Forest Landscape Design-World Forestry Congress
This paper was written by Simon Bell and Gordon Patterson of the Forestry Commission for presentation at the 10th World Forestry Congress in Paris 1990. The Author’s details and the paper summary is below. It sets the scene at this particular period in British Forestry with regard to the aims of skilled forest design to incorporate appropriate landscape, conservation and recreation considerations. These aims were the key building blocks in the policy of creating Forest Design Plans for all Forestry Commission Forests in the 1990s and into the early 2000s and latterly called Forest Plans. This evolution in management practice was the lynchpin in driving towards and creating modern multipurpose forests. The full paper is in the attached PDF.
FOREST LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Simon Bell ESc, MPhil, MICFor ALl and
Gordon Patterson, DipLA, ALl
Senior Landscape Architect and Landscape Consultant
Forestry Commission
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
SUMMARY
The British Government is committed to a policy of multipurpose forestry and the Forestry Commission has a statutory duty to seek a balance between timber production and environmental considerations. Rapid expansion of forests has led to sudden changes in the landscape which are often seen as unwelcome and which can cause anti-forestry sentiments. There are certain constraints on forest expansion which can ensure a minimum standard of forest landscape design. Further landscape changes may follow from altered agricultural use.
The Forestry Commission has a clear policy on forest landscape design, and has developed well-established techniques applicable to all types of woodland. These are based on detailed appraisal of the existing landscape, in terms of sensitivity, character, heritage value, existing elements of diversity and any special features. Forest landscape is designed to be in harmony with the existing and surrounding landscape, recognising the importance of shape, scale, diversity and unity of the elements which make up the forest and woodland landscape.
There is a need for research into public attitudes and preferences in relation to forest landscape. It is essential that foresters have positive attitudes to environmental issues, enter into discussion with the public, and receive training in environmental work. Sufficient funding is required for this work, and effective publicity for the benefits which well-designed multipurpose forests offer the community.
Key words: policy; landscape; environment.