Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027 West England Forest District
Francis Raymond-Barker FCE File Ref: OP10/37 FS File Ref:
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Application for Forest Plan Approval
Forest District: West England FD
Tidenham Woodland or property name Wyeside
Tintern Nearest town, village or locality: Hewelsfield Woolaston Signed …………………………………………………………………………………….
Forest Management Director Wyeside ST 540 994 Parsons Allotment ST 557 983
The Park ST 555 993 OS Grid reference: Oakhill Wood SO 557 007
East Wood SO 563 003 Date ……………………………………………………………………………………. Ashwell Grove ST 568 992
Local Authority Gloucestershire County Council Forest of Dean District Council District/Unitary Authority:
Wyeside and Tidenham plan area 525Ha
Containing: Wye Valley AONB (part of) 347Ha Signed ……………………………………………………………………………………. Plan Area: Shorncliff and Caswell wood SSSI 69Ha Special Area for Conservation (SAC) 69Ha Area Director Offa’s Dyke SAM (part of) 15Ha
Conifer Felling: 43Ha
Broadleaved Felling: 12.6Ha (10Ha of this is coppice)
Date of approval…………………………………………………………………………….
1. I apply for Forest Plan approval for the property described above and in the enclosed Forest Plan.
2. I confirm that the scoping, carried out and documented in the Consultation Record attached, incorporated those stakeholders that the FC agreed must be included. Where it has not been possible to resolve specific issues associated with the plan to the satisfaction of consultees, this is highlighted in the Consultation Record.
3. I confirm that the proposals contained in this plan comply with the UK Forestry Standard.
4. I undertake to obtain any permissions necessary for the implementation of the approved Plan.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
List of Contents
PART 1 – Description, summary & objectives APPENDIX 1: Physical environment Application for Forest Plan Approval 1 Geology and Soils 36 Contents 2 Landform and Watershed Analysis 37 Location 3 Landscape Analysis 38-40 Tenure & Management Agreements 4 Management objectives 5 APPENDIX 2: Management considerations Meeting Objectives 6 Option Testing 42 Pests and Diseases 41 PART 2 – Character, analysis & concept Utilities 43 Landscape Character 7 Stock data – 2016 44-49 Designations 8 Analysis & Concept 9 APPENDIX 3: Supporting Information
Glossary of Terms 50-52 PART 3 – Composition and future management Consultation Record 53 Woodland Composition 10 Naturalness on PAWs 11 & 12 PAWs Management 13 Broadleaf Management 14
PART 4 – Thinning, felling and future composition Silviculture and Alternatives to Clearfell 15 Felling and Restocking 2017-2026 16 & 17 Emergency felling of diseased areas 18 Management Prescriptions 2017-2047 19 Indicative Future Species, year 10 - 2027 20 Indicative Future Species beyond 2050 21
PART 5 – Conservation, heritage and recreation Photo taken from Tintern Parva - overlooking Wyeside with Tintern and Tintern Abbey in front. Conservation Habitats 22 Conservation features 21 Shorncliff and Caswell Wood SSSI 22-32 Heritage features 33 Recreation and Public Access 34 Wildfire management 35
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
STATUTORY FOREST Location and description
Nestling between the River Wye and River Severn the woodlands in this plan lie 3½ miles north of Chepstow on the Tidenham Chase Plateau in the lower reaches of the Wye Valley to the west and mid- reaches of Severn Estuary to the east with three quarters of the plan area included within the Wye Valley W A L E S E N G L A N D AONB. The plan area is located solely within the county of Gloucestershire and lies outside the Statutory Forest, 4 ½ miles south west of Lydney and lies north of the A48 from Chepstow and straddles the B4228 that LYDNEY serves the Forest of Dean from the south. The plan area consists of 525Ha of mixed woodland that rises from 5m ASL along the Wye up to 237m ASL Photo 3 at the highest point of the plateau just north of The Park, enjoying on average 600mm of rainfall per year. The plan comprises of Limestone and Sandstone geology that give rise to rich soils that are generally A48 calcareous with some brown earths, enabling growth rates for conifer to be achieved in the range of Yield Photo 2 Class 12-24 and for broadleaves YC of between 4-8. 237m Photo 1 Photo 4 The plan is a complex comprised of 6 woodlands draped over an elongated plateau (see Landform Analysis 5m and watershed analysis) with a surrounding matrix of fields, hedgerows and agricultural land. Wyeside is Photo 5 the largest covering 198Ha and is situated on the steep eastern slopes of the River Wye providing scenic backdrops to the village of Tintern and its historic Cistercian Abbey. The area to the east of Wyeside Photo 6 known as Tidenham Chase contains the remaining 5 woodlands these are: Oakhill Wood, East Wood, The Park, Ashwell Grove and Parsons Allotment. Wyeside is probably best known for its home to a 3 mile stretch of the historically renowned long distance Offa’s Dyke path that runs along Wyeside’s eastern boundary, enjoying far reaching views across the valley into Wales especially from a natural outcrop of Limestone, known as Devils Pulpit. Lying just north of Shorn Cliff, Devils Pulpit overlooks Tintern and Tintern Abbey and is a well frequented stopping point for visitors walking the historical Offa’s Dyke path, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument or SAM. Wyeside also includes 1 SSSI site: Shorncliff and Caswell Wood, known for their Woodland type (Tilio- CHEPSTOW Acerion) Further information is available in the SSSI management section. Whilst The Park contains 26Ha of priority habitat managed in partnership with GWT and grazing tenant for Lowland Heath, Parsons Allotment / East Wood can be found exhibiting examples of Limestone Pavement in varying condition and is thought to be the most southern examples within Britain with some occurring in open habitat and others under mixed woodland canopy. OAKHILL WOOD The Severn Estuary SSSI is indirectly connected through the River Wye. Wyeside drains west to the Wye and the eastern side of the plan area drains towards the Severn. (see water shed analysis in appendices)
EAST WOOD % of Forest name Area THE PARK plan area
Wyeside 198 Ha 38 WYESIDE Oakhill Wood 100 Ha 19 ASHWELL GROVE East Wood 93 Ha 18
The Park 49 Ha 9
PARSONS ALLOTMENT Ashwell Grove 43 Ha 8
Parsons Allotment 39 Ha 7 (Area given to the nearest Ha) 522 Ha 100 %
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027 WYE VALLEY AONB
Tenure & Management Agreements
All 525Ha of woodland within the plan area enjoy a freehold status. Shorn Cliff and Caswell Wood SSSI cover 69Ha within Wyeside. They are Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) being part of the Wye Valley Woodlands SAC notified for their woodland type (Tilio-Acerion / Asperulo fagetum) and lesser horseshoe bats. They lie adjacent to the River Lippets Grove Wye SSSI and together with the remainder of Wyeside, The Park and Oakhill Wood account for around 75% of the plan area that lies within the bounds of the Wye Valley Wye Valley AONB. Clayton Wood The Park contains lowland heath priority habitat, whilst Lippets Grove is a Key Wildlife Site. Both are included in the concordat with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust who are River Wye SAC managing The Park for heathland restoration, including grazing rights let to a 3rd party, whilst Lippets Grove is managed for ground flora associated with ASNW and Dormouse interest. Poor’s Allotment SSSI lies adjacent to and to the north of Parsons Allotment and notified for contrasting habitats (Lowland heath, acid & calcareous grassland) that overlie the concurrence of Drybrook Sandstone and Drybrook Limestone. The River Wye SAC is notified for being a large linear ecosystem that acts as an important wildlife corridor, migration route and key breeding area for many national & internationally important species of flora, mammals, invertebrates, fish and birds including amongst others: Legend Otter, Fresh water pearl mussel, 3 species of lamprey, Atlantic stream crayfish, crowfoot, milfoil species and 5 Forest Plan extent nationally scarce species of moth. AONB Clayton Wood is part of The Park and with Oakhill currently has a sporting lease in place. SSSI A company called “Arqiva“ operate a mobile phone SAC mast in Wyeside under lease from FC, with space on the SPA and SAC mast leased to 3rd parties operating through Arqiva.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Management Objectives
WEST ENGLAND FOREST DISTRICT
PROTECTING AND EXPANDING ENGLANDS FORESTS AND WOODLANDS AND INCREASING THEIR VALUE TO
To conserve, maintain and enhance SOCIETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. The continued production cultural and heritage assets. of sustainable and marketable woodland
Deliver well-designed forests in keeping with the local landscape character The objectives of this Plan will, in part, deliver the West England Forest District Strategic Plan (2013a) and the national Strategic Plan The management and restoration of statutorily designated areas such for the Public Forest Estate in England (2013b). as Sites of Special Scientific Interest/ Special Areas of Conservation/ Scheduled Ancient Monuments or Key Wildlife Areas. Sustainable management of the woodland will be to the standards required to maintain FSC and PEFC accreditation and therefore must To protect enhance and restore areas of ancient woodland deliver economic, environmental and social objectives.
The meeting and monitoring of these objectives is outlined on the The protection and enhancement of veteran trees/trees of following page. special interest (TSI) and recruitment of future generations of veteran trees/TSI.
Protect and enhance woodland, open habitats and their associated species.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027 National Vision and Overall Goal: To secure and grow the economic, social and natural capital value Meeting Objectives of the Public Forest Estate for the people of England.
