Dr Moya Burns is Associate Professor Ecology and Environmental Science in the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Division of Biosciences Education at the University of Leicester.  She co‑leads the Living with Environmental Change research challenge in the Institute for Environmental Futures. 

The National Forest has recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. Focus is now switching to ensuring the long-term resilience of extant forest as maximum forest coverage nears. Although the National Forest has delivered extensive woodland creation over the past three decades, young plantations often lack the structural complexity and old-growth features required by many endangered species of invertebrates, bats, birds and fungi. In order to support the National Forest’s aims of improving landscape connectivity and resilience, this project set out to assess whether young forest plantations in the Heart of the Forest region are able to support deadwood-associated species and how management can enhance the provision of these old-growth features.

This talk will share the results of saproxylic beetle surveys and bat surveys carried out at six National Forest sites over the summer of 2024 and the implications of these findings for future management of the forest.

Read more about the talk on the Lit&Phil website.

Quaker Meeting House - link to map

Doors open 7 pm for start at 7.30 pm, finish by 9.30 pm. Free to members and under-25s. £5 charge for other visitors.