AQW 30569/17-22


Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim


Tabled Date: 04/03/2022
Answered On Date: 18/03/2022
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to protect and restore Tardree Forest.


Answer:
My Department manages and protects Tardree forest in line with its responsibilities under the Forestry Act to promote sustainable forestry. Forest Service delivers this responsibility through its development and implementation of sustainable forestry management plans which are subject to independent external audit against the UK Woodland Assurance Standard.
Tardree forest due to its elevation and soil types is primarily a productive forest. It also includes smaller areas of high conservation value, native woodland, semi-natural woodland and deadwood habitat. The plan for Tardree forest has recently been revised in consultation with stakeholders as part of the review of the wider Antrim forest planning area. Protection of the biodiversity in Tardree forest featured strongly in the forest planning review.
The plan has identified that approximately 13% of the forest areas with wood production as the primary objective can be managed using low impact silvicultural systems. This ensures retention of the forest canopy at one or more levels by successively removing and regenerating trees over the longer term, whilst reducing the impact of forest operations on visitors. The trees are replaced by natural regeneration or by planting of alternative trees species in line with the forest design and regeneration plans. The management objectives of the plan include enhancing the landscape, protecting water quality, improving wildlife habitats, using a wider range of trees species, and increasing the resilience of the forest.
Tardree forest is well recognised as a venue widely used by local people including visitors for exercise. There is one formal carpark (Duncans Carpark) and the forest provides informal walking facilities on forest roads and tracks that Forest Service maintain to enable people to enjoy the forest environment.
Forest Service is happy to work in partnership with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council (ANBC). This would provide an opportunity to develop specific projects and investment in Tardree Forest under well-established partnership arrangements in operation with other local Councils.