District Strategy Forest Plan Objective Meeting Objective Monitoring The continued production of sustainable and Plan delivery achieved through thinning and clearfelling Comparison of production forecast with actual production marketable woodland products. will continue to produce a mixture of wood products, at the Forest Plan (FP) five and ten-year review: both conifer and broadleaf that will be in keeping with Year 5 - 2017-21 = 329m3 felling and 1730m3 thinning Economy and help progress and or enhance other management Year 10 - 2022-26 = 810m3 felling and 1484m3 thinning objectives. Maintain the land within our OSP and contract supervision. stewardship under FSC/PEFC certification. The management and restoration of Implemented through the Operational Site Planning Monitoring of SSSI condition is principally carried out by Improve the economic resilience of statutorily designated areas such as Sites of (OSP) should identify opportunities to enhance these NE. Whilst SAMs are monitored by Historic England our woods and forests. Special Scientific Interest/ Special Area of sites, where appropriate seek advice from NE & follow through the Heritage at Risk Register. Conservation/Scheduled Ancient Monuments guidance given. OSP should also refer to any site Encourage and support business or Key Wildlife Areas. specific management plans. activity on the Estate
To protect enhance and restore areas of Restoration of PAW sites will be a gradual process Analysis and comparison of naturalness scores derived ancient woodland in line with the 2005 targeting removal of conifer crops and non-native from the Sub-Compartment Database (SCDB) through regeneration through clearfelling & thinning to aid the FP review process. establishment of native species through regeneration People and planting.
Maintain existing established consultation panels in the Forest of Deliver well-designed forests in keeping Through a mixture of thinning & clearfelling the Fixed point photography will be used during the FP Dean and engage with other with the local landscape character that also approach will be dependant upon steepness & review process to help in the analysis of how the consultative bodies such as National protect and safeguard adjoining SSSI sites. awkwardness of terrain and prominence within the implementation of the plan is effecting external Park Authorities and AONBs. landscape. Operational site planning will help landscape and character. OSP will help identify integrate the FP intentions minimising risk of adverse opportunity for enhancement to character and identify Provide high quality woodland based impact on the landscape and adjacent SSSI. safeguards for SSSI. recreational opportunities for people and business focusing on the 3 The protection and enhancement of veteran These woodlands contain numerous scattered TSI & The FP review process at years 5 and 10 should check principle Forest Centres. trees (VT)/trees of special interest (TSI) VT of varying description, including old lime coppice data held on GIS. Site visits and operational site plans and recruitment of future generations of stools. OSP should record TSI and VT; updating GIS will help in verifying appropriate TSI and VT veteran trees/TSI. layer files for future reference. At the same time the management. process should promote the retention of both standing and fallen deadwood. Nature To conserve, maintain and enhance cultural The identifying and recording of any unscheduled Monitoring will be achieved through the OSP and contract Improve the resilience of the and heritage assets. features is an on-going process aimed at improving supervision and the Forest Plan review process. natural environment of the Estate the quality of existing data sets that subsequently under our stewardship. feed into the OSP of harvesting and restocking sites that should identify features of interest and outline Realise the potential of the Public appropriate measures to avoid and minimise damage. Forest Estate for nature and wildlife. Protect and enhance woodland, open Through a mixture of clearfelling, thinning and Monitored through review process, looking at local Maintain and improve the cultural habitats and their associated species. coppicing the provision for open habitats and records for updated sightings. and heritage value of the Estate. associated species will be enhanced. Opportunities National Dormouse monitoring scheme. should be highlighted in the OSP process where conservation benefits can be delivered. Appropriate Analysis and comparison of SCDB open space through reinstatement works will be carried out once the Forest Plan review process. operations have been concluded.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Landscape Character 2017 - 2027
NATIONAL CHARACTER PROFILE: N105 Forest of Dean and Lower Wye
Source: Natural England (2012) The area is well wooded centred on an undulating plateau of ridges and valleys sitting over shallow Coal Measures; contained by an outer rim of a more open landscape based on Carboniferous Limestone & Devonian Old Red Sandstone that provides examples of active and past geological processes; thanks to the River Wye that has cut dramatic gorges and in Wyeside’s case, steep wooded slopes; giving the area its characteristic fine scenery. As a result in places extensive outward looking picturesque views are offered westwards across the Wye Gorge to the Black Mountains of Wales, or eastwards across the Severn Estuary to the Cotswold Hills, providing attractiveness for tourism and recreation. Small streams and brooks drain most of the plateau to the east & south-east into the Severn while others feed into the Wye to the west & south-west. The River Wye SAC is recognised as internationally important for species including white-clawed crayfish, otter, salmon, twait and allis shad. Tidal influence on the Wye occurs as far as Bigsweir. There are rich assemblages of wildlife habitat including: grassland, heathland, traditional orchards and woodland; nationally important assemblages of woodland birds and butterflies; internationally important woodland, river and bat sites; and a range of other rare flora and fauna. There is a rich historic environment, including Roman sites (such as Lydney Park and the Anglo-Saxon earthwork known as Offa’s Dyke that formerly marked the border between England and Wales) and an industrial landscape of iron and coal extraction, quarries, and associated tramways – many of which have been subsumed by the woodland canopy.
Far left: A drawing by Henry W Bartlett from 1845 courtesy of the National Library of Wales looking down from the infamous Devil’s Pulpit over Tintern Abbey. Note that even in those days people liked sitting on top of Devil’s Pulpit.
Left: Photograph of the same view taken in 2016 that illustrates Henry’s artistic impression may have recorded a much Arrows shown in the table below left indicate sparser wooded more romantic landscape, however if correct then a more heavily wooded landscape has developed anticipated impact on service delivery since his day. Note the polished surface on top of the rock indicates continued enjoyment of standing on this spot. Increase Slight Increase
No change
Slight Decrease Decrease.
Asterisks denote confidence in projection
* low ** medium
*** high
○ = symbol denotes where insufficient information on the likely impact is available.
LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ASSESSMENT (character makes each part of the landscape distinct and gives each its particular sense of place, regardless of perceptions of quality or value)
Wooded valley - 1c Wye Valley: Brockweir to Tutshill Landscapes generally enjoy long panoramic views from high vantage points and are characterised by steep sided river valleys and dramatic bare rock faces with densely wooded valley sides e.g. Devils Pulpit. Whilst softer valley profiles are created from the Old Red and Tintern Sandstones creating dramatic and contrasting landscape elements. On the valley floors rivers and streams are characterised by wide meanders that meander gently through alluvial floodplains dominated by pasture and as the Wye south of Brockweir is affected by the tide, extensive mudflats occur along this stretch of the river. The gentle relief of the valley bottoms are often visually linked to surrounding woodland by hedges & isolated trees. Many of the woodlands are ASNW in character with both these & the riverine landscapes being of high ecological and scenic value. Woodlands are also important in providing a great diversity of texture & colour; heavily wooded areas such as Wyeside extend from the valley floor to the skyline contrasting strongly with the lush pasture of flat riverside meadows & dramatic rock faces. Limestone Plateau - 3a Tidenham Chase The erosive action of streams and rivers has had little effect on the plateau that is characterised by level or gently undulating terrain with an elevation of between 180 AOD and 220 AOD fringed by steeper relief give a strong and coherent identity to the rural landscape with expansive views surrounding countryside. Woodlands provide a sense of enclosure creating a backdrop for these wider panoramas. A strong moderately sized field pattern of arable and pasture fields are demarcated by distinctive if somewhat degraded ancient hedgerows. Despite the intensity of farming the open landscape creates a sense of remoteness & space, broken by the verdant contrasting colour of scattered woodland. Tree belts and copses being widespread whilst to the south heathland landscapes at Poor’s allotment and semi-natural unimproved grasslands can be found associated with settlements on former commons with significant plantations such as Oakhill Wood existing on Carboniferous Sandstone and Oolitic Limestone geology. The weathering of this geology is mainly by rain dissolving the rock. In some areas, acid soil water percolates the joints widening them to form ‘clints & grikes’ that make up limestone pavement unique to this area and largely hidden by woodland.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Designations
Shorn Cliff and Caswell Wood SSSI cover 69Ha within Wyeside. They are Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) being part of the Wye Valley woodland SAC notified for their woodland type (Tilio-Acerion / Asperulo WYE VALLEY AONB fagetum). They lie adjacent to the River Wye SSSI and together with the remainder of Wyeside, The Park and Oakhill Wood account for around 75% of the plan area that lies within the bounds of the Wye Valley AONB.
Around 26% of the plan area is Ancient Wye Valley Woodlands SAC Woodland with a further 49% being PAWs. Further information on this can be found on the Caswell Wood SSSI Woodland Composition page. Lippets Grove is recognised as a Key Wildlife site managed for ground flora associated with ASNW and Dormouse interest through concordat with GWT. The Offa’s Dyke is an important historic feature designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument River Wye (SAM). Constructed between 780-800AD by King Offa to impose authority & help quell unrest caused by friction between Wales and England in the border region; this feature Poors consists of a tall earth bank that in places still stands to a height of 12 feet fronted by a deep Allotment Offa’s Dyke ditch with a total width of up to 60 feet. Scheduled The AONB was designated in 1971 for recognition for having:- An exceptional landscape—limestone gorge and native woodland.
Impressive geology—Silurian limestone to plateaux of Old Red Sandstone “Like a set of pie dishes, one within the other.”
