Woodland Conservation

An approach that focuses on protection, restoration & enhancement of the existing natural environment to enable a robust, healthy, biodiverse, unified landscape.

Woodland Conservation

A specific management & operational strategy

Provided by Forest managers & foresters together

An approach to land & forest management that focuses on protection, restoration &enhancement of the existing natural environment to enable a robust, healthy, biodiverse, unified landscape.

Conservation is a particular approach to woodland management that focuses on protection, restoration and enhancement of the existing natural environment.

It involves a deep historic knowledge & understanding of regional woodland practices, native trees, flora & fauna, land use, environmental & climate changes, neighbouring land management plans & other relevant factors.

This enables an appropriate management response that aims to protect & enhance the existing woodland and restore what might have been lost, all the time maintaining or sometimes creating connections between one piece of land and another in the wider landscape, between woodland & hedgerow, hedgerow & verge, verge & garden, all to enable a robust, healthy, biodiverse, unified landscape.

Coppicing woodland understorey is a very satisfying operation reinvigorating hazel and chestnut stools. Well grown chestnut can be cut commercially and in some woodlands is the dominant silvicultural system.

Woodland Rides well managed not only present woodlands very well but provide valuable internal edge habitat.

Open ground within woodlands is encouraged to provide variety of habitat. On suitable soils Heathland is the natural state and restoration/management is often the most suitable course.

These are conservation strategies that blend well with other areas of management practices and are likely to satisfy grant funding organisations.

Types of Landscape

We practice conservation management on heathland, waterways, ponds, lakes, coppice, woodlands, forest, meadows, hedgerows, verges & marginal areas of land.

All woodlands have areas of natural habitat whether it be old coppice, open ground or internal ride edges. These areas are rich habitat for native plant, insect and animal species but need managing to maximise their potential.

As part of our management planning we identify programmes to manage these areas to enhance biodiversity.

Wildflife, Biodiversity & Ecosystems

Every area of land has it’s own micro ecosystem & climate that has the potential to support plants, fungi, mosses, invertebrates, butterflies, moths, bees, birds, bats, fish, reptiles & mammals.

A conservation strategy will incorporate building habitats for all potential wildlife species, will encourage natural replenishment of soil nutrients, will facilitate ground water management and mitigate levels of pollution.

The Connected Landscape

Recent changes to DEFRA policy addresses land and forest management approached in more holistic terms , funding whole, conected landscape regionally rather than funding privately managed pockets.

This is a reflection of a more sensible, positive and holistic view that acknowledges the impact of climate change on our local, national and global environment and the role we play as owners / managers of land and forest in mitigating the negative effects of the pollution of our planet.