Woodland Management Winter 2021/22

As the winter months are upon us, our attention turns to woodland management. We will be continuing our work following the woodland management plan agreed with LBRuT.

• The main objectives of this plan are as follows:
• To maintain and enhance the biodiversity and ecological resilience of the woodland
• To expand woodland under coppice management
• Identify future veteran trees and carry out appropriate work
• Control invasive species and improve desired species class and structure
• Follow best practice tree planting and establishment methods
• Ensure appropriate management of all identified veteran and notable trees
• Improve wetland and riparian habitat
• Develop community involvement of woodland management and associated crafts
• Successfully propagate desired tree species
• Limit and control tree growth on lowland dry acid grassland
• Control anti-social behaviour
• Appropriate management of historic avenue trees
• Increase the levels of decaying woody habitat
• Maintain the woodland management plan as a dynamic document

Over the next few months we will specifically be working on the following:

Reduction and removal of invasive species. This will increase the biodiversity of our woodland and subsequently increase its climate resilience. Temporary gaps created by the removal of invasive species will provide structural diversity and allow for natural regeneration
Halo clearance work around veteran and future veteran trees. This is a process where competing vegetation is cleared, sensitively, and in a phased programme. It is crucial to make sure we look after our older larger trees but also to make sure that we also have suitable ancients of the future.
Initiating new pollards. Working with Jamie Simpson (Ancient & Veteran tree specialist), we will continue to increase the number of new oak pollards across the Common.
Selective holly thinning. Although a native species, warming winters and shade tolerance has seen holly dominate the understory of much of our oak woodland. It allows little light to the woodland floor, reducing structural diversity within the woodland as the field and shrub layer cannot develop.