Holt Wood: Sustainable Cultivation of Medicinal Trees and Shrubs Project Overview This project aims to demonstrate how a conifer plantation can be replanted as a medicinal wood offering a viable and sustainable source of medicinal plant supplies, and to develop a range of expertise which can support others in establishing medicinal trees and shrubs. Background to Project Sanderson and Prendergast (2002) considered traditionally managed and wild harvested plants in England and Scotland and concluded that 'the overall picture is that wild plants do not support many livelihoods today.' (p. 89) Yet they did note that the most important habitats were woodlands, hedgerows and wetlands, in addition to the need for national networking and sharing of information. Other surveys have identified a buoyant market for medicinal herbs but a lack of home production for a variety of reasons. Chamberlen et al (1998) noted the potential for non-timber forest products and the large size of the European and US markets for medicinal plants but that there was little information on managing forests for edible, medicinal or floral products. Market surveys such as the Fintrac Market Survey (2001) have reported on increasing demand for medicinal herbs in the 1990's with variability in availability of some products affecting prices, and pointed out the preference of some consumers and practitioners for high quality products. Milliken and Bridgewater (2001) also noted a continuing demand in the UK for medicinal herbs, many of which could be found native in Scotland, but which is largely met by imports. They suggested that the problems of low prices for raw materials and high labour costs of harvesting, which undermine the development of domestic production, could be counteracted by identification of more efficient cultivation methods, cooperative processing, and organic premiums. Their detailed report identified the need for further research into cultivation methods, sustainability issues of wild harvesting, and ways of combining cultivation with other activities to provide an economic return. The possibilities of commercially exploiting under-used species and their by-products was also explored by Vance and Thomas (1997) in the US context. They pointed out that there were numerous possible connections between markets for natural forest products in areas such as floristry and cosmetics as well as medicinals. Their view was that producers were often willing to pay a premium for certified products from sustainably managed forest systems, and that waste products might also have market value. There are a number of US and other introduced medicinals which are readily grown in the UK as ornamental garden species. Thus there would appear to be grounds for exploring the potential for managed woodland and wetland sources of both native and introduced medicinal trees and shrubs in the UK. Development of domestic production of medicinal trees and shrubs would be consistent with efforts to improve sustainability of sources, biodiversity and quality of forest products. There are many concerns about the sustainability of world-wide wild-harvested sources of supply of medicinal plants, expressed recently in a paper by Alan Hamilton of Plantlife (2005). In the UK the Forestry Commission and other organisations such as Landlife, plus regional and local organisations (e.g. South West Regional Biodiversity Partnership) are pressing ahead with plans for increasing biodiversity – this is reflected in the preferential funding rates of grants for establishing native broadleaf woods. Many coniferous woods in the UK are reaching maturity and could be replanted again as conifers for speedier returns, despite the market problems of over-supply of softwoods. Laird and Pierce (2002) have shown that quality standards are well advanced for organic production, wild-crafting and the management of woodlands, and these need to be considered in the context of potential for UK medicinal trees and shrubs, alongside strategies for establishing Good Agricultural Practice. Information on particular medicinal trees and shrubs is not well co-ordinated but some detail of propagation and cultivation can be found in local and national studies. For example Small and Carling (1999) have combined details of cultivation and harvesting for a number of Canadian medicinal plants. These include both broadleaved and coniferous trees and shrubs which could be grown in woodland areas in the UK such as Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Cimicifuga racemosa, Hamamelis virginiana, Rhamnus spp, Taxus spp, Vaccinium spp. Foster and Chongxi (1992) identified a number of medicinal trees and shrubs which might be introduced including Ginkgo biloba, Eleutherococcus, Schisandra, Vitex spp. Unfortunately these and other publications are hugely variable in the range and quality of information needed by the commercial grower regarding sourcing and propagation, cultivation and particularly on harvesting, processing and marketing. Objectives of Project In fulfilment of the above aim of establishment of a medicinal wood providing supplies of medicinal trees and shrubs on a sustainable basis, it is intended that this project can establish: (i) demonstration of use of ex-conifer plantation providing both ongoing medicinal products and longterm timber and fuel (ii) a range of native and introduced species suitable for cultivation for medicinal products (iii) sources and propagation methods to provide specialist woodland plants for medicinal purposes (iv) suitable genetic variations/ cultivars of interest and appropriate authentication techniques and medicinal constituent analysis (v) organic quality protocols feasible in the context of managed woodland linked with Forestry Stewardship methods (vi) sustainable methods of cultivation including appropriate coppicing methods for barks and twig production (vii) potential yields with harvesting and processing techniques suitable for adding value to small scale medicinal tree and shrub crops (viii) any necessary controls on potentially invasive species (ix) beneficial aspects of habitat for biodiversity including encouragement of native flora and fauna (x) marketing and networking mechanisms for small scale producers. Strategy and Resources Holt Wood is a 2 ½ acre site by the River Torridge in North Devon near RHS Rosemoor Gardens and the town of Great Torrington. The site was previously planted with Sitka Spruce and Douglas Fir, and is being replanted during 2005-6 with a variety of native and introduced species of medicinal value. At least 20 species of medicinal interest will be planted and they include: Alnus glutinosa Bark Chionanthus virginicus Root bark Cimicifuga racemosa Root Crataegus monogyna Leaf/ fruit Eleutherococcus senticosus Roots Ginkgo biloba Leaf Hamamelis virginiana Leaf and twig Juglans cinerea Bark Juniperus communis Berries Mahonia aquifolium Root bark Prunus serotina Bark Rhamnus spp Bark Rubus fruticosus Leaf Salix spp Bark Sambucus nigra Flowers/ fruit Thuja occidentalis Leaf Tilia cordata Flowers Viburnum opulus Bark Vitex agnus castus Leaf Zanthoxylum americanum Bark Links and Support Support has been gratefully received so far from South West Forest, Forestry Commission andvolunteer helpers. Links are being established with a variety of organisations for advisory support, including the Royal Horticultural Society (Rosemoor Gardens), Plants For a Future, Soil Association, Small Woods Association, Plantlife and the Agroforestry Trust. Further suggestions and comment are most welcome. Anne Stobart, MNIMH, January 2006. Further information available from a.stobart@mdx.ac.uk