Historic legacies—The first Cistercian Abbey in Wales, Iron Age hill forts, Norman castles and pioneering industrial heritage (iron, brass, tinplate, copper)
Wildlife interest— Lesser Horseshoe bats, peregrine Falcons, Goshawk, Ravens, Nightjar, rare spp. of Whitebeam and fish such as Shad and Twaite.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Analysis: The plateau of Tidenham contains around 55% conifer. Some are performing poorly Analysis: good development of Broadleaf in Ashwell grove. 2017 - 2027 due to geology, some due to disease such as CP infected by Dothistroma. A lot of restructuring Concept: Intended to continue development through thinning. already achieved through felling and regeneration. N Where appropriate extend rack spacing to 20-30 meters to Concept: Conifer areas will generally be managed through thinning. Little clearfelling will be minimise damage to understory eg in subcpt 3745a done to give the woodland a chance to regenerate and develop further broadleaf character. To Analysis & Concept achieve this, the thinning cycle in some conifer crops such as CP (except 1st or 2nd thinnings.) will move to a 10 year cycle. Enrichment broadleaf plantings may also be considered on some Analysis: Limestone pavement under varying degrees of canopy, some of which support a sites to diversify & enhance native character. variety of interesting flora, especially those in Parsons Allotment and East Wood. Concept: Strive to maintain existing open habitat to benefit the flora invertebrates and Analysis: Squirrel damage in general is an issue within broadleaf crops within Lepidoptera. this plan area and is severely impacting on the quality of regeneration.
Concept: Woodlands will continue to be encouraged to develop a more mixed Analysis: The B4228 meanders through the plan area; adjacent broadleaf structure, through thinning. Viability for the reintroduction of Pine Martins is belts have been thinned, although potential remains for thinning conifer being looked into. behind to increase views into the wood from this road. Concept: Continue diversifying the woodland edge through the thinning of Analysis: Horseshoe bats are using the old the interior conifer and developing the crowns within the broadleaf fringes. railway tunnel. (see on map)
Concept: Coupe design and operational Analysis: Open habitat at the Park continues to be managed through GWT, who use planning will take into account management volunteers and graze the site via a local farmer. of European Protected Species (EPS). Concept: GWT will continue to manage and maintain an open habitat structure via Analysis: Caswell and Shorn grazing that is currently being funded by an HLS agreement through a local farmer. Cliff SSSI notified for woodland type area includes tufa formations on bank along old Analysis: Area of Dothistroma infected CP adjacent to Poor’s Allotment is developing railway. ground flora with heathland characteristics.
Concept: Manage as per SSSI Concept: To develop heathland characteristics to complement open habitat in Poor’s plan and in liaison with NE. Allotment through thinning & felling creating links to Poor’s Allotment and The Park. Manage tufa stream in liaison with NE. Analysis: Long distance footpath: The Gloucestershire Analysis: The area has high landscape value viewed from the Way runs through the plan area west and is visually sensitive. It provides a scenic back drop Analysis: From the east the plan Concept: Thin to continue for the historically significant Tintern Abbey. area is spread across the horizon promoting an open character dominating the skyline although Concept: With the threat from Wales of the disease found elsewhere o/s of plan area. with high broadleaf content and Phytophthora ramorum, removal of larch will be prioritised to rolling nature of the terrain blends minimise further risk to the Statutory Forest. Coupe design well with the surrounding will take into account high landscape values, along with SSSI Analysis: Invasive conifer agricultural landscape. With the objectives and management of EPS. species such as RC still exist fast moving A48, any disruption in within Wyeside. visual flow goes unnoticed. Analysis: The nature of the steep stepped terrain makes Concept: One discreet area of Concept: management will continue operations extremely difficult. Linked with fertile soils trees are RC exists that will be removed to use low impact systems to ensure drawn and very tall, often with a well developed understorey of Analysis: Offa’s Dyke is a Scheduled Ancient Monument through clearfelling. this remains the case. broadleaf. Access is awkward especially in the southwestern (SAM) & very well used long distance footpath of extreme corner of Caswell Wood and western parts of Shorn Cliff. local importance with good outlooks over Tintern and the Analysis: The two rivers of the Wye and Severn are both notified as Sites of Abbey (see on map) especially from Devil’s Pulpit. Concept: Given the high sensitivities of this site a low impact Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Conservation Areas (SAC) (see on map) approach to management would seem appropriate and highly Woodland management has potential to affect these, especially the Wye with suited for minimum intervention. Thinning will be aimed at Concept: Historic England must be consulted for any close proximity of Wyeside. (also see watershed analysis) development of broadleaf crowns developing an irregular forest works likely to affect Offa’s Dyke. This will enable Concept: Low impact approach will be adopted especially in areas close to the structure and minimising damage to understory. Coupe design sensitive management of the SAM that is on the Heritage Wye. A woodland buffer will be maintained along the river banks as a filter will take into account SSSI objectives, management of EPS and at Risk Register. high landscape values. against potential run off from forestry operations.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Woodland Composition
Note that woodland Broadleaf cover already accounts for two thirds (62% or 329ha) of composition is based on the the overall Forest Plan area with the majority of broadleaves being largest component of the focussed within Wyeside, where broadleaves equate to just over a subcpt and therefore will third of the plan area (173Ha). Historically, with Tintern on the not fully reflect the actual content or distribution of doorstep of Wyeside and the River Wye for transport, Wyeside would conifer or broadleaf. have been a great resource for fuelwood, charcoal as well as furniture making and buildings, especially for Tintern Abbey and the local villagers evidenced by large parts of high forest being been derived from coppice and numerous charcoal hearths; with Ash, Beech, Hazel, lime and Oak being prevalent with many of the younger stands being cut more recently during the last 30 years. Among the minor species of broadleaf are: Field Maple, Elm Yew, Whitebeam, Holly and Hawthorn. Within each of the remaining Woodlands conifer and broadleaf splits pretty much evenly at 45:55% in favour of broadleaf. Note: Beech and sweet chestnut are considered ‘naturalised’ At the peak of planting in the 1960’s, across the whole plan area, Legend over 120Ha was planted at 36:64% in favour of broadleaf, this tailed off in the 1990’s and 2000’s where under 20 Ha of predominantly Evergreen Conifer broadleaf were planted. Pines There has also been an increase in open space over the last ten Larches years from 36 Ha to over 50Ha in 2015. Most of the open space occurs in The Park. Here almost 28Ha is managed as lowland heath Native & naturalized broadleaves priority habitat, in partnership with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Non-native broadleaves Around 26% of the plan area is Ancient Woodland with a further 49% Open/other being PAWs. One of the aims of the Forest Plan is to continue restoration of PAWs areas back to a native condition. PAWs areas Age Class distribution outside of SSSI sites are considered restored once the native content reaches 80% and within SSSI the restoration is achieved at 95%. One must note that this is a long term aspiration, so it is unlikely that all PAW sites will be restored within the time frame of this plan.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Class 1 – Semi-Natural Woodland Naturalness of ASNW 2017 - 2027 Woodland naturalness
Naturalness is the measure to show the percentage of site native tree species in a given area. This measure is used to record and monitor the condition and restoration of Ancient Woodland Sites. Classes 2, 3 and 4 are classified as Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWs) the majority of which can be found in Oakhill wood, East Wood and Ashwell Grove. Areas of Semi- Natural Woodland (Class 1 - > 80% site native species) are mostly found in Wyeside. Whilst transformation of Classes 2, 3 and 4 PAWs towards Class Class 2 – Plantation Woodland 1 is an objective of this Plan restoration will predominantly take place through thinning 4% 3% 31%
40% 33% 37%
Class 3 – Plantation Woodland 14% 10% Naturalness of PAWs 18% 10%
Class 4 – Plantation Woodland
Areas outline with pink are not on the ASNW register and are assumed to be ASNW register shown by percentage of woodland area secondary woodland.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
WYESIDE PARSONS ALLOTMENT THE PARK ASHWELL GROVE OAKHILL WOOD EAST WOOD
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
PAWs Management
Restoration of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWs) has already begun through thinning and felling during the previous plan period; over time restoration of PAWs areas will continue towards a native condition through the use of extended thinning cycles and targeted clearfelling, that will enable the development of the understory and may take a considerable amount of time/ resource due to native remnants being limited but also in part to the terrain that in some places makes work extremely difficult and awkward, sometimes prohibitive. Therefore a proactive yet realistic approach will be used to transform these sites over a period of time with an eventual aim of PAWs transitioning to one that contains 80% or more of native species. This process will help achieve:
a varied age structure with varying ratios of high canopy, secondary canopy and understory through out.
transition that ensures a minimum future content of 3 native species, with 4 to 5 species being the preferable target.
