Emerging spaces for native woodland growth in Britain’s crowded future landscapes.

Land use is determined by numerous socioeconomic and environmental factors, presenting a complex context in which to seek and achieve change in response to current and future priorities. Policy initiatives simplify change processes in relation to the tools available – emphasising either economic drivers or government subsidy. This has led to a discourse centred on productivity, expressed either in direct monetary terms or as economic concepts such as natural capital. What are the opportunities to enhance native woodland within this context?
Whilst native woodlands in Britain are commonly considered a non-productive land use, they do hold numerous social, cultural and ecological values, and act as spaces for wildlife. Various drivers could facilitate the emergence of native woodlands, including the decline of competing land uses, and increased demand for recreational and cultural provision from woods. The evolving rewilding agenda may also strengthen such demands. This PhD will consider the opportunities for native woodlands to become established in response to these drivers.
The PhD will focus on examples where large-scale land-use change is, potentially, imminent – opening up opportunities for woodland growth. In particular, potential declines of sheep-farming in upland Wales, and the establishment of the ‘northern forest’ in England. In both cases, the potential for change generates concern around the loss of specific livelihoods, ecologies and cultures – but also creates opportunities for innovation and revitalisation.
Increasing native woodland cover intersects with questions around ‘wild’ spaces. What are the barriers to and potential for the ‘wild’ within these new forests? What attitudes, beliefs and practices exist amongst local communities that will impact upon this, and how are they likely to change? Is there only space for the ‘wild’ in Britain if it generates direct economic gain through activities such as ecotourism or the provision of ecosystem services?
The project will generate and test future-oriented land use scenarios within the study areas that will identify the opportunities for the emergence of native woodland and the likely pathways towards them. Drawing both on prior and current initiatives and on available spatial analysis, it will evaluate competing demands and key drivers spatially and temporally in an attempt to locate native woodlands within these future landscapes. These scenarios will inform data collection focused on understanding and addressing the barriers to native woodland emergence in the identified locations.

Requirements:
Applications are invited from graduates holding a first or upper second-class degree or Masters degree in a relevant discipline (Forestry, Environmental Management / Science, Geography, Rural Sociology or another related discipline). The successful candidate should be highly self-motivated with an ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Application Procedure:
Applicants should submit an electronic copy of CV including the names and contact details of two academic referees and a cover letter detailing their qualifications and experience by email simultaneously to: Dr Norman Dandy [Email Address Removed] and Dr Sophie Wynne-Jones, [Email Address Removed]