Management objectives

When considering management of existing woodlands, or creation of new woods, the following objectives may be considered. Many of these objectives are complementary, and can be fulfilled within a single area of woodland. Most woodlands are now managed with multi-purpose objectives, partly as a way of making woodland management economically viable. In large woodlands, zoning can be used to fulfil different objectives which may otherwise conflict, for example by providing recreation facilities well away from areas of high conservation value. Small woods are more difficult to manage for multi-purpose objectives, as the different uses may conflict.

Conservation

Woodlands are complex and valuable ecosystems which support a huge variety of organisms, and are genetic reservoirs from past times. The most valuable woodlands for nature conservation are recognised and protected as nature reserves, Sites of Special Scientific Interest or other designations. The local authority, Forestry Commission, English Nature or other authority will hold details of these designations.

The importance of woodland ecosystems is recognised under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). There are eight Habitat Action Plans (HAPs)covering most types of semi-natural woodland, and including lowland wood-pasture and parkland.

Table 5a: Habitat Biodiversity Action Plans for woodland habitats

Species Action Plans (SAPs) have been drawn up for many species of animals and plants which are associated with woodland habitats, including the dormouse, greater and lesser horseshoe bat, red squirrel, pearl-bordered fritillary, and many species of moss and lichen. Various organisations are championing different Action Plans. For full details see jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5706

Coppice or underwood

Coppice or underwood has been of great importance historically, and remains a significant objective for some lowland mixed woods. The market for hazel coppice products has improved to the extent that good quality coppice is in great demand by coppice workers. Coppice management combines well with management for wildlife, and although fairly regular rotations are needed, is sufficiently flexible to adapt to changing markets. New methods of using roundwood for building and other purposes are being developed by the Greenwood Trust and other organisations.

Timber

Historically, the growing of trees for timber has been far less important than the growing of trees for underwood. This changed with the widespread planting of conifers by the Forestry Commission through the 20th century, but the vast majority of timber requirements in Britain are met by imports. Planting for timber has historically not been very successful in financial terms, because the market has usually changed by the time the crop has matured. Timber remains a relatively unimportant objective in broadleaved woodland management in Britain.

Recreation

Recreation is now an important objective for all woodlands managed by the Forestry Commission, and most owned by other organisations and local authorities. Woods for recreation are particularly valued near urban areas, and even small woods can be important locally. Low intensity recreation conflicts little with other objectives.

Landscape

Woods, hedgerow trees and individual trees are very important landscape features, both in rural and urban areas. Planting or management of woods for their value in the landscape probably started with the 18th century ‘landscape movement’, and has been continued by estate owners, local authorities and others to the present day.

Shelter

Many small woodlands in rural areas have been planted or managed for shelter. These include shelterbelts around isolated farmsteads, shelterbelts for crops and livestock, small woods for pheasants and coverts for foxes. Where the timber or underwood value has been low, the value for shelter and game has been sufficiently important that many small woods have been preserved that might otherwise have been cleared for agriculture.

Land restoration

Large numbers of trees have been planted in recent decades with the objective of restoring abandoned industrial land. Such areas typically have highly disturbed and compacted soils, artificial land forms such as tips and quarries, exposed conditions and extremes of soil moisture from waterlogged to very dry. Some have buried toxic materials and are not suitable for cultivation or building. Conversion to woodland, for landscape and recreation value, is normally the cheapest form of land restoration, as it avoids the need for site levelling, topsoil importation or underdrainage. Poor soils and the need to establish woodlands quickly may require the use of some exotic species, such as fast-growing nitrogen-fixing alders, to act as a nurse for slower growing, less tolerant native species.

Urban regeneration

Wooded landscapes, both urban and rural, are generally considered more attractive than those with few trees. The leafy suburbs describe the more prosperous urban and residential areas, where there are gardens, parks and street trees which green the urban landscape. Trees improve the urban microclimate, help reduce traffic noise, bring wildlife into urban areas, engender feelings of well-being and raise property values. Urban regeneration schemes include woodland creation and tree planting to improve the quality of the local environment, create jobs and attract investment.