This area contains a Minimal reliance on broadleaf monocultures should be component of larch the encouraged especially of birch, ash, beech or oak. Within density and distribution of existing mid rotation broadleaf crops or in SN class 4 which decreases the woodland where conditions are favourable, this objective further north you go. may eventually mean considering either under-planting or Operationally the ground group felling and planting. is difficult to work and Some areas may take longer to restore than others due to their could impact on the Wye composition and recent clearfelling activity but thinning practice Valley Bat SAC and Forest will reflect the condition of the crops and how individual sites are of Dean bat sites. See the responding to previous interventions. The key is flexibility as to SSSI plan and Habitat the speed of restoration; with well established understories being Regulation Assessment for recruited during thinning to form part of the future crop; giving further detail. opportunity for the development of an irregular structure that is both diverse in age class and species. Areas containing Larch and Corsican Pine have been prioritised for clearfelling and reversion to native woodland. By 2027 clearfell reverted back to native condition will amount to around 26Ha. A further 80Ha will be managed through thinning aiming to achieve a native content of 80%+ by 2050. The remaining conifer PAW areas will take longer; containing predominantly Douglas Fir they too will be managed through thinning and are likely to sit within naturalness class 2 or 3 by 2050 with a longer term aim beyond 2050 of reducing the conifer content down to 20%; these are classed as long-term retention and in the mean time thinning will focus on areas of existing mature broadleaves as seed sources as well as opening up any natural regeneration for recruitment into the future crop.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Broadleaf Management
These sites will be managed using shelterwood/selection systems or coppice. The new crop will generally be instigated and recruited through thinning operations that will favour the best seed trees in order to promote natural regeneration. Or in the case of coppice clear cutting to leave selected standards. Thinning operations may also be used to provide opportunities for enrichment planting in order to diversify the species composition within or surrounding broadleaf areas. Light levels and grazing pressure from deer will be managed to minimise weed encroachment and regeneration predation following thinning operations. Under- planting and enrichment planting with species such as Lime and Hornbeam may be considered on Ash dominated sites to ensure greater resilience to Chalara fraxinea. Where natural regeneration is struggling to become established, the site will be monitored and enrichment planting maybe considered. It maybe that further intervention is required through thinning to develop the broadleaf components before regeneration is successful or that there are limited seed sources available. Each site will be assessed on its own merits before deciding if under-planting, enrichment planting or further thinning and monitoring is appropriate. Some areas of broadleaf like those in Oakhill and Eastwood will be thinned to develop their crowns and seeding potential in order to provide a more robust and viable seed source for surrounding conifer crops that are on PAWs. This will help encourage the spread of broadleaf regeneration into the surrounding conifer crops. This maybe a slow process and will be monitored. At some point in the future one may have to consider enrichment planting to ensure a diverse broadleaf composition is achieved. Monitoring of these crops for regeneration will be an integral part of National Vegetation Classification (NVC) routine pre-thinning assessment and should inform how the crop is The woodland NVC describes and categorises the typical composition of semi-natural native woodlands including their thinned; in combination with the Forest Plan review process. associated flora and soil indicator species.
The majority of the plan area consists of National Vegetation Classification (NVC) types W8 Ash/Dogs Mercury and W12 Beech and Dogs Mercury woodlands with some W16 Oak/birch woodlands to the centre of the plan area within The park. These classifications give a good indication of the target future species for PAWs restoration if sites were left to natural succession. This information can be used to assist with managing woodlands towards greater naturalness through practices such as thinning and regeneration or planting. However with the onset of diseases such as Chalara fraxinea that affects Ash, no Ash is currently being planted, although natural regeneration is being accepted and recruited into the future woodland cover. Within the Shorncliff and Caswell Wood SSSI of Wyeside, notified for Tilio-Acerion Woodland, a native composition of Ash, Wych Elm and Lime as well as Beech, Oak, Hazel, species of Whitebeam, Holly and Hornbeam.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Timing of next thinning 2017 - 2027
Alternatives to Clearfell (ATC) PAWs managed under ATC systems will be thinned to favour broadleaf components. This, together with the targeted removal of larch and invasive species will increase the potential for employing natural regeneration or enrichment planting and will move sites towards having greater native broadleaf cover. Broadleaf stands will generally be managed irregularly through thinning. Irregular shelterwoods on PAWs which will look to favour the development of native broadleaves and target the removal conifer components. Group selections will be used on windfirm, accessible crops on PAWs to proactively diversify the woodland structure and composition, possibly through the use of enrichment replanting with native broadleaves. Areas of predominantly DF will be managed on long-term retention as irregular shelterwoods with the aim of producing complex CCF with a mixed woodland structure containing 80% native broadleaves and 20% DF and likely to be achieved beyond 2047, especially in DF crops not yet at the age of first thinning. With older complex structured stands or those managed for amenity purposed maintained through single-tree selections. Single-tree selections are used on existing complex structured stands or sensitive sites often important for conservation or amenity value. Silviculture Group selections are used on windfirm, accessible crops and will proactively diversify the woodland structure and composition. Broadleaf Thinning Uniform shelterwoods are predominately sites which will be managed using seeding fellings with possibilities for Broadleaf high forest will be assessed for thinning every 10 years with a visual under planting of site suitable species to control light levels and develop good timber quality. inspection of the stand. Thinning will allow sub-dominant broadleaves sufficient light and space to mature or will release existing advanced regeneration. Younger Irregular shelterwoods develop a complex CCF structure through the identification and to thinning quality trees for patches of regeneration can be thinned to favour site native species with trees of the future. good form and vigour being retained. Where broadleaves consist primarily of a Strip shelterwoods It is most likely that uniform or irregular shelterwoods will be used but on wind vulnerable sites single species, it may be possible to enlarge natural gaps through irregular thinning strip shelterwood may be used and are usually restocked through natural regeneration. rather than create new gaps through group felling. However, in all cases the size of All of the above methods of ATC can be employed in conifer or broadleaf and can utilise natural regeneration and or gap will be dependent on slope, aspect and site fertility and must not be where required enrichment planting can be used ensuring a diverse species composition of desired nature is achieved detrimental to crop stability. Gaps will vary in size between 0.25-0.5Ha and offer for the following rotation. opportunity for mix of natural regeneration/enrichment planting that will use a mix of native species other than those occurring in the overstorey to give both additional structure and diversity to the woodland.
Conifer Thinning
Areas of conifer will be assessed for thinning every 5 years or 10 years in the case of some CP sites. A targeted removal of larch species a key objective. Other factors such as the quantity, condition, age and distribution of any broadleaf content, will also help decide if an area of conifer is to be thinned or not, with light levels, existing ground vegetation and any evidence of natural regeneration also impacting on how many trees are marked for removal. Gaps can be created here too, following the guidance given above. Clearfell coupes will simply be managed through clearcutting (of over 0.25ha) and restocked either through natural regeneration, replanting or a combination of the two. In some cases like in The Park, clearcutting will remove the overstory only once broadleaf content has developed through recruitment of natural regeneration that will minimise the visual impact of removal of the conifer overstorey from the coupe Minimum Interventions are generally ecologically valuable/sensitive or can be impracticable for harvesting due to terrain conditions. In the case of Wyeside these areas are designated SSSI and SAC for woodland type and include rare species of Whitebeam. Interventions only occur generally to protect and enhance, ensuring Natural Reserve 47 Ha future succession of key habitats and species is successful. Retentions 69 Ha Long term retentions are in place where the landscape value of the woodland is of Alternative to clearfell 278 Ha value and where it serves to develop the broadleaf content. Open space is managed to ensure forest cover does not exceed 2m in height, with 20% tree cover being acceptable.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Felling Coupe: 37982 Felling Coupe: 37388 Felling Coupe: 37490 Felling Coupe: 37775 2017 - 2027 Fell period: 2017-2021 Fell period: 2017-2021 Fell period: 2027-2031 Fell period: 2027-2031 Area: 6.5Ha Area: 1.2Ha Area: 1.2Ha Area: 4.7Ha
Restock Coupe: 37982a Restock Coupe: 37388a Restock Coupe: 37490a Restock Coupe: 37775a Felling and Restocking Propagation: planted Propagation: planted Propagation: Nat-regen/coppice Propagation: planted 2017 - 2027 Oak 50% Oak 50% Mixed broadleaf 20% Ash 40% Clearfelling will concentrate on removing Mixed Broadleaf 30% Mixed Broadleaf 30% OPEN 80% Silver birch 30% areas of CP infected with Dothistroma Hazel 10% Small-leaved lime 10% Mixed Broadleaf 20% Needle Blight (DNB). OPEN 10% OPEN 10% Hazel 10% Thinning in these DNB infected pine areas prior to clearfelling will help manipulate the tree canopy and light levels to establish and develop native natural regeneration prior to removal of the remaining overstory and can Felling Coupe: 37275 also present opportunities for enrichment Fell period: 2017-2021 planting; taking advantage of the shelter afforded by the overstory by aiding quicker Area: 1.5Ha establishment especially of broadleaves and frost tender species. Restock Coupe: 37275a Thinning interventions may vary in their Propagation: Nat-regen/coppice intensity which will further encourage a Small-leaved lime 40% varied age structure and ensure compliance Ash 30% with FS regulation. Any opportunities for planting or natural regeneration created Hazel 20% through thinning with the above in mind will OPEN 10% be dependant on site conditions but typically would be in the range of 0.25-0.6Ha. Removal of any remaining overstory is solely dependant on successful establishment and growth rates of any natural regeneration Felling Coupe: 37075 and/or planted stock. Fell period: 2017-2021 The same principals for establishment of the Area: 0.7Ha following rotation maybe applied where continuous cover is being used within PAW areas. This is especially the case where Restock Coupe: 37075a regeneration is restricted to one or two Propagation: Nat-regen/coppice native species. This will ensure a robust and Ash 40% diverse mix of native species is achieved Hazel 30% avoiding a future reliance on monocultures. Mixed broadleaf 20% (Birch, Ash, Hazel or Oak.) OPEN 10% Utilisation of clearfelling and then planting and the use of natural regeneration and enrichment planting will hopefully achieve a future crop that is commercially viable and Felling Coupe: 37103 Felling Coupe: 37081 ecologically robust against future risks from Fell period: 2027-2031 Felling Coupe: 37082 Fell period: 2017-2021 climatic change and biotic sources. Felling Coupe: 37077 Area: 2.2Ha Fell period: 2027-2031 Area: 1.4Ha Fell period: 2022-2026 Area: 2.5Ha Area: 3.4Ha Restock Coupe: 37081a Restock Coupe: 37103a
Propagation: Nat-regen/coppice Restock Coupe: 37082a Propagation: Planted Restock Coupe: 37077a Ash 40% Propagation: Nat-regen/coppice Oak 30% Propagation: Nat-regen/coppice Mixed broadleaf 40% Sweet chestnut 50% Small-leaved lime 30% Mixed broadleaf 100% Wych Elm 10% Mixed broadleaf 40% Mixed broadleaf 30% OPEN 10% OPEN 10% Whitebeam 10%
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Felling Coupe: 37031 Felling Coupe: 37031 2017 - 2027 Fell period: 2027-2031 Fell period: 2027-2031 Felling Coupe: 37011 Area: 2.4Ha Area: 1.8Ha Fell period: 2022-2026 Retain character SP Retain character SP Area: 4.7Ha Felling and Restocking Restock Coupe: 37031a Restock Coupe: 37775b 2017 - 2027 Restock Coupe: 37011a Propagation: planted Propagation: planted Propagation: planted Scots Pine 60% Ash 50% Felling Coupe: 37041 Oak 50% Oak 10% Oak 20% Fell period: 2022-2026 Hornbeam 20% Mixed Broadleaf 10% Mixed Broadleaf 20% Area: 5.7Ha Small-leaved lime 10% Douglas Fir 10% OPEN 10%
Mixed broadleaf 10% OPEN 10% Restock Coupe: 37041a OPEN 10% Propagation: planted Oak 40% Hornbeam 20% Wild Cherry 10 Mixed Broadleaf 10% OPEN 20%
Felling Coupe: 37662 Felling Coupe: 37049 Fell period: 2027-2031 Fell period: 2022-2026 Area: 1.6Ha Area: 6.9Ha
Restock Coupe: 37662a Restock Coupe: 37049a Propagation: Nat-regen/coppice Propagation: planted Ash 50% Oak 30% Mixed Broadleaf 30% Mixed Broadleaf 30% Hazel 10% Hornbeam 10% OPEN 10% Alder 10%
OPEN 20% Enrichment planting with MB in Concentrate open space around tree shelters is likely. limestone pavement and ride edges.
