General procedures

The diagram below shows the outline approach to the preparation and development of a management plan for a woodland site. The same approach can be followed whatever the scale of the scheme under consideration.

Description
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Evaluation
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Objectives
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Proposals
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Implementation
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Monitoring and review

A list of the details which may be relevant under each stage are given below.

Description

  • Name and location, with the OS map grid reference for the entrance to the wood. The 1:2500 scale map is suitable for small woodlands, and the 1:10000 for large woodlands. Standard methods of marking maps are used by the Forestry Commission, with details given in grant applications.
  • Statutory designations.
  • Areas, with sub-divisions if these clarify management proposals.
  • Aspect, soils, drainage.
  • Historical aspects, including past management.
  • Trees and shrub species, dominant trees and abundant underwood shrubs.
  • Age class distribution of trees: stocking; composition and condition of any natural regeneration.
  • Ground flora; dominant species and any unusual species.
  • Fauna, especially any rare or notable species.
  • Conspicuousness in the landscape.
  • Archaeological features.
  • Existing public access and planned future access.
  • Surrounding land use and other nearby woodland.

Evaluation

Any special values such as rare species, veteran trees, natural features, timber potential or prominence in the landscape should be noted. The site’s importance in contributing to a local Biodiversity Action Plan, Habitat Action Plan or Species Action Plan should be noted.

Management objectives

These may include any of the following:

  • Maintaining and creating new wildlife habitats
  • Producing wood and marketable timber
  • Regenerating woodland
  • Enhancing the landscape
  • Restoring or improving industrial or derelict land
  • Providing public recreation
  • Providing employment
  • Providing sporting use
  • Providing shelter for crops, animals or buildings
  • Involving the local community
  • Screening unattractive views, reducing traffic noise

Some of these are discussed further below.

Management proposals

This should include the long term strategy and a five year summary work plan. The long term strategy may include any of the following operations. The five year summary plan will specify the areas to be worked and the main operations to be done in the next five years:

New planting or replanting

  • Site preparation
  • Species to be planted
  • Mixtures and planting patterns
  • Spacing
  • Protection against deer, rabbits, domestic stock, people
  • Weed control
  • Beating up (replacement of losses)

Natural regeneration

  • Species
  • Site preparation
  • Felling of parent trees, stand opening
  • Respacing, protection and weeding

Felling and thinning

  • Reasons for felling and thinning
  • Type and pattern of felling and thinning
  • Route for removal of timber

Clearance

  • Removal of invasive species such as rhododendron
  • Clearance of undergrowth to diversify habitat or improve access

Coppice

  • Maintenance of existing coppice regime
  • Restarting coppice regime
  • Converting coppice to high forest by singling

Pollards and veteran trees

  • Management work to perpetuate pollards and ancient trees

Access

  • Access improvements for management and recreation purposes

Glades

  • Management of glades and other open spaces

Other habitats

  • Ponds, streams and wet ground. Hedges, woodbanks and other boundaries. Planting or sowing of woodland ground flora.

Monitoring

Monitoring must be included, so that the results of any management work are measured and evaluated. Lessons from monitoring can then be included in a review of the management plan, which should normally be made every five years. Monitoring involves recording the state of the woodland at the start of the period, the work done and how the wood responded. There are many aspects of management which may be monitored, including the following:

  • Response of the woodland to coppicing, thinning, felling, fencing or other operations.
  • Changes in woodland structure or species composition.
  • Amount and type of natural regeneration.
  • Success rates of tree planting.
  • Success rates of woodland flora planting or sowing.
  • Control of woody weeds such as rhododendron.

Fixed point photography is a simple and useful method of recording changes in the woodland. Further advice on monitoring vegetation changes is available in Forestry Commission Bulletin 108 (1992).

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