Woodbridge Green Vein Project
Peter R. Hobson & Eamonn O‘Nolan With Pam Watson & Julian Cusack
Prof. Peter R. Hobson [email protected] Centre for Econics & Ecosystem Management
Goal: To restore and optimise green infrastructure in
Woodbridge and the surrounding landscape with the objective of promoting biodiversity sustainability; improving human well-being; and contributing to the mitigation of climate change
We are living through a global environmental crisis
UK Parliament declares climate change emergency
(May 1st 2019) BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-50971879 Australia on fire
Secretary-General's remarks at opening ceremony of UN Climate Change Conference COP25 “We are losing the race: By the end of the coming decade, if we fail to take drastic action we will be sleepwalking past the point of no return, jeopardizing the health and safety of everyone on this planet”
UK: extreme weathers are becoming the norm
2018 Hottest summer in 400 YEARS
Climate emergency assessment, UK
1. The current approach to land use is not sustainable
all of the 10 warmest years have occurred since 1990. Projections of future UK climate suggest further warming, periods of heavier rain leading to greater risks from flooding, as well as reduced water availability in summer. The potential negative impacts for soils, water, vegetation and wildlife are likely to be significant
2. A future land strategy that delivers the UK’s climate goals whilst balancing other pressures will require fundamental changes to how land is used
3. Barriers to transitioning to different patterns of land use and management will need to be addressed
From global to local; our neighbourhood, Woodbridge
Globally, urban areas currently account for ∼70% of world fossil-fuel carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (Gurney et al., 2015).
Average C02 emissions per capita (person) per year for UK is 9.66 tonnes/ year; woodbridge population = c9,000; total emissions = 86,940 tonnes/yr
Mown lawns sequester on average 46.0 g C/m2/year = 0.46 tonnes/hectare/yr (conservative estimate)
Woodbridge would need 230,000 hectares of lawn to offset its carbon footprint
So, what about our green infrastructure – does it make a difference whether it is lawn, meadow, scrub or woodland, and how it is managed?
Managing our open green spaces
Mowers use an average of 1.3L petrol/hr
• A conventional lawn mower pollutes as
much in an hour as 4 late model cars for
an hour https://www.onlynaturalenergy.com/grass-lawns-are-an-ecological-catastrophe/
Lerman and Contosta (2019) Lawn mowing frequency and its effects on biogenic and anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions
• intensively managed lawns and open amenity areas can be net emitters of C02; as much as 697 kg C02 /ha/ year (C.Gu 2015)
What about trees?
A tree in mid-size category can sequester 22 kg C02/year
So,… Elmhurst‘s 35 trees sequester 770 kg C02 / yr
Trees, woodlands and their ecosystem services
A tree in mid-size category sequester 22 kg C02/year
Average tree - 32% of its stem biomass is stored water 1 tree can release 1000 litres/day to cool down the surrounding air temperature
Elmhurst trees, Woodbridge, sequester 770 kg C02/yr Leeks Hill, Woodbridge, stores estimated C3000 tonnes of carbon
Living & dead biomass are best at mitigating impacts of climate change (Norris et al. 2011)
How many Elmhurst parks is the average Woodbridge person ´´consuming“
= 5 parks / year
9,000 folk x 9.6 tonnes C/yr = 86,400 tonnes / yr
+ + +.. = 45,000 parks/ yr + + ……..
Recommendations by CCC (2018)
1. New land use policy should promote transformational land uses and reward landowners for public goods that deliver climate mitigation and adaptation objectives. New policies should also reflect better the value of the goods and services that land provides.
key measures that have clear, multiple benefits are: afforestation and forestry management; low-carbon land use practices; improving soil and water quality; improving the condition of semi-natural habitats
Green Vein Project; responding to directives and policy
What it is not!!
• The ultimate solution or answer to local climate change problems
• A license to off-set business as usual behaviour
What it is!
• A means of raising public awareness & engaging local stakeholders
• A stepping-stone and catalyst to delivering a long-term & comprehensive strategy for building resilience in landscapes and society
• A vehicle for delivering essential ecosystem services
Scope of the Green Vein Project
Spatial design & planning – the living landscape
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Urban and peri-urban green space; carbon-capture sites; ecological recovery areas; biodiversity refugia & corridors; C-change mitigation features; e-services typologies
Environmental citizenship; nature therapy & human well-being; social participation & responsibility; environmental education; for everyone, forever philosophy
Specific objectives
• To help facilitate local policy, strategies and action in accordance with both national & international directives on the environment & social well-being
• To raise public awareness about the fundamental value of the environment for securing both essential ecosystem services and human well-being
• To engender environmental citizenship in the local community through inclusivity & participation
• To contribute to biodiversity recovery & climate change mitigation
• To promote non-extractable ecosystem services for the expressed purpose of protecting the environment & safeguarding human health
• To contribute measurably to national targets for the environment, climate and human well-being
Project plan
Phase Step
1 1 Establish a working group to develop a policy framework for the
Woodbridge Green Vein Plan
1 2 Present the conceptual framework and policy guidelines to
stakeholders with invested interests in the local area (local
Government, business, NGOs and community representatives),
1 3 Provide a first phase geographical scope for the initiative
1 4 Initiate a stakeholder register and matrix for the project planning and
management cycle process
2 5 Invite stakeholders to engage and ‘invest’ in the initiative
2 6 Widen participation through the promotion of a public consultation
process “people, have your say”
3 7 Provide support and advice for the evaluation and drafting of
community-based strategies to establish the green vein project in line
with SDGs and UK policies on human well-being, the environment and
climate change action.
The geographical scope Woodbridge & Melton
Establishing a stakeholder engagement matrix
Transition Woodbridge, Town council, …..
A case study; Elmhurst Park
Key
• Red zones = recreation / amenity. Mixed lawn and flower beds. Grass cut with desire lines (short 1m margin either side of path + 1m border of taller lawn + herb – cut 2-3 / yr. Herbs include clover, pignut, yarrow, field speedwell, trefoils.
Flower beds – formal but native perennial – varieties to demonstrate floristic relays + some permanency eg. Lavender, lungwort, sedum, phacelia, perennial wallflower, tutsan / st John’s wort, foxglove. Can also incorporate herb garden – rosemary, marjoram, chives, thyme, sage.
Green zone – wildlife / nature zone – ‘wildlife islands’ for biodiversity and corridor links with green infrastructure to the east of park. Wood/scrub/tall herb-grass. Retain trees, gap plant along back edges with small tree/hedge species – hawthorn, field maple, hornbeam, hazel. Inner edges (centre park-facing), develop as tall grass/herb margin – include dog rose. Leave ‘desire lines’ for nature paths & nature-therapy ‘coves’ wood-bench
yellow zone – butterfly meadow - tall grass + perennial meadow herbs. Cut once/yr (late July, early August after flowering and seeding, maximum 2-yr – pre-flowering spring + autumn. Flowers include cowslip, oxeye daisy, yarrow, pignut, field speedwell, viper bugloss, mixed meadow grass species – foxtail, sweet vernal, Include 50cm cut path through – ‘Meadow maze’ for children – running from play ground back to play ground
Early gains and simple solutions towards a long term strategy
• Avenue, roadside and green space planting with native tree and shrub species (partnership scheme with TW?)
• Verge and park space grassland management – single annual cut in autumn + ‘double wale’ cut (1 per 2 years), in urban headlands and ‘back edge’ habitats
• Urban garden “rewilding” - native tree / shrub / herb planting scheme (a partnership scheme with TW? (back-garden nature reserve project )
Woodbridge; a 21st century ´´eco-town“
“we offer a better connection than wifi” Nature therapy, cleaner air, cooler summer temperatures, nature play, community spirit, wildlife in towns, improved health, carbon down-loading, water regulation….much , much more