Felling Coupe: 37114 Felling Coupe: 37123 Felling Coupe: 37135 Fell period: 2022-2026 Fell period: 2027-2031 Fell period: 2022-2026 Area: 0.6Ha Area: 0.5Ha Area: 6.1Ha
Restock Coupe: 37114a Restock Coupe: 37123a Restock Coupe: 37135a Propagation: Nat-regen/coppice Propagation: planted Propagation: NA Sweet chestnut 40% Hornbeam 60% OPEN 100% Mixed Broadleaf 40% Wild Cherry 30% OPEN 20% Tulip tree 10% Heathland restoration adjacent Diversify with MB in Tree Shelters to Poor’s Allotment.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Area of mixed broadleaf that contains both Sweet Chestnut/Oak/Mixed broadleaves and 2017 - 2027 Larch. In places the terrain prohibits effective felling and extraction without detrimental damage to surrounding native woodland, along the eastern side of this coupe where this is the case only what can be felled and extracted safely and without damage to the surrounding woodland and the ancient woodland character of the area will be done. The further north you go in this coupe the more scattered the Larch is and where this is the case individual larch trees or small groups of larch would either be felled and left in situ or Emergency felling of ring-barked and left standing. In either case this increases the quantity and quality of diseased areas deadwood within the woodland. Some tree diseases require statutory felling to take place under Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN). Issued from DEFRA it tells the owner they must fell the infected stand of trees within a given period to help containment and prevent further spreading of the disease. Currently SPHN are issued for Larch or Sweet Chestnut that are infected with Phytophthora ramorum. This map identifies areas that could be affected by such an outbreak that would result in an SPHN being issued. They consist of areas identified for clearfelling and some that are managed under continuous cover. If any of these areas have to be felled under an SPHN then restocking would be carried out as per the Forest Plan. Some areas of woodland may contain only a component that needs removal under SPHN and in this instance removal would be carried out through thinning and so have not been identified on this map. Areas in need felling, where appropriate, will be managed either through allowing coppice regeneration and or natural regeneration to take place and in the case of larch areas, these will be planted and established using native broadleaves. Some areas may also need to be enriched in order to achieve a satisfactory native tree species composition.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027 2016 - 2026
Management Prescriptions
At the time this coupe is clearfelled, sufficient native broadleaf content should have developed through recruitment of natural regeneration that will minimise the visual impact of removal of conifer from this coupe.
Areas of predominantly DF will be managed on long-term retention with the aim to produce a mixed woodland containing 80% native broadleaves and 20% DF and likely to be achieved at or beyond 2047, especially in DF crops not yet at the age of first thinning.
Open habitat will comprise of 20% tree cover.
Buffer of mature broadleaf will be retained adjacent to River Wye.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 20162017 - 20262027
Indicative Future Species Year 10 - 2027
The projections made are indicative of species composition in ten years time. They do not constitute a guarantee and merely serve to indicate a general vision for direction woodland composition will move towards within the plan area that will be delivered over time. In reality the proportions of Larch, Pine and Fir species will be reduced. Conversely the proportions of native tree cover will increase. Around 12 Ha will have been felled and will be in transition to native woodland; these areas show as open on this map. Areas of evergreen conifer within PAWs areas will have been thinned favouring broadleaf components, creating space for natural regeneration, enrichment planting or release of advance natural regeneration.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 20162017 - 20262027
Indicative Future Species Beyond 2050
The projections made are indicative of species composition beyond 2050. They do not constitute a guarantee and merely serve to indicate a general vision for direction woodland composition will move towards within the plan area that will be delivered over time. Although any changes to government and FC policy in the future may influence this composition. In reality the proportions of Larch, Pine and Fir species will be greatly reduced. Conversely the proportions of native tree cover will greatly increase. Open habitat will increase by 6Ha to 38Ha whilst delivery of open space as a component within a wider woodland context will amount to approximately a further 50Ha complementing and enhancing features such as the limestone pavements or improvements to habitats along ride and road edges, adjacent open habitats.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Conservation - Habitats
Wye Valley
- Great Crested Newt - Martagon Lily
River Wye SAC
Bat habitat Railway tunnel entrance
Above: The coupe design process has taken into account use of the tunnel by bats. As the larch will be clearfelled, coupe design has retained the approximate area ringed in red, although this larch maybe thinned at the time of felling where accessible. This maintains linkages from the tunnel entrance to the woodland enabling bats to move from the tunnel entrance to woodland. Broadleaves along either side of this retention will also be kept and are shown in yellow. In the case of an SPHN being issued for Phytophthora, only the larch easily accessible would be felled. The area to the north shown in blue indicates the crop only contains a scattering of larch that should be felled and left in situ or ring-barked and left standing. Arial photograph far right: This shows the position of both the north and south entrance to the tunnel in relation to the larch and RC to be clearfelled. Once the clearfell has been completed the photo shows the tunnel entrance is not left isolated; the light green area represents the remaining surrounding woodland once the clearfell has taken place.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Photo courtesy of Dean Green Team Right: Pocket Windblow in Caswell Wood 2017 - 2027 offers opportunity for age and species Left: Martagon Conservation - Features structure to develop through natural Lily in Lippets regeneration and deadwood. Grove. Key Left: Example of a magnificent Yew tree Far right: Railway tunnel in the north west Wildlife Species. known as the King Yew can be found in corner of Caswell Wood is no longer in use Herb Paris is also East Wood. Past management has and provides roosting for Lesser and found here too. ensured a gradual opening up maintaining Greater Horseshoe bats. dapple shade around the crown of the Right: Natural cave on side yew minimising the chance of dieback. of path within SSSI suitable for bats to use for roosting and a tentative possibility for hibernation of lesser and greater horseshoe bats?
Above: Tufa stream alongside old railway line. Woodland must maintain the stream in dappled shade. NE must be consulted about any tree works likely to affect the fragile feature.
Above: Showing examples of Limestone pavement that can be found within Eastwood and Parsons Above: Coppice along the Allotment, often surrounded by Hazel, and Yew. Wye in the process of being Some areas could beneficially be opened up to recut. 5Ha were re-coppiced promote open habitat that should attract a range during 2002-2015. This work of flora and Lepidoptera such as Grayling, Grizzled will continue during the next Skipper, and historic records of PBF exist, as well 10 year plan. Orchids as Adders.
