Chris explains about Biosphere Reserves globally, nationally, and then in detail for the Forest of Dean - one of seven reserves in the UK
Last updated
Video Timeline (min:sec):
00:00 - 11:08 Introductory Banter
11:08 - 48:05 Presentation
48:06 - 68:53 (end) Q&A
No presentation this session - please refer to the video
Chris to continue promoting and developing the Forest of Dean Biosphere Reserve proposal
Chris to work with local planning authorities to incorporate biosphere principles into development plans
Chris to engage with MPs and other stakeholders to build support for the biosphere project
Chris to explore possibilities for reintroducing species like bison and lynx to the Forest of Dean
Chris to continue collaborating with the Forestry Commission on wildlife reintroduction projects
Chris to investigate ways to address issues with intensive poultry farming in the area
Chris to work on expanding the network of farm clusters practicing regenerative agriculture
Chris to explore opportunities for sustainable tourism development in the Forest of Dean
Chris to continue efforts to protect and restore unique habitats like the Slad Brook SSSI
Wood Industry Challenges and Parish Online
Chris discussed his interest in wood and the challenges faced by local industries competing with larger operations importing timber. Graham mentioned starting sessions with Parish Online and introduced Tristram, who joined the same day. Chris suggested showing underwater slides from his presentation. tristram shared insights on structural timber uses. Mike expressed interest in exploring a similar project for the Brecon Beaches National Park after learning about Chris's work.
Addressing Climate and Biodiversity Challenges in Grazing
The meeting discusses the challenges of managing land for grazing and the need for a paradigm shift to address climate and biodiversity crises. Participants highlight the difficulties of buying rights from farmers and the success of Keith Powell, a farmer and vet, in getting communities to plant trees and wild plants. The discussion recognizes that current efforts are insufficient and a more strategic approach is needed to fund and replicate successful initiatives. Chris discusses the benefits of developing farm clusters for regenerative agriculture and peer-to-peer learning among farmers. Mike shares an initiative involving a cluster of farmers transitioning to sustainable practices.
Forest of Dean UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Discussion
Chris, a parish, district, and county councillor in Gloucestershire, discussed the potential for the Forest of Dean to be designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. He explained that the Biosphere Reserve program aims to reconcile the protection of nature and its sustainable use, particularly with indigenous people. Chris mentioned that they have recently employed an officer to research and develop a public consultation for the Forest of Dean's potential designation. He also shared his experiences from the Galapagos Islands, one of the first Biosphere Reserves, and the challenges and opportunities that come with such a designation.
Developing Biosphere Reserve and Species Reintroduction
Chris discussed developing a biosphere reserve in the Forest of Dean, mentioning the reintroduction of beavers to mitigate flooding and the return of species like the goshawk, pine marten, and lesser butterfly orchid. He noted the decline of red squirrels due to grey squirrels and the possibility of reintroducing red squirrels to benefit forestry. Chris also highlighted the declining populations of salmon, glass eels, and other species due to habitat destruction, pollution, and blockages, emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts like reintroduction programs and habitat restoration. He referred to a 1972 report warning about unsustainable growth of population, economies, and resource exploitation.
Man and the Biosphere Program Overview
Chris discusses the Man and the Biosphere program, a global network of biosphere reserves that promote sustainable living. He explains the program's zoning methodology: a core zone for wildlife protection, a buffer zone for education and recreation, and a transition zone for urban development. Chris highlights the Forest of Dean as an example, where international cooperation and resources help manage issues like wild boars. He emphasizes the need for stakeholder coordination and cooperation in managing these reserves.
Agroecology, Sustainable Development, and Natural Resource Management
Chris discussed the benefits of agroecology and sustainable development, emphasizing the importance of reconnecting people with nature. He highlighted the potential of wood pastures for grazing, carbon sequestration, and habitat protection. Chris also mentioned the benefits of market gardening and local gardening, as well as the potential for sustainable timber production through coppicing. He discussed the importance of natural flood management and the potential for restoring salt marshes to cope with rising sea levels. Chris also touched on the challenges to unique habitats in the Forest of Dean and the potential for rewilding. He concluded by emphasizing the need for better coordination in managing these natural resources.
Biosphere Reserve Benefits and Sustainable Development
Chris discussed the potential benefits of a biosphere reserve in the Forest of Dean, including the reintroduction of European bison and other species to improve the ecosystem and diversify the landscape. He also highlighted the economic benefits of such a reserve, citing a study by the Office for National Statistics that found a return of nearly four pounds for every pound invested. Chris emphasized the importance of sustainable development and leaving a legacy for future generations. tristram asked about the process of obtaining biosphere status and the legal protection it provides, to which Chris explained that it's an international recognition of active protection by local communities and doesn't have legal powers but can influence the planning system.
Addressing Industrial Impact on Environment and Wildlife
The meeting revolved around concerns about the impact of industrial developments on the environment and wildlife. John expressed worry about the encroachment of noble foods on the rare temperate rainforest and the potential for zoonotic diseases. Chris agreed with John's concerns and mentioned his efforts to control the expansion of noble foods through planning conditions. Graham suggested the potential for a stronger voice through collaboration and networking. Chris emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the mass extinction of species and the need for urgent action. The conversation ended with a discussion on the potential for a biosphere project to address these concerns.
