大象传媒

British forests have more than doubled in size in the last 100 years and we now have some of the largest planted forests anywhere in Europe. But much of that forest is not native oak or beech, but quick-growing foreign species of pine and spruce which do nothing for the quality of forest habitats. The canopy is so dense that there is no light, and the roots are so vigorous that they suck out all water and nutrition which means that virtually nothing can survive on the forest floor. But up in the treetops there can be a surprising amount of wildlife. Goshawks are one of the 50 or so birds that live in these plantations, along with red squirrels. Only in conifer forests do red squirrels seem to win out against the greys.