Left: The old railway line runs east to west before curving northward to follow Right: Priority Habitat, The Park the curvature of the River Wye. There has the largest area of lowland are opportunities here to enhance heath in Gloucestershire. rideside habitat for Lepidoptera and a Enhancing habitat for both range of flora and fauna dependant on Nightjar and Adder. sunny, sheltered conditions. Photo courtesy of Dean Green Team
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Shorn Cliff and Caswell Wood SSSI plan 2017 - 2027
Forming part of the 2017-2027 Forest Plan
West England Forest District
Author: Francis Raymond-Barker FCE File Ref: OP10/37
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Shorn Cliff and Caswell2017 - 2027 Wood Sites of Special Scientific Interest 2017-2027
Agreement
Forest District: West England FD Agreed on behalf of
Caswell Wood Forestry Commission England SSSI name (s) Shorncliff WEFD Forest Management Director ……………………………………………………………
Nearest town, village Tintern
Brockweir or locality: Caswell Wood SO 539 004 OS Grid reference: Shorncliff ST 540 990 Commencement date of 2017 on sign off of the Forest Plan Date …………………………………………………………… Plan
Period of plan 10 years
SSSI compartment Area in Ha Agreed on behalf of
Caswell Wood Cpt 3720 8.5 Natural England Cpt 3721 9 Glouc, Wilts and West England …………………………………………………………… Total area 17.5 Ha Shorncliff Cpt 3723 15.5 Cpt 3724 Cpt 3725 7
Cpt 3727 19 The signing of this plan by Natural England gives the necessary consent Cpt 3728 under section 28(6) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), as 4.0 amended, for the works detailed to be undertaken. 7.0 Total area 52.5 Ha
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
List of Contents
SSSI Forest Plan Page number
Cover page 1 22
Agreement 2 23
Contents 3 24
Introduction 4 25
Access 4 25
Other designations 4 25
NE Favourable condition assessment 5 26
NE Favourable conditions Table 5 26
NE Favourable Conditions Summary 5 26
NE SSSI Citation 6 27
Site Analysis & management proposals 7 28
NE Operations likely to damage SSSI 8 29
SSSI work programme 2017-2027 8 29
Prescribed management 9 30
NE Views about management 10 31
A brief photographic record 2016 11 32
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Shorn Cliff and Caswell2017 - 2027 Wood Sites of Special Scientific Interest 2017-2027
Shorn Cliff and Caswell Wood SSSI Introduction The Shorn Cliff and Caswell Woods SSSI lie 4 miles north of Chepstow within the Wye Valley AONB and is outside of the Statutory Forest of Dean. The sites cover about 70Ha and overlie Carboniferous Caswell Wood Limestone and Old Red Sandstone of the eastern slopes of the Lower Wye Gorge. They form part of the continuous belt of woodland that stretches from Brockweir to Tutshill. The woodlands are part of the Wye Valley Woodland SAC notified for Tilio-Acerion Ravine Woodland and Asperulo-Fagetum Beech Forest and are noted for their variety of limes and rare Whitebeam Species. The woodlands also support a variety of uncommon plants including the nationally rare Wood fescue and Narrow leaved-bitter cress. Locally uncommon species include: Southern wood Shorn Cliff rush, Wild madder and lily-of-the-valley, Upright spurge and Finger sedge. Virtually the whole woodland area is noted on the Ancient Woodland Inventory as ASNW with only 2 or 3 Hectares noted as Plantation Ancient Woodland (PAWs). All of the SSSI area falls within naturalness class 1 containing over 80% of native species.
From left: 1-Typical steep slopes and mixed native wood within Shorn Cliff
2– Northeast corner of Shorn Cliff lies Devils Pulpit an historic view point overlooking Tintern and Wye Valley.
3– Cave entrance in the rock face within Shorncliff will provide roosting/hibernation opportunities for bats.
Access Vehicular access can be found from the B4228 at Tidenham chase opposite Parsons Allotment along Boatwood Lane onto a stoned track that takes you to the Forest entrance at James Thornes. A number of Public Rights of Way are located within the woodland including the long distance Offa’s Dyke Chepstow footpath that adjoins Shorn Cliff SSSI along its eastern boundary and easterly tip of Caswell Wood. Other Designations The Offa’s Dyke shares the eastern boundary of Shorn Cliff and the north-eastern corner of Caswell wood and is designated as a Scheduled Ancient monument, including Devil’s Pulpit in the north east corner of Shorn Cliff. Historic England must be consulted if the SAM is likely to be involved in any forest or conservation operation proposals.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027 Natural England Condition Assessment, Favourable Conditions Table and Summary
Condition Summary
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Shorn Cliff and Caswell Wood SSSI 2017 - 2027
Citation
Left: Typical Tilio-Acerion woodland within the Shorn Cliff and Caswell Wood SSSI made up from Beech, Lime, Oak, Ash, Birch, Yew as well as Elm and several rare Whitebeam species.
Left: With variable soil but quite often fertile conditions, the steep slopes give rise to tall/drawn up trees; in time leading to pockets of wind throw. This allows more light in that encourages regeneration, increases structure and adds to the diversity of deadwood. Some of these steep areas are managed under minimum intervention.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027 Shorn Cliff and Caswell Wood SSSI Site analysis and management proposals for 2017-2027
Management coupes from 2005-2015 FP Although outside SSSI, in principle NE agree with clearfelling larch SSSI management proposals for 2017-2027 provided linkages are kept for the LH bats using the tunnel to the north and subject to HRA assessment for Wye Valley Bat SAC. Consult local bat group. Where practicable during thinning, larch should be targeted for removal (up to say 60% of current stocking) below the narrow and rocky single track pathway, retaining all broadleaf and when larch is clearfelled the boundary will be the pathway. This will retain links for LH bats to the minimum intervention in the south and mature habitat to the north.
Area of minimum intervention is on steep ground and over time will promote an increasing level of structural diversity through falling/fallen Those parts of Caswell Wood trees, standing deadwood, ground deadwood with the space created that are easily accessible infilling with regeneration. will be thinned. Create structure through irregular thinning, this can include Over time create a series of glades / scallops along the eastern and felling small groups but western ride edges (avoiding the stony boulder field) by staggered concentrate effort along rides removal of under story. - Extend glades south to road junction and and where regen already retain linkages for dormice. exists.
Preserve the rock face of crag in dappled shade in order to maintain suitable habitat niches for residing mosses, lichens and ferns. Tufa stream Gradually over time open up the west side of the ride edge running along the Dappled shade needs to be bottom of the crag in a mosaic approach. Potential for opening up parts of maintained to protect the tufa formations. Any decisions the limestone outcrops subject to the botanical survey results from NE. about proposals for tree removal must be made in Create a ribbon of coppicable glades on either side of the track. Each consultation with NE at the area should be 0.5 Ha. First one to be cut asap with subsequent planning stage and may glades cut once previous one has coppiced back to 1.5m tall. require tree surgery.
Closed canopy. Canopy needs opening to develop understorey and promote regeneration to meet requirement of 3 age classes and Retain area below maintain the required structural diversity1 spatially across the life crag to roadside as expectancy of commonest trees. mature habitat but manage as minimum Any clearfelling here will be just heavy thinning, controlling light intervention. levels to encourage regeneration. Suggest 25-35% reduction in canopy. Thin red hatched area northwards to the start of the lime.
Coppice areas adjacent to stream to be coppiced in 2027 and 2030. As the woodland 1 NE definition of Structural diversity taken edge goes right up to the mudflats of River Wye, it is important to retain a buffer along from favourable conditions = The relationship the mudflats that won’t be coppiced to prevent any sediment run off to the river. of trees and shrubs in space and time. The conditions go on to say 30-90% canopy cover achieving 2-5m tall u/s across 20%< stand Recorded Dormouse activity Any thinning or felling must incorporate considerations for dormouse activity, maintaining linkage area with 50%< ground flora. points over roads and rides, connecting areas of habitat. Gradual coppicing and thinning will encourage an expansion of habitat.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027 SSSI work programme 2017-2027
2017 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Operations likely to damage / 18 /19 /20 /21 /22 /23 /24 /25 /26 /27 Management Year of plan the special interest Prescription YR 1 YR 2 YR3 YR 4 YR5 YR 6 YR 7 YR 8 YR9 YR 10
Gradual creation over time of a ribbon of irregularly shaped glades along the ride between cptmts 3727 and 3728. The second glade should not be created until the first is a minimum of 1.5m tall.
In a mosaic approach, gradually over time open up the west side of the ride edge running along the top of Shorncliff crag ensure dappled shade is maintained on the outcrops on the eastern side of
the ride. - Subject to the botanical survey results from NE. subsequent glades should not be created until the first is a minimum of 1.5m tall. Investigate and plan the potential opening up of parts of the limestone outcrops similar to what has been done at Seven Sisters in High Meadow (yr1) complete work in liaison with NE (yr2/3) and will also be Subject to the botanical survey results from NE. Maintain cut areas as open (yr10).
For consideration, evaluate thinning of easily accessible parts of Caswell Wood to begin creation of structure through irregular thinning, this can include felling small groups but concentrate effort along rides and where regen already exists.