Defining Regional Boundaries and Forest Management
Tim discussed the challenges of defining a region's boundaries, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder cooperation and community engagement in response to development pressures. Chris clarified that the Forest of Dean is under the public forest estate managed by the Forestry Commission, which makes around 1.5 to 2 million pounds a year. Chris also mentioned the potential of selling the forest to outside organizations for immediate cash returns, and the Forest of Dean Biosphere Project he initiated. He highlighted the potential benefits of such projects, including economic sustainability and the creation of wildlife corridors. Chris also discussed his efforts to reintroduce beavers and pine martens into the environment, and his interest in reintroducing bison. Graham thanked Chris for his presentation and encouraged others to review it for future discussions.
00:39:08 John Payne: Our Wilding project in the Forest of Dean on a 4.7ha poor quality grazing pasture field is going ahead, it’s adjacent to Puzzlewood
00:42:41 John Payne: The most important Biosphere in the FOD are our woods and Puzzlewood which have been designated as Rare Temperate Rainforest. Unbelievably Noble Foods is adjacent to these woods and Bat SSSI, they are today directing their 44 tonne Lorries through Clearwell Today I referred Noble Foods to Leigh Day
00:57:18 Mike E - Hay Community Resilience: Limits to Growth came out the same year - a few months before Small is Beautiful.
01:19:55 John Payne: The test for a FOD biosphere is to have proactive planning control. Otherwise environmental groups will have to participate in direct action. I had to stop a 44tonne HGV going through the village and over unstable caverns on Monday. Organisations like Highways and NE are not helpful as they see hassle and legal challenges from predatory industries like the Intensive Poultry units. Having 27,000 HGV units/yr into the FOD is unsustainable
01:32:08 David Morgan-Jones: Thank you very much for a fascinating presentation, but I need to move to another meeting.
01:32:54 Garry Ford: Thanks, very interesting presentation.
01:33:10 Peter Anderson: the Knepp Wilding movie didn't touch on the business models used to sustain their 5sq/mile estate. I would be good to better understand these.
01:35:34 John Payne: The EWCO grants for natural colonisation operate differently from the Kneep Estate. They exclude wildlife with a deer fence when in the Wilding process grazing animals are used. The most important part of Wilding is the creation of Wildlife Corridors like Treescape who want to link the Severn to the River Wyre ( not Wye!) which is up by Kidderminster
01:39:05 Peter Anderson: It took the Knepp Estate almost 10 years to gain a licence for beavers!
01:39:58 Mike E - Hay Community Resilience: Thanks Chris - really interesting and I’ll see if I can find a suitable potential champion amongst those I’m networking with here on this side of the border in Wales… maybe you might give me a short set of bullet points of how to define a potential Biosphere area here in Wales?
WEBVTT
00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:33.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: I started off doing what I call these banter sessions with a completely separate product. There's a little mapping. Oh, Tristram is the guy who runs the company. Good morning, Tristram.
00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:36.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Your your ears were burning.
00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:38.000 tristram cary: Who's.
00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:46.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Yours. I was just telling Chris that um, I started the Banta Sessions with parish online. And here you are.
00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:47.000 tristram cary: Yeah. Good. Hi, Chris.
00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:47.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Uh right.
00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Ah!
00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.000 Chris McFarling: Yeah. Hiya.
00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:51.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Uh.
00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:57.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Tristram is yet another person who joined the navy the same day. Chris, so.
00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:58.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Um.
00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:59.000 Chris McFarling: Goodness, goodness, but we.
00:31:58.000 --> 00:32:01.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Chris. Chris is in the forest. 15.
00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:02.000 Chris McFarling: I I could change the presentation totally.
00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:07.000 Chris McFarling: And show some underwater slides, underwater pictures.
00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:08.000 tristram cary: That'd be as nice as I was a submariner. Huh!
00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:12.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Chris is um in the forest of Dean.
00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:13.000 Chris McFarling: Yeah.
00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:14.000 tristram cary: Hey, yes. Yeah. Yeah.
00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:21.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: where the leader of the Green party there is Adrian Birch, who I don't know if you came across him at Dartmouth.
00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:24.000 tristram cary: No, I didn't think I did. Yes, I did. He's a member.
00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:26.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: But no, he was a he was supplementary list, so we didn't talk to him anyway.
00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:26.000 tristram cary: Yeah.
00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:30.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Ah!
00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:34.000 tristram cary: But it looks like you've got portals in your house, Chris.
00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:35.000 tristram cary: Very um very naval.
00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:37.000 Chris McFarling: No, this is just a backdropper.
00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:41.000 Chris McFarling: Um. I I like. I like the the sort of hobby.
00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:38.000 tristram cary: Hi.
00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:42.000 Chris McFarling: Hobbit feel of.
00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:42.000 tristram cary: Yeah.
00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:46.000 Chris McFarling: Of the circles, and it just it's good on the eye, isn't it? It's.
00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.000 tristram cary: Yeah.
00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:48.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: It's. It's. It's very easy.
00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:48.000 Chris McFarling: Um.
00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:51.000 Chris McFarling: Once you get used to it.
00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:52.000 Chris McFarling: And then you look at.
00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:56.000 Chris McFarling: Traditional and traditional buildings, with their hard edges.
00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:59.000 Chris McFarling: And and you know squares and.
00:32:59.000 --> 00:33:01.000 Chris McFarling: Problems, you you.
00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:03.000 Chris McFarling: You, you can actually feel that.
00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:07.000 Chris McFarling: We're not. We're not really catering for the.
00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:10.000 Chris McFarling: But the subconscious of the of the human soul.
00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:12.000 Chris McFarling: Um.
00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:17.000 Chris McFarling: You know these, this it's it's all hard edge. Everything you look at is square.
00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:21.000 Chris McFarling: And yet in nature it's not. It's all curved and.
00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:21.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Nothing is fair. Yeah.
00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:22.000 tristram cary: Well, sure!
00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:22.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: 2.
00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:31.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Tristan. I also wanted to mention you to Chris, because he's very interested in wood and structural uses of wood.
00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:24.000 tristram cary: It's a.
00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:32.000 tristram cary: There he is!
00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:33.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Thought the 2 of you should get together.
00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.000 Chris McFarling: Hmm.
00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:39.000 tristram cary: Well, I'm I'm no expert, but I've I did quite a lot of research, and I found some nice um.
00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:46.000 tristram cary: Documents about about you know how to why structural timber is so important, and the benefits and all that stuff.
00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:50.000 Chris McFarling: Well, I've got a slide in the presentation, which is about.
00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:48.000 tristram cary: I hope.
00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:52.000 Chris McFarling: Um blue lamp.
00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:53.000 tristram cary: Oh, yeah.
00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:54.000 Chris McFarling: And I'll.
00:33:54.000 --> 00:34:00.000 Chris McFarling: I'll explain it in the in the presentation. Obviously, it's 1 example of what we could. We would call.
00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:58.000 tristram cary: Yeah.
00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:03.000 Chris McFarling: True, sustainable development, which is what.
00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:02.000 tristram cary: No.
00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:05.000 Chris McFarling: Biosphere reserves tend to champion.
00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:10.000 tristram cary: But you know the Structural Timber Association. That's what that's my main source. They're very good.
00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:06.000 Chris McFarling: Um.
00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:12.000 Chris McFarling: No, no, I don't. I I spoke to.
00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:13.000 Chris McFarling: A company.
00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:17.000 Chris McFarling: In. I can't remember where they are now in the in the Black Country. Maybe.
00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:20.000 Chris McFarling: That were were doing this, and I said, Look.
00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:22.000 Chris McFarling: Can it be scaled down to.
00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:26.000 Chris McFarling: You know the Forest of Dean? And they said, Oh, no, no, no.
00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:28.000 Chris McFarling: And it suddenly occurred to me that they.
00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:31.000 Chris McFarling: They were, they felt that we might be competing with them.
00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:34.000 Chris McFarling: But at at a local scale.
00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:36.000 Chris McFarling: And um.
00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:41.000 Chris McFarling: Yeah. And and there are all sorts of things. I mean, they were importing large.
00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:42.000 Chris McFarling: On!
00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:44.000 Chris McFarling: Sweden, I think, in Norway.
00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:44.000 tristram cary: Yeah.
00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:46.000 Chris McFarling: And and because of the.
00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:49.000 Chris McFarling: The the vagaries of our economies.
00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:52.000 Chris McFarling: Um. It's cheaper to import large.
00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:54.000 Chris McFarling: Than it is to chop it down.
00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:57.000 Chris McFarling: Literally where you're you're about to process it.
00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:59.000 Chris McFarling: So we've got plenty of larch in the forest of Dean.
00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:02.000 Chris McFarling: But it's more expensive, apparently.
00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:08.000 tristram cary: No, but I think that's true. I think the industrial. I think it is a real problem that that because we got rid of all our sawmills, and got rid of the infrastructure.
00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:05.000 Chris McFarling: Yeah.
00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:09.000 Chris McFarling: Well, yeah, yeah, it's it's just the.
00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:13.000 tristram cary: And it's, you know, if you do it on an industrial scale that is going to be cheaper. That's just a fact of economic lifetime, for it.
00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:16.000 Chris McFarling: Yeah, I know, I know. And yet, or local local industries.
00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:19.000 Chris McFarling: Suffer, and they they go out, don't they? They go.
00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:18.000 tristram cary: Yeah.
00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:19.000 tristram cary: Yeah.
00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:22.000 Chris McFarling: They go into administration because they can't. They can't compete.
00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:22.000 tristram cary: Yeah.
00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:29.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: I wonder if that's going to change? I wonder if they're going to make a comeback? Everything being so scaled down to local community size.
00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:33.000 Chris McFarling: But as soon as they put a carbon tax on on fossil fuels.
00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:34.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Yeah.
00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:35.000 Chris McFarling: Hey? Presto! You know.
00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:34.000 tristram cary: Yeah.
00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:36.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Absolutely.
00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:36.000 Chris McFarling: That's it. We revert back.
00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:37.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Yup!
00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:51.000 tristram cary: But I think the other issue is I I don't. I think that's quite a big push not to think about um using, you know complete lengths of timber, and having large, you can use anything you can use dead wood, you can use, you know, to make to make these sit panels, for instance, you know you can use pretty well anything.
00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:39.000 Chris McFarling: And it'll be good for everyone.
00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:54.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Right.
00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:58.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Bit like the supermarkets actually permitting you to buy wonky vegetables.
00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:57.000 tristram cary: You need.
00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:08.000 tristram cary: All up and turn it into a. You know, there's sips, panels, the structurally insulated panels.
00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:11.000 tristram cary: Have can use any word, basically, and.
00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:11.000 Chris McFarling: Yeah.
00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:13.000 tristram cary: So you can. You can take little chips of stuff.
00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:14.000 Chris McFarling: Okay.
00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:17.000 Chris McFarling: You'll you'll note the slide when it comes up.
00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:19.000 tristram cary: Okay, yeah, I will. I will. So I'm just gonna.
00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:20.000 tristram cary: Mute, the.
00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:24.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: So let me just say good afternoon to John and to Stuart.
00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:26.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Nice to see you both.
00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:26.000 Cllr Stuart Withington Great Dunmow, Essex: I know I have.
00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:30.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: And here comes Mike.
00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:31.000 John Payne: Hi.
00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:35.000 Mike Eccles: Morning, everybody.
00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:39.000 Chris McFarling: Good afternoon.
00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:41.000 Mike Eccles: Right.
00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:46.000 Mike Eccles: There we go!
00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:51.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Good day, Mike. Do you know um, Chris, in the forest of Dean.
00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:53.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Not that far from you.
00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:52.000 Mike Eccles: I don't know.
00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:55.000 Mike Eccles: Ah! i i i.
00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:57.000 Mike Eccles: Don't think we do.
00:36:57.000 --> 00:37:02.000 Mike Eccles: And I certainly didn't know you were doing what you were doing, Chris, which is why I've come along to find out what it's like, because.
00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:06.000 Mike Eccles: I'm sure it's something I could nudge the Brecon Beaches National Park into.
00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:07.000 Mike Eccles: Uh.
00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:08.000 Chris McFarling: Yep.
00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:09.000 Chris McFarling: Yep.
00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:09.000 Mike Eccles: So.
00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:15.000 Chris McFarling: But it would. It would need a a rethink, a paradigm shift on how you manage the land.
00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:10.000 Mike Eccles: So that's what.
00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:18.000 Chris McFarling: Sort of grazing it to within an inch of its life.
00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:19.000 Mike Eccles: Well, I.
00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:22.000 Chris McFarling: It's allowing taking the sheep off and allowing it to be wild.
00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:27.000 Mike Eccles: That's well, that that's what they're actually trying to do. Um.
00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:28.000 Mike Eccles: But of course.
00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:34.000 Mike Eccles: There's a limit to what they can do, because the farmers have rights to raise sheep all over the place, and so on, and so forth, and.
00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:40.000 Mike Eccles: You know we looked into the the cost of buying those rights off every single farmer in.
00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:42.000 Mike Eccles: In the park.
00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:44.000 Mike Eccles: And how much that would come to, and.
00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:46.000 Mike Eccles: Ah! How long it would take to.
00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:51.000 Mike Eccles: Be able to get the return on that over a period of maybe a hundred years or so.
00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:55.000 Mike Eccles: I mean, they've been thinking about all sorts of radical ideas.
00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:56.000 Mike Eccles: Um, so that you know.
00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:59.000 Chris McFarling: Well, I I just do a quarter of the park, and.
00:37:59.000 --> 00:38:01.000 Chris McFarling: Fence it off, and see how that works.
00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:06.000 Mike Eccles: It's not as easy as that either.
00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:06.000 Chris McFarling: I know I know, but but.
00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:08.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Yeah, it just sounds so simple, doesn't it? Just.
00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:09.000 Chris McFarling: Yeah.
00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:10.000 Mike Eccles: Yeah, I know. I know.
00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:11.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Never as easy, as.
00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:14.000 Mike Eccles: I remember it's communities that have been there for forever.
00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:16.000 Mike Eccles: Have to work with them.
00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:17.000 Mike Eccles: And.
00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:17.000 Chris McFarling: Yeah.
00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:20.000 Mike Eccles: You have to get them on board, and and.
00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:21.000 Mike Eccles: Peace! Oh.
00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:22.000 Chris McFarling: But at the same time we have a.
00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:25.000 Chris McFarling: A climate and biodiversity crisis on our hands.
00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:29.000 Mike Eccles: Well, we do, but but somebody like Keith Powell.
00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:30.000 Chris McFarling: And if we, if we don't resolve those in a in a decade.
00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:33.000 Chris McFarling: And we lose it all, don't we?
00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:32.000 Mike Eccles: Then we're all screwed, anyway.
00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:35.000 Mike Eccles: Yeah, yeah. But what wasn't.
00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:35.000 Chris McFarling: Yeah, yeah. So it.
00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:37.000 Mike Eccles: That that is true, but you've got somebody.
00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:39.000 Chris McFarling: You know, the last thing I want is for a sheep farmer to say to me.
00:38:39.000 --> 00:38:41.000 Chris McFarling: I'm sorry you were right.
00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:45.000 Chris McFarling: When we're all underwater, or you know everything's burnt off.
00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:43.000 Mike Eccles: Yeah.
00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:46.000 Mike Eccles: Yeah.
00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:49.000 Mike Eccles: I think the other thing is that the.
00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:55.000 Mike Eccles: There's somebody called Keith Powell, who's got stump up for trees, and I'm sure you know of him and his work.
00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:57.000 Mike Eccles: And I've been to see him a few times, and.
00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:56.000 Chris McFarling: Hmm.
00:38:58.000 --> 00:39:01.000 Mike Eccles: He's a 7th generation farmer.
00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:02.000 Mike Eccles: And.
00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:04.000 Mike Eccles: A vet and.
00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:07.000 Mike Eccles: So he, as into those communities they trust him.
00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:10.000 Mike Eccles: And he's been able to get a lot of them to.
00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:12.000 Mike Eccles: Uh um.
00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:15.000 Mike Eccles: Wild, and plant trees, and so on, and so forth.
00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:16.000 Mike Eccles: But.
00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:17.000 Mike Eccles: Unless.
00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:17.000 Chris McFarling: Hmm.
00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:22.000 Mike Eccles: I mean. The the best way to deal with it in that situation is to.
00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:29.000 Mike Eccles: Uh upscale what he's doing by finding people in the various communities to go out and replicate what he's doing.
00:39:29.000 --> 00:39:31.000 Mike Eccles: But but uh.
00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:33.000 Mike Eccles: That just isn't.
00:39:33.000 --> 00:39:34.000 Mike Eccles: The.
00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:38.000 Mike Eccles: You know the strategic thinking to think right. That's probably long term worth.
00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:40.000 Mike Eccles: Worth, the effort.
00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:42.000 Mike Eccles: And so he's struggling to.
00:39:42.000 --> 00:39:46.000 Mike Eccles: To fund all the stuff that he's doing.
00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:46.000 Mike Eccles: And.
00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:48.000 Mike Eccles: It's nowhere near enough.
00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:48.000 Chris McFarling: And.
00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:53.000 Chris McFarling: It it? Yeah, the investment is worth it. Obviously, it's long term investment.
00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:55.000 Chris McFarling: But I know that we are.
00:39:55.000 --> 00:40:00.000 Chris McFarling: Um in Gloucestershire we're dealing with. We're trying to look at um food and farming.
00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:02.000 Chris McFarling: And decarbonising that and.
00:40:02.000 --> 00:40:05.000 Chris McFarling: To making resilience.
00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:07.000 Chris McFarling: Making supply lines, more resilient.
00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:09.000 Chris McFarling: And one of the things we've done is we.
00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:11.000 Chris McFarling: Develop these farm clusters.
00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:13.000 Chris McFarling: Survey.
00:40:13.000 --> 00:40:15.000 Chris McFarling: It's peer to peer.
00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:16.000 Chris McFarling: Yeah.
00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:20.000 Chris McFarling: So if a farmer who's purchasing regenerative agriculture.
00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:17.000 Mike Eccles: Yeah.
00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:22.000 Chris McFarling: Talks to his or her neighbour.
00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:23.000 Chris McFarling: Then it's.
00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:23.000 Mike Eccles: Yeah.
00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:25.000 Chris McFarling: Much more powerful.
00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:28.000 Chris McFarling: And before you know it you get a cluster of bombs.
00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:27.000 Mike Eccles: Yeah.
00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:29.000 Mike Eccles: Yeah, well, what?
00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:30.000 Chris McFarling: And the ones that are.
00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:31.000 Chris McFarling: Not doing it.
00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:34.000 Chris McFarling: Sort of get embarrassed about the fact that all their neighbors are.
00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:37.000 Chris McFarling: They're doing this. And so they come on board.
00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:38.000 Mike Eccles: Well, I.
00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:38.000 Chris McFarling: It's an interesting.
00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:40.000 Chris McFarling: Methodology.
00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:40.000 Mike Eccles: That's being done in house.
00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:45.000 Mike Eccles: We have a cluster of 9 farmers who who are.
00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:47.000 Mike Eccles: Transforming their farms.
00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:51.000 Mike Eccles: Into agroethologically rather than the way they've been farmed in the past.
00:40:51.000 --> 00:40:52.000 Mike Eccles: And.
00:40:53.000 --> 00:40:54.000 Mike Eccles: Um.
00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:57.000 Mike Eccles: Um. You know they meet every month or 2.
00:40:57.000 --> 00:41:01.000 Mike Eccles: And catch up in what they're doing, and um.
00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:06.000 Mike Eccles: Or may not otherwise be able to get.
00:41:06.000 --> 00:41:07.000 Mike Eccles: In relation to.
00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:10.000 Mike Eccles: What else they could do, and how they could do it.
00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:13.000 Mike Eccles: And all of that stuff, so that.
00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:16.000 Mike Eccles: But that's literally funded by.
00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:18.000 Mike Eccles: A very generous donor would be.
00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:21.000 Mike Eccles: Has hired somebody to work.
00:41:21.000 --> 00:41:24.000 Mike Eccles: Um. I think it's 2 days a week, or something to.
00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:27.000 Mike Eccles: To keep the thing.
00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:28.000 Mike Eccles: Up and running and going.
00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:28.000 Chris McFarling: Hmm.
00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:35.000 Mike Eccles: And and that's the money that's needed to provide that to happen. It's the sort of thing that needs to be replicated.
00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:37.000 Mike Eccles: But the farmers aren't going to do it on themselves. I mean, they've got.
00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:40.000 Mike Eccles: I've got um.
00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:42.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: You're right. Yes, they got their jobs.
00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:43.000 Mike Eccles: Yeah.
00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:45.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Um? Well, it looks like.
00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:44.000 Chris McFarling: We could go on.
00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:45.000 Mike Eccles: Sorry.
00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:52.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: I've had. I've had several apologies for people who've been called away, or they've got visitors, so I think we should uh press on.
00:41:52.000 --> 00:42:05.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Let me go through my usual blur of just advising you all that we are recording this, and it will be published so that you're aware of that. And B. If people could kindly put on their names on their.
00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:10.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Um screens where they are or what they're doing, what they represent. That would be helpful.
00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:12.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: And ah!
00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:16.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: I will then pass straight over to. I think we just allow David to get in right.
00:42:21.000 --> 00:42:23.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: What is it with these people in Hampshire? Tristram.
00:42:27.000 --> 00:42:30.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: It's alright. So Chris. Um.
00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:40.000 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Welcome, and thank you very much for taking the time to chat to us today. If you'd like to tell us what you're going to talk about, and then who you are, and why you're going to talk to us and then press ahead. It's all yours. Please.
00:42:41.000 --> 00:42:43.000 Chris McFarling: Thank you. Thank you. Graham. Um.
00:42:43.000 --> 00:42:45.000 Chris McFarling: Okay. I'm currently a.
00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:47.000 Chris McFarling: A parish.
00:42:47.000 --> 00:42:50.000 Chris McFarling: District and county councillor in the Forest of Dean, in Gloucestershire.
00:42:51.000 --> 00:42:54.000 Chris McFarling: I'm also at the District Council level. I'm.
00:42:54.000 --> 00:42:56.000 Chris McFarling: A Cabinet member responsible for.
00:42:56.000 --> 00:42:57.000 Chris McFarling: Climate.
00:42:57.000 --> 00:43:00.000 Chris McFarling: Energy and biosphere.
00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:03.000 Chris McFarling: Now, biosphere is a.
00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:06.000 Chris McFarling: Is a unesco program.
00:43:07.000 --> 00:43:10.000 Chris McFarling: Begun in the early eighties or late seventies. I think.
00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:12.000 Chris McFarling: And it's worldwide.
00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:16.000 Chris McFarling: And what it tries to do is to reconcile the protection of nature.
00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:18.000 Chris McFarling: Function of biodiversity.
00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:20.000 Chris McFarling: With its sustainable use.
00:43:21.000 --> 00:43:22.000 Chris McFarling: And it mainly.
00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:24.000 Chris McFarling: Works well.
00:43:24.000 --> 00:43:26.000 Chris McFarling: With indigenous people.
00:43:26.000 --> 00:43:27.000 Chris McFarling: You want.
00:43:27.000 --> 00:43:29.000 Chris McFarling: Part of the land, and the the.
00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:32.000 Chris McFarling: The environment that they they work and live in.
00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:34.000 Chris McFarling: And it tries to.
00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:36.000 Chris McFarling: Consolidate that, and learn from that.
00:43:37.000 --> 00:43:39.000 Chris McFarling: To make that more sustainable.
00:43:39.000 --> 00:43:40.000 Chris McFarling: Um.
00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:44.000 Chris McFarling: But I that's part. You know I can. I can go into that as part of the.
00:43:44.000 --> 00:43:49.000 Chris McFarling: The um presentation. But currently, what we're doing is we're trying to.
00:43:49.000 --> 00:43:53.000 Chris McFarling: We're looking at whether we can get the Forest of Dean.
00:43:53.000 --> 00:43:55.000 Chris McFarling: Designated as a Biosphere reserve.
00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:57.000 Chris McFarling: Um.
00:43:57.000 --> 00:44:00.000 Chris McFarling: And we're we've just employed.
00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:01.000 Chris McFarling: Uh.
00:44:01.000 --> 00:44:03.000 Chris McFarling: Someone, an officer.
00:44:03.000 --> 00:44:05.000 Chris McFarling: To look into researching that.
00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:06.000 Chris McFarling: Provoting it.
00:44:06.000 --> 00:44:08.000 Chris McFarling: Making those connections with stone.
00:44:09.000 --> 00:44:10.000 Chris McFarling: Thank you.
00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:11.000 Chris McFarling: Holders.
00:44:11.000 --> 00:44:13.000 Chris McFarling: And then developing a.
00:44:13.000 --> 00:44:15.000 Chris McFarling: A public consultation.
00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:19.000 Chris McFarling: And then finally to impress on councillors.
00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:22.000 Chris McFarling: That this would be a good thing.
00:44:23.000 --> 00:44:25.000 Chris McFarling: And see if we can get it past.
00:44:25.000 --> 00:44:27.000 Chris McFarling: And then, of course, we have to apply.
00:44:27.000 --> 00:44:30.000 Chris McFarling: To defra, and the Uk.
00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:31.000 Chris McFarling: Like man in the biosphere. They said.
00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:32.000 Chris McFarling: Committee.
00:44:32.000 --> 00:44:35.000 Chris McFarling: For permission. Well, for the designation.
00:44:35.000 --> 00:44:37.000 Chris McFarling: And once we got the designation, then.
00:44:38.000 --> 00:44:39.000 Chris McFarling: Work really begins.
00:44:39.000 --> 00:44:42.000 Chris McFarling: There are 7 biosphere reserves in the country.
00:44:43.000 --> 00:44:44.000 Chris McFarling: Um.
00:44:44.000 --> 00:44:46.000 Chris McFarling: And they.
00:44:46.000 --> 00:44:48.000 Chris McFarling: At various levels.
00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:49.000 Chris McFarling: And they are working well.
00:44:49.000 --> 00:44:51.000 Chris McFarling: Some of them are, you know.
00:44:51.000 --> 00:44:53.000 Chris McFarling: Yes.
00:44:53.000 --> 00:44:54.000 Chris McFarling: Challenging, but.
00:44:54.000 --> 00:44:56.000 Chris McFarling: Um. The principles are there.
00:44:57.000 --> 00:44:58.000 Chris McFarling: So.
00:44:58.000 --> 00:45:01.000 Chris McFarling: Without further ado. I'll share my screen and.
00:45:01.000 --> 00:45:05.000 Chris McFarling: Go through some pretty slides which will hopefully inspire you to.
00:45:05.000 --> 00:45:08.000 Chris McFarling: Um to look at. Biosphere reserves in it.
00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:10.000 Chris McFarling: In a different light.
00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:13.000 Chris McFarling: Okay. Let's see.
00:45:15.000 --> 00:45:17.000 Chris McFarling: I'll begin with this.
00:45:17.000 --> 00:45:19.000 Chris McFarling: This is a presentation I give to.
00:45:19.000 --> 00:45:21.000 Chris McFarling: Stakeholders, but also to.
00:45:21.000 --> 00:45:24.000 Chris McFarling: To groups, interested groups, parish councils, as well.
00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:28.000 Chris McFarling: So we begin with with the earth, which is the ultimate biosphere.
00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:31.000 Chris McFarling: It's probably the only biasphere we know.
00:45:32.000 --> 00:45:34.000 Chris McFarling: And we're we're part of it as well.
00:45:35.000 --> 00:45:37.000 Chris McFarling: This was taken in the Apollo.
00:45:37.000 --> 00:45:39.000 Chris McFarling: 8 Mission.
00:45:39.000 --> 00:45:43.000 Chris McFarling: It's the 1st time that humans were able to look back on themselves.
00:45:43.000 --> 00:45:44.000 Chris McFarling: Or back on the earth.
00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:48.000 Chris McFarling: And when I mentioned, when I show this slide I tend to get 3.
00:45:48.000 --> 00:45:50.000 Chris McFarling: Words which come out.
00:45:50.000 --> 00:45:51.000 Chris McFarling: One is beautiful.
00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:53.000 Chris McFarling: To his home.
00:45:53.000 --> 00:45:55.000 Chris McFarling: And 3 is fragile.
00:45:56.000 --> 00:45:59.000 Chris McFarling: And of course, you know, we now know that we are.
00:45:59.000 --> 00:46:00.000 Chris McFarling: We are changing the world.
00:46:00.000 --> 00:46:02.000 Chris McFarling: And not for the better.
00:46:05.000 --> 00:46:06.000 Chris McFarling: Few years.
00:46:06.000 --> 00:46:07.000 Chris McFarling: I.
00:46:08.000 --> 00:46:12.000 Chris McFarling: Um, and it's strange to say this, but I was a.
00:46:12.000 --> 00:46:17.000 Chris McFarling: I was by the Galapagos Islands, concert and naturalist, guide.
00:46:17.000 --> 00:46:19.000 Chris McFarling: So, the Tour Guide showing.
00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:22.000 Chris McFarling: Tourists from all over the world. The wonders of the Galapagos Islands.
00:46:22.000 --> 00:46:26.000 Chris McFarling: Um, because the Galapagos Islands is a biosphere reserve.
00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:27.000 Chris McFarling: One of the first.st
00:46:27.000 --> 00:46:29.000 Chris McFarling: It's the jewel in the Crown, let's say.
00:46:30.000 --> 00:46:33.000 Chris McFarling: And when I was there, back in the early eighties.
00:46:33.000 --> 00:46:37.000 Chris McFarling: Of course it it was. It was underdeveloped thankfully.
00:46:37.000 --> 00:46:42.000 Chris McFarling: And on the top of the volcano. This is the Alcido volcano, and.
00:46:42.000 --> 00:46:43.000 Chris McFarling: Isabella Island.
00:46:43.000 --> 00:46:44.000 Chris McFarling: And.
00:46:44.000 --> 00:46:46.000 Chris McFarling: The main, the main.
00:46:46.000 --> 00:46:48.000 Chris McFarling: Animal is is the tortoise.
00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:51.000 Chris McFarling: And you've got the tortoises here.
00:46:51.000 --> 00:46:55.000 Chris McFarling: And they tend to because it gets really hot during the day.
00:46:55.000 --> 00:46:58.000 Chris McFarling: They tend to find these pools beneath these.
00:46:58.000 --> 00:46:59.000 Chris McFarling: Oh, she is.
00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:04.000 Chris McFarling: Where the the mists, the early morning mists.
00:47:04.000 --> 00:47:09.000 Chris McFarling: Tend to coagulate on them and then drip down. These drip pools are really great, for the.
00:47:09.000 --> 00:47:12.000 Chris McFarling: Tortoises to cool down, and also to clean up a bit.
00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:14.000 Chris McFarling: Um. But um, it's quite amazing.
00:47:14.000 --> 00:47:17.000 Chris McFarling: When you, you know when you're walking along the ridge of this Caldera.
00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:20.000 Chris McFarling: And this is the animal that you're looking at.
00:47:20.000 --> 00:47:22.000 Chris McFarling: And they do come quite largely.
00:47:22.000 --> 00:47:26.000 Chris McFarling: Um. You know you the size of an armchair would be.
00:47:26.000 --> 00:47:28.000 Chris McFarling: Would be top of the range.
00:47:28.000 --> 00:47:29.000 Chris McFarling: Um.
00:47:30.000 --> 00:47:35.000 Chris McFarling: So the Galapagos Biosphere Reserve was formed, I think, in the early eighties.
00:47:35.000 --> 00:47:36.000 Chris McFarling: I I just missed the.
00:47:37.000 --> 00:47:38.000 Chris McFarling: The um.
00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:40.000 Chris McFarling: You know the commemoration or the celebration.
00:47:41.000 --> 00:47:44.000 Chris McFarling: At the beginning of the program I was in the islands. I must have been.
00:47:44.000 --> 00:47:46.000 Chris McFarling: Somewhere else, not on the main island.
00:47:46.000 --> 00:47:50.000 Chris McFarling: Um. They are volcanic. They are on a.
00:47:50.000 --> 00:47:51.000 Chris McFarling: Take 20.
00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:53.000 Chris McFarling: Hotspot.
00:47:53.000 --> 00:47:57.000 Chris McFarling: Um. So you get a string of islands just like.
00:47:57.000 --> 00:47:59.000 Chris McFarling: An archipelago like Hawaii.
00:47:59.000 --> 00:48:03.000 Chris McFarling: And you know, on the hotspot they are. They are quite young.
00:48:04.000 --> 00:48:05.000 Chris McFarling: And active.
00:48:05.000 --> 00:48:07.000 Chris McFarling: And as they move away from the hotspot they.
00:48:08.000 --> 00:48:11.000 Chris McFarling: They become older and less less active and more dormant.
00:48:12.000 --> 00:48:13.000 Chris McFarling: Um.
00:48:15.000 --> 00:48:18.000 Chris McFarling: So if you look at that, and then you look at the positive Dean.
00:48:18.000 --> 00:48:22.000 Chris McFarling: It. It just came as a surprise to me, but I thought.
00:48:22.000 --> 00:48:26.000 Chris McFarling: There is enough wildlife here, and it's it's a stronghold for wildlife.
00:48:26.000 --> 00:48:27.000 Chris McFarling: Because of the.
00:48:27.000 --> 00:48:29.000 Chris McFarling: Forest cover that we've got.
00:48:29.000 --> 00:48:32.000 Chris McFarling: Um that we could. We could actually.
00:48:32.000 --> 00:48:36.000 Chris McFarling: Develop a biosphere reserve for the Forest of Dean.
00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:41.000 Chris McFarling: Which would benefit both the communities that live here, but also the wildlife.
00:48:41.000 --> 00:48:42.000 Chris McFarling: And also the economy.
00:48:44.000 --> 00:48:45.000 Chris McFarling: Um and.
00:48:46.000 --> 00:48:47.000 Chris McFarling: When I.
00:48:47.000 --> 00:48:49.000 Chris McFarling: Do show. I show this picture.
00:48:49.000 --> 00:48:52.000 Chris McFarling: And I know I'm a zoologist, but many people aren't.
00:48:53.000 --> 00:48:56.000 Chris McFarling: And I showed this to a group of 18 year olds.
00:48:56.000 --> 00:48:58.000 Chris McFarling: At one of the local colleges.
00:48:58.000 --> 00:49:00.000 Chris McFarling: And you know they couldn't name any of.
00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:05.000 Chris McFarling: They couldn't name any of them. The only thing they could say was.
00:49:05.000 --> 00:49:07.000 Chris McFarling: They thought this was a fish.
00:49:08.000 --> 00:49:12.000 Chris McFarling: And so that was, you know, the the disconnect between.
00:49:12.000 --> 00:49:14.000 Chris McFarling: Young people in wildlife is is quite.
00:49:14.000 --> 00:49:16.000 Chris McFarling: Is quite dismaying.
00:49:17.000 --> 00:49:20.000 Chris McFarling: So what we've got here is um in the forester, Dean. We've reintroduced.
00:49:20.000 --> 00:49:22.000 Chris McFarling: Beavers which were here.
00:49:22.000 --> 00:49:24.000 Chris McFarling: 300 years ago.
00:49:24.000 --> 00:49:26.000 Chris McFarling: And they're doing their job to.
00:49:26.000 --> 00:49:28.000 Chris McFarling: Um mitigate flooding.
00:49:28.000 --> 00:49:29.000 Chris McFarling: So they damn.
00:49:29.000 --> 00:49:32.000 Chris McFarling: They have these leaky dams.
00:49:32.000 --> 00:49:35.000 Chris McFarling: Which they build, which just reduces the flow.
00:49:35.000 --> 00:49:38.000 Chris McFarling: They're vegetarian. They don't build these dams for.
00:49:38.000 --> 00:49:40.000 Chris McFarling: For nothing, they they they.
00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:42.000 Chris McFarling: Tend to eat willow and stuff.
00:49:42.000 --> 00:49:45.000 Chris McFarling: And we've just got a few more.
00:49:45.000 --> 00:49:47.000 Chris McFarling: Beavers too.
00:49:47.000 --> 00:49:48.000 Chris McFarling: In another exclosure.
00:49:48.000 --> 00:49:52.000 Chris McFarling: Which we're hoping will will do the same, which is to.
00:49:52.000 --> 00:49:53.000 Chris McFarling: Slow, the flow.
00:49:53.000 --> 00:49:56.000 Chris McFarling: The flood, you know, when we get extreme rainfall.
00:49:57.000 --> 00:49:58.000 Chris McFarling: And allow the.
00:49:59.000 --> 00:50:01.000 Chris McFarling: The system downstream.
