Nut Wood & Wauldby Scrogs
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Nut Wood & Wauldby Scrogs Nut Wood & Wauldby Scrogs Management Plan Nut Wood & Wauldby Scrogs 2015-2020 2 Nut Wood & Wauldby Scrogs MANAGEMENT PLAN - CONTENTS PAGE ITEM Page No. Introduction Plan review and updating Woodland Management Approach Summary 1.0 Site details 2.0 Site description 2.1 Summary Description 2.2 Extended Description 3.0 Public access information 3.1 Getting there 3.2 Access / Walks 4.0 Long term policy 5.0 Key Features 5.1 Ancient Woodland Site 5.2 Ancient Semi Natural Woodland 5.3 Informal Public Access 5.4 Secondary Woodland 6.0 Work Programme Appendix 1: Compartment descriptions Appendix 2: Harvesting operations (20 years) Glossary MAPS Access Conservation Features Management 3 Nut Wood & Wauldby Scrogs THE WOODLAND TRUST INTRODUCTION PLAN REVIEW AND UPDATING The Trust¶s corporate aims and management The information presented in this Management approach guide the management of all the plan is held in a database which is continuously Trust¶s properties, and are described on Page 4. being amended and updated on our website. These determine basic management policies Consequently this printed version may quickly and methods, which apply to all sites unless become out of date, particularly in relation to the specifically stated otherwise. Such policies planned work programme and on-going include free public access; keeping local people monitoring observations. informed of major proposed work; the retention Please either consult The Woodland Trust of old trees and dead wood; and a desire for website www.woodlandtrust.org.uk or contact the management to be as unobtrusive as possible. Woodland Trust The Trust also has available Policy Statements ([email protected]) to confirm covering a variety of woodland management details of the current management programme. issues. There is a formal review of this plan every 5 The Trust¶s management plans are based on the years and a summary of monitoring results can identification of Key Features for the site and be obtained on request. setting objectives for their management. A monitoring programme (not included in this plan) ensures that these objectives are met and any necessary management works are carried out. Any legally confidential or sensitive species information about this site is not included in this version of the plan. 4 Nut Wood & Wauldby Scrogs WOODLAND MANAGEMENT APPROACH The management of our woods is based on our charitable purposes, and is therefore focused on improving woodland biodiversity and increasing peoples¶understanding and enjoyment of woodland. Our strategic aims are to: Protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future Work with others to create more native woodlands and places rich in trees Inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees All our sites have a management plan which is freely accessible via our website www.woodlandtrust.org.uk. Our woods are managed to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard 8.:$6 DQGDUHFHUWLILHGZLWKWKH)RUHVW6WHZDUGVKLS&RXQFLO )6& XQGHUOLFHQFH)6& C009406 and through independent audit. In addition to the guidelines below we have specific guidance and policies on issues of woodland management which we review and update from time to time. We recognise that all woods are different and that the management of our sites should also reflect their local landscape and where appropriate support local projects and initiatives. Guidelines like these provide a necessary overarching framework to guide the management of our sites but such management also requires decisions based on local circumstances and our Site Manager¶s intimate knowledge of each site. The following guidelines help to direct our woodland management: 1. Our woods are managed to maintain their intrinsic key features of value and to reflect those of the surrounding landscape. We intervene when there is evidence that it is necessary to maintain or improve biodiversity and to further the development of more resilient woods and landscapes. 2. We establish new native woodland using both natural regeneration and tree planting, but largely the latter, particularly when there are opportunities for involving people. 3. We provide free public access to woods for quiet, informal recreation and our woods are managed to make them accessible, welcoming and safe. 4. The long term vision for our non-native plantations on ancient woodland sites is to restore them to predominantly native species composition and semi-natural structure, a vision that equally applies to our secondary woods. 5. Existing semi-natural open-ground and freshwater habitats are restored and maintained wherever their management can be sustained and new open ground habitats created where appropriate. 6. The heritage and cultural value of sites is taken into account in our management and, in particular, our ancient trees are retained for as long as possible. 7. Woods can offer the potential to generate income both from the sustainable harvesting of wood products and the delivery of other services. We will therefore consider the potential to generate income from our estate to help support our aims. 8. We work with neighbours, local people, organisations and other stakeholders in developing the management of our woods. We recognise the benefits of local community woodland ownership and management. Where appropriate we allow our woods to be used to support local woodland, conservation, education and access initiatives. 9. We use and offer the estate where appropriate, for the purpose of demonstration, evidence gathering and research associated with the conservation, recreational and sustainable management of woodlands. In particular we will develop and maintain a network of long-term monitoring sites across the estate. 10 Any activities we undertake will conform to sustainable forest management principles, be appropriate for the site and will be balanced with our primary objectives of enhancing the biodiversity and recreational value of our woods and the wider landscapes. 5 Nut Wood & Wauldby Scrogs SUMMARY This public management plan briefly describes the site, specifically mentions information on public access, sets out the long term policy and lists the Key Features which drive management actions. The Key Features are specific to this site ±their significance is outlined together with their long (50 year+) and short (5 year) term objectives. The short term objectives are complemented by a detailed Work Programme for the period of this management plan. Detailed compartment descriptions are listed in the appendices which include any major management constraints and designations. A short glossary of technical terms is at the end. The Key Features and general woodland condition of this site are subject to a formal monitoring programme which is maintained in a central database. A summary of monitoring results is available on request. 1.0 SITE DETAILS Site name: Nut Wood & Wauldby Scrogs Location: Cottingham, Humberside Grid reference: SE987302, OS 1:50,000 Sheet No. 106 Area: 13.98 hectares (34.55 acres) Designations: Ancient Semi Natural Woodland, Area of Landscape Value 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION 2.1 Summary Description Known locally as the Bluebell Wood, parts of the woodland dates from the 13th century and have a rich ground flora. More than 36 bird species, 80 types of plant, 20 insect and 10 fungus species thrive here. A good variety of walks through the site. 2.2 Extended Description The Woodland Trust in October 1991 acquired Nut Wood and Wauldby Scrogs with contributions to its purchase by the former Humberside County Council and Beverley Borough Council. Compartment 3a, called Constantine Wood is situated at the north-eastern corner of Nut Wood was formerly an arable field, planted in 1999 as part of the Trust¶s µWoods on Your Doorstep¶project which aimed to create 200 new woods for the millennium and supported by the Millennium Commission. Additional funding for Constantine Woods was also received from local people, trusts, and companies, The Forestry Commission, The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts, Carphone Warehouse and the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Local people also contributed at an event where volunteers planted nearly all the trees. In addition to extending the site area of Nut Wood and Wauldby Scrogs it also serves to buffer the ancient woodland site of Nut Wood from the adjacent arable land, and forms a direct link with the highway at Riplingham Road. Trees¶planting was with native species of local provenance included oak, ash, small leaved lime, cherry, field maple, and rowan with shrubs accounting for 10% of the area of the 6 Nut Wood & Wauldby Scrogs following species hawthorn, blackthorn, dog rose, and hazel. The open spaces were planted with a mixture of grasses and wildflowers to enhance the visual appearance and benefits wildlife. As part of the community participation in the creation of this wood. Members of the local community chose its name and also a millennium feature. The name Constantine Wood was chosen after the Emperor Constantine who would have probably travelled close by this wood between York and Rome in the fourth century. A large sandstone millstone with compass point has also been positioned at the south eastern corner as the millennium feature. Nut Wood, Wauldby Scrogs and Constatine Wood occupy a gentle north-facing slope of small dry valley, in a predominately agricultural landscape. The surrounding area is fairly typical of the Yorkshire Wold's chalkland landscape, which has been designated by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council as; an Area of High Landscape Value. Bridleways, (B16 and B14) together with and a footpath (F16) completely surround the wood, with the northern track being indicated on the enclosure map of 1653. The woods are exceptionally well used by local people, including school parties and the scouts, with the local scout camp only a short distance away. The Wolds Way long distance footpath runs adjacent to the wood. Nut Wood is referred by some locals as Bluebell Wood. Part of the site has been wooded since at least the 13th century with documentary evidence given in 1241.