Create a series of coppice coupes along the old railway line coppicing will that are at a scale to maintain dappled shade but at the same time provide rotational habitat for wildlife and flora. Ensure that any forest or conservation work on and around the Tufa outcrop does not impact on the quality of the Tufa habitat. All work around this habitat must be consulted on with Natural England. Only where practical, consider continued removal of remnant scattered conifer from along the Offa’s Dyke through operational thinning programmes. Monitor and maintain view points from the Offa’s Dyke to Tintern Abbey, the old railway bridge and Tintern Parva. Any work carried out either as part of routine forest management or as part of the management for the SSSI must identify and safeguard all Whitebeam species.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Prescribed Management for Shorn Cliff and Caswell Wood SSSI 2017 - 2027
MATURE HABITAT In accessible areas of high forest within the SSSI, continuous cover ‘shelterwood’ SSSI management objectives systems with retentions will allow for trees at all stages of development to grow within the same area Nature conservation Archaeological conservation of forest, permitting long rotations and retention of dead/dying trees and their associated habitat alongside that of timber production. A single tree or group approaches can be taken although gaps will Maintain the native broadleaf woodland types Prevent damage to the Offa’s Dyke SAM through not exceed 0.5Ha to avoid a fragmented appearance in the wider landscape. Gaps created by timber and associated flora and fauna characteristic to tree throw by regular monitoring and removal of felling or tree-throw will support natural regeneration; larger gaps encourage light demanders whilst the site in favourable condition. trees at risk. single tree working favour shade tolerant species. Thinning will help to promote growth of higher Conserve Dormouse habitat that includes Encourage regeneration of ground cover through quality timber where this doesn’t conflict with woodland conservation objectives. Dormouse boxes within Shorn Cliff to carry out selective thinning whilst controlling scrub and COPPICE Simple coppice management is recommended for part of the woodland, with the shortest long-term monitoring. natural regeneration of woody species. economic rotation being approximately 20 years where ground conditions allow easy extraction of timber. On steeper ground this may need to be extended to 30 years in order to enable timber COPPICE AND AWKWARD TERRAIN Some areas especially those in sub cpt 3723c & 3723f operations to break even. Some areas previously identified for coppicing within the 2008-2013 SSSI coppicing is prescribed along roadsides and will only coppice understory elements with a small Plan and its contemporary Forest Plan contain valuable mature habitat including Tilia, Quercus, Fagus percentage of canopy trees, this excludes the boulder fields that will be left. Within the Forest and Ilex species. In these areas, rather than coppicing them, it is proposed that they should be Plan, coppice coupes have tried to identify where such an approach can be taken. Despite thinned to encourage an understory structure to develop that may include a coppice element from the being ground truthed they may inadvertently incorporate elements of bouldered ground, so the thinning but also that of natural regeneration. final coupe size may vary and be smaller or fractionally larger (not more than 15%) than that Caswell Wood has steep ground with a rich indicated within the Forest Plan and will be dependant on the Beat staff looking at what is native species composition incl. rare species Shorn Cliff and Caswell Wood SSSI feasible and in line with such an approach. management coupes 2017-2027 of Whitebeam. Thinning may take place but only in easily accessible areas and will CALCAREOUS SPRING LINE AND TUFA In order to safe guard the watercourse understorey concentrate on the creation of structure and herbaceous vegetation, all forest Operations likely to impact on the area of the Tufa through irregular thinning. This can include felling small groups no more than 0.5Ha habitat must be planned and implemented in consultation with Natural England. Tufa areas will concentrating efforts along rides and where be maintained in extent with dapple tree shade; no trees should be felled into the area. regen already exists. NATURAL RESERVE All of Caswell Wood and the area of Shorncliff below the forest road This area of predominantly larch is adjacent to down to the banks of the River Wye have been identified to be managed as Natural Reserve. SSSI and will be clearfelled reducing risk of Under the West England FD NR strategy forestry operations will only take place when, and for Phytophthora. Any broadleaves to be retained. as long as, thinning can be clearly demonstrated to have a higher conservation or biodiversity value than not thinning. Relevant examples of when thinning would be appropriate include This area has scattered larch towards the removal of invasive species, thinning to create structural diversity of both age and native FC Natural Reserve and northern end, with high proportions of native species, manage dormouse habitat, manage veteran trees or for other tree safety reasons; Minimum Intervention broadleaves. It sits on steeper ground below a otherwise NR areas will be managed by minimum intervention. rocky single-track that characterises the native woodland of this area. This area will not be INVASIVE SPECIES Sycamore, Buddleja, Himalayan Balsam are not acceptable naturalised Red Cedar in 3724g will be felled as felling & extraction would prove species on these sites. Any thinning operations should target the removal of Sycamore. Areas removed through clearfelling to difficult and extreme, threatening the character of Balsam or Buddleja should be removed through cutting and or spraying/stump treatment. remove risk of invasive non- of the Wye Valley bat SAC and native natives regenerating into SSSI. woodland. In case of Phytophthora scattered DEER MANAGEMENT Focus on protection of coppice areas will be primarily through shooting. larch here will be ring-barked and left as Dead-hedging may not be so effective but may reduce damage and fencing would not be ruled Natural Reserve, generally steep standing deadwood or felled and left in situ. ground, any likely thinning will out but would be considered a last resort. The Deer Initiative are not targeting activity in this area in the short-term, but it is in one of the focus areas for them, so this might change. be concentrated either side of This area contains the limestone outcrops that the old railway line or along the form Shorncliff and Plumweir cliff. Areas FOREST ROADS The forest road network should be capable of taking 44 tonne haulage forest roadside. maybe thinned to create dapple shade along vehicles. Routine maintenance should be undertaken to ensure a road infrastructure that is ride edges promoting ground flora and deeper capable of meeting management objectives is maintained. Stone for maintenance will be Area was previously down to be within the wood regen of native species either coppiced but will now be thinned using single tree selection or group systems. locally sourced from Clearwell/Stowfield quarries. Graders/excavators are the likely machinery due to high content of mature to be in use. native tree species, increasing 3 small coppice areas on east side of RIDESIDES Control of rideside vegetation and woody scrub maybe carried out periodically light levels to encourage natural the forest road and the most northerly regeneration and diversify one on the west side is adjacent to through mechanical means to maintain habitats in favourable condition and will contribute to structure. Red Cedar in 3724g. All have been temporary open habitat on a cyclical basis of future coppicing and scrub clearance that will help ground truthed and total 1.2Ha. promote structural diversity within the woodland. Continuing the coppicing alongside the River Wye and old Coppice strip along either side of the old SURVEY AND MONITORING NE staff shall continue to provide the main input with FE being railway line with retained standards to add structure. Buffer of railway line, retaining and regenerating of responsible for the management of the woodland. minimum intervention to be retained along river bank. lepidopteran and Dormouse habitat.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Shorn Cliff and Caswell Wood SSSI 2017 - 2027
Views about management
Above: Ride along bottom of the Shorn Cliff limestone cliffs showing dappled shade.
Below: Cave in rock face suitable for bat roost and possible hibernation site
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027 A brief photographic record of condition 2016
1 2 3 4
5 6 1 View from Offa’s Dyke over Tintern 2 View from Devils Pulpit 3 Offa’s Dyke Path 4 Offa’s Dyke Path 5 Typical Woodland cover 6 Typical tree failure 7 Tufa stream in Shorncliff 8 Old railway line along western edge of Shorncliff 9 Typical tree failure 10 Ride along top of Shorncliff / bottom Plumweir
7 8 9 10
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Heritage Features
Wyeside and the Tidenham woods contain numerous ancient monuments and features both scheduled and unscheduled. All forest operations will avoid impact to these features and where appropriate seek advice from Gloucestershire County Council archaeological department.
Scheduled monument(s) within the plan area: Offa’s Dyke
This SAM will be managed in accordance with the 2013-2018 management plan drawn up by Gloucestershire County Council archaeological department who have consulted and had agreement from Historic England. The plan contains extensive advice about managing tree cover within the SAM area. Historic England should be notified of any forestry operations likely to affect the SAM.
Further advice if needed should be sort from Gloucestershire County Council archaeological department.
The Offa’s Dyke SAM also coincides with both Caswell Wood SSSI and Shorncliff SSSI and any forestry operations likely to affect the SAM should also seek advice from Natural England and be compliant to the SSSI plan for these designated areas.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Recreation and Public Access The plan area is probably best known for a 3 mile stretch of the historically renowned Offa’s Dyke that runs along Wyeside’s eastern boundary, and is a A Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) (Labelled A-B-C on the map) The Offa’s Dyke enjoys far reaching views across the valley into Wales especially from a natural outcrop of Limestone, known as Devils Pulpit lying just north of Shorn Cliff, it overlooks Tintern and its historic Cistercian Abbey and is a well frequented stopping point for visitors walking the historical Offa’s Dyke. There are six sections of the Offa’s Dyke SAM crossing FC land. Almost 1.5 miles of this are split into five sections that are currently listed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. Although work in the last few years has been undertaken to protect the monument and during the next few years more work is scheduled. All this work will improve the condition of B the monument and remove remaining sections of the SAM on FC land from the HAR. Other viewpoints have compelling panoramic views deep into the valley across the flanks and plateau of Hale Wood on Barbadoes Hill behind Tintern; whilst at the north-western tip of Caswell Wood there are fine views across the River Wye and Tintern Parva. Wyeside also hosts natural limestone cliff face known as Shorn Cliff and form part of Shorn Cliff SSSI. These crags are of good quality and well frequented by the climbing fraternity, by both league climbers and outdoor pursuit groups, being well documented in the C local climbing guide. FC will continue to maintain emergency access and BMC will continue to report any issues. The whole of the plan area is well furnished with Public Rights of Way that give good access for ramblers and walkers and is the main recreational focus for the plan area; with one main carpark situated at the main access point to The Park, and several informal parking areas available at the main entrances to most of the woodlands within the plan area. Left: A section of the Offa’s Dyke that The Park is well frequented by naturalists who enjoy was resurfaced in the last few years in The Park for the open habitat and range of birds and order to protect the SAM and minimise wildlife. Walkers also enjoy the Park, with its Trig erosion issues damaging the monument. Point views of the surrounding countryside. The remaining woods have less infrastructure, but are equally enjoyed by members of public for dog walking, horse riding but less used by mountain bikes. There are no official mountain bike or horse riding tracks or trails provided, although the use of hardstone tracks and bridal paths is permitted.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Fire Risk for Tidenham Chase and Parsons Allotment 2017 - 2027 Wildfire Management (High Wildfires are relatively rare however their impacts can be disproportionately large and costly to society and their frequency are predicted to increase due to increased land pressure and climate change. The ferocity and extent of a fire can be determined by the nature of the site, its topography, land use and vegetation type as well as tree health and weather conditions at the time. The vast majority of wildfires are caused by people, accidentally or deliberately. The risk of this is increased by periods of dry hot weather. The Plan area experiences a sustained but moderate level of visitor numbers throughout the year. Sites close to car parks and popular trails are therefore at greatest risk of experiencing the initiation of a fire event and will be targeted with signage during periods of high-extreme risk.
Mitigation and adaptation due to wildfire risk can be achieved by managing vegetation and fuels, creating fire breaks and belts, improving forest design and silvicultural diversity and the management and education of people. The key principles outlined follow the FC Practice Guide (2014). Fire breaks are located in conjunction with other fire resistance liner features, such as roads, rides or rivers to aid the effective management of wildfires. Vegetation on one side or on both will be managed as part of standard forest operations and maintenance. Fire belts already exist in places and predominantly consist of fire retardant broadleaves. The criteria for location and extent of these is much the same for fire breaks and they offer an alternative form of wildfire mitigation. Clearance of windthrow and deadwood in high risk areas as well as remaining wood residues and products will contribute to lowering the fuel load factor and minimising the risk of ladder fires. We will work with local the Fire and Rescue Service when considering controlled burning in order to manage risk. Uncontrolled fires will be dealt with in line with the West District Emergency Incidents Management Plan. Education as well as provision of practical information are the key factor to wildfire mitigation, this will be focused around areas of highest recreational footfall. Vegetation management around recreation facilities notably Tidenham Chase car park and along popular trails will lower the fuel load and thus the risk of fire ignition.
Wildfire management zones Existing and proposed open habitats Tidenham contains a variety of heathland species classed at high risk : Heather, Gorse, Bracken, Grasses and Birch punctuated by high risk tree species (Pine). Bracken should be targeted for removal in order to reduce fuel loading and in turn lower the risk of fire ignition.
The council road and roadside broadleaves in Poor’s Allotment (GWT) break up the open area helping reduce Fire Risk. Car Park Woodland in Poor’s Allotment (GWT) is predominantly Broadleaf, helping break up the open area lowering the Fire Risk.
The overall combination of tree species, vegetation types present along with their age and structure mean the open habitat at Tidenham should be considered Farm track as medium to high risk with a medium hazard rating giving an overall moderate fire danger that will rise to a high danger rating in periods of high temperature and/or in spells of prolonged dry weather. Prolonged periods of Rosemary lane High temperatures and dry weather may increase fire danger to Extreme.
Access point
This coupe will be felled in the period
2022-2026 with an indicative felling B4228 date of 2026 and will be restored to heathland.
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Geology Soils
Map showing Geology
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Landform Analysis
The analysis of landform is used to assess landform patterns in a landscape context with one’s eye naturally dawn along/up valleys and gullies indicated by green arrows and across/down plateaus and ridges marked in red. This process of analysis helps develop and create management coupe structures for felling and restocking that are of a size and shape in keeping with the surrounding landscape character.
The majority of the area lies on a limestone and sandstone plateau between the Wye and the Severn. The Eastern side of the plan drains to the Severn and is characterised by winding valleys that dissect steep slopes. To the north in Oakhill Wood and Caswell Wood the ground descends steeply into the Brockweir Valley that runs south westerly to join the River Wye. South of Caswell Wood due to the geology of Sandstone and Carboniferous Limestone the combined action of the River Wye and natural joints in the rocks has carved steeply downward exposing many vertical faces, particularly between Tintern and Chepstow, e.g. those of Shorn Cliff and Wintours Leap. Map showing watershed analysis
237m ASL
190m ASL 5m ASL
200m ASL Right: This map illustrates the water shed for the Forest Plan area in relation to the River Severn and River Wye. It shows the River Wye to have a higher level of vulnerability than the River Severn given the severe nature of slopes and landform that rise from the
Wye up to Offa’s Dyke by 185m in under a third of a mile. This compares with the much 0m ASL gentler eastern slopes of the Forest Plan area that only rise by 200m in just under 2 miles between the River Severn and Tidenham plateau; Parsons Allotment being just River Wye over 1 mile and Ashwell Grove the lying just under 1 1/2 miles from the River Severn. River Severn
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Photograph 1 Sports field at Tintern looking south towards Tintern Abbey 2017 - 2027
Landscape Analysis
Larch to the north of the tunnel is very Entrance to old railway tunnel. - Cut into Bank of Larch runs obliquely away from Tintern Woodland along the river and east up to the old railway scattered & infrequent the further north steep bank, this makes a natural break for Abbey that minimises landscaping concerns. line contains native species on very steep challenging you go and occurs within a matrix of Although if felled connectivity to the tunnel will the proposed clearfelling of larch. ground will be managed as Natural Reserve Beech, Cherry, Sweet Chestnut and Oak. need to be maintained for bats.
3D Imaging
Photograph 2 Caswell Woods from footpath between St. Michael's Church and the old railway station at Tintern
FC landholding stops about here
Shown here in yellow the Larch on the southern side of the ridge just breaks the Northern entrance to old railway tunnel skyline although as this is north of Designated SSSI for woodland type the steep MAST shown (Mostly hidden behind bush.) southern tunnel entrance larch content is north facing slopes of Caswell woods will be as red dot scattered and will not visually affect the managed as natural reserve. skyline as viewed from this locale
3D Imaging
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Photograph 3 Oakhill Wood viewed from the B4228 around the Hewelsfield area 2017 - 2027
Easterly part of Corsican Pine infected with Dothistroma 3.5Ha of Japanese larch that could Northern Slopes of Caswell Wood East Wood. at some point be subject to a in Wyeside just out of sight. currently down for clearfelling in 2027- SPHN for Phytophthora. 2032 opportunities may become present Landscape before hand to under-plant or group plant. Analysis
Area of mixed broadleaves (Ash Beech, Cherry and Conifer crops that predominantly consist of DF RC and NS along Young Broadleaf crops establishing well. The bank Sweet Chestnut) showing early signs of regeneration. this boundary are generally well thinned with opportunity for adjacent sweeps into the Wye Valley and will be broadleaf regeneration through planting or natural means. thinned to remove conifer content over time.
Photograph 4 Ashwell Grove and East Wood viewed from Slade Road seven view junction
Low impact systems will continue to be in place East Wood runs just out within Ashwell Grove and so there will be little Private ground of sight along the other impact on the landscape here. side of this this ridge.
3D Imaging
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Photograph 5 View from Wyvern Garage looking along eastern flank of plan area 2017 - 2027
Landscape Analysis
Parsons Allotment is just visible, distant left. Ashwell Grove dominates the skyline, centre with East Wood to the right. The proposed clearfell in Parson’s Allotment to complement Poor’s Allotment will have minimal visual impact from here. There will be minimal impact from Ashwell Grove and East Wood too as low impact systems are to be used. Clearfelling is well into the future and will not impact on view.
3D Imaging
Photograph 6 View from Ashwell Grove/Reece Racing looking along eastern flank of plan area
Parsons Allotment is just visible, distant left. Ashwell Grove dominates the skyline, centre with East Wood on the horizon to the right. The proposed clearfell in Parson’s Allotment to complement Poor’s Allotment will have minimal visual impact from here. There will be minimal impact from Ashwell Grove and East Wood too as low impact systems are to be used. Clearfelling is well into the future and will not impact on view.
3D Imaging
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Option 1 – Current Forest Plan (Master) Option 2 – Proposed Forest Plan (Scenario) Deliver well-designed forests in keeping with the local landscape character Management proposals had worked hard to minimise the design impact of felling Due to the threat of disease, some coupes have been changed to better manage and coupes and management proposals on the landscape, especially those around Tintern. reflect the risk of disease, whilst retaining sensitivity to the surrounding landscape. The management and restoration of statutorily designated areas such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest/ Special Areas of Conservation/Scheduled Ancient Option Testing Monuments or Key Wildlife Areas. The plan accounted for all SAC/SSSI/SAM/KWA within management proposals. The plan updated the SSSI plan bringing the plan period in line with that of the FP and Restoration of PAW and open habitats began. Whilst the plan recognised the need to incorporating it as part of the FP. PAW will continue to be restored through thinning reduce quantity of pine this was achieved principally through clearfelling and and felling, whilst ATC options are now available for reduction of CP within the restocking. management area. KWA have been enhanced by proposing to extend the available open habitat, that would now link The Park, Poor’s allotment and open habitat to the south of Parson’s Allotment.
The continued production of sustainable and marketable woodland products. The primary silvicultural method used in achieving the establishment of future crops is that of clearfelling, Where desirable issues of restructuring are still recognised with the retention of clearfelling whilst suggested species choice does not take into account the impact of new diseases and climate change. systems, but the choice of restock species has been widened to address the threats from new diseases and climate change. In some cases the low impact approach will help meet establishment needs of the more sensitive species.
The protection and enhancement of veteran trees/trees of special interest (TSI) and recruitment of future generations of veteran trees/TSI. Plan proposals recognised the TSI within Shorncliff and Caswell Wood SSSI and Proposals recognise TSI within Shorncliff and Caswell Wood SSSI and during management recognised only select feature trees such as the King Yew in Eastwood. preparation of plan proposals more TSI worthy or protection such as the stored lime in Wyeside and other Yews scatted through the plan area have recorded . Site planning process will build on this so as the TSI asset is well preserved and protected. Protect and enhance woodland, open habitats and their associated species. Proposals recognised the value of open habitat and work continued in The Park Proposals also recognise the open habitat potential within Parsons Allotment and managