the funding comprised 26 landowners and managers covering 4,586 hectares - enabled biodiversity to thrive and the collaboration resulted in additional environmental, economic and social benefits across the entire area.

The project focus was strongly directed by the group members themselves. Those involved shared best practice and ideas with other local landowners and managers, received advice and support to access funding for management and capital items as well as expert training and skills development. Overall, the project has and will continue to result in improvements to the natural environment across this important area. 

​Training topics covered: sustainable woodland management, CS and other funding opportunities, pests & diseases, woodland creation and connectivity, working woodlands, ancient woodlands and soil management, habitat management for biodiversity, habitat monitoring, birds, butterflies, heathland, deer and squirrel management, bats, wildfire management, B-lines and pollinators, Knepp Estate visit, hedgerows & dormice, and pond restoration and creation.

Greenscape was part of a network of 98 facilitation projects around the country covering 453,000 hectares of land. The project was funded through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme's Facilitation Fund programme. The project was supported by Surrey Hills AONB, Surrey Hills Enterprises and the Forestry Commission. 

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NOTE:

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas. This project has received European Union funding under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme’s Facilitation Fund.

The scheme is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and is part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).