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Working with the Centre for Sustainable Energy, Devon Wildlife Trust is investigating the potential for the cultivation of 'woody' energy crops such as miscanthus and short-rotation coppice (SRC) willow.  

The use of energy crops as a renewable energy source attracts increasing interest as a carbon-cutting solution. The crops are not only virtually carbon neutral but they can also have a positive impact on rural economies. Unmanaged, large-scale cultivation can however also pose a series of risks, such as reducing biodiversity, damaging soils and destroying landscape character. These are the sort of issues that the project set out to answer.

As part of this project, Centre for Sustainable Energy produced a GIS database detailing the available resources and the benefits and challenges of producing biomass from miscanthus and SRC willow, as well as using arisings from existing woodlands in the area. The project, undertaken in partnership with landscape specialists Land Use Consultants and agricultural experts ADAS, provided the Wildlife Trust with a clear and detailed picture of the potential of such measures across their county.

Joshua Thumim, CSE's Head of Research and lead author of the report, said:
"We found that there is significant potential for the cultivation of energy crops in Devon without compromising the existing landscape character, but more studies are needed to determine exactly what size of energy crop is appropriate for each landscape type.

"But the greatest challenge in the short term is not so much protecting the landscape from an uncontrolled and large-scale change from existing land uses, but persuading landowners and farmers to cultivate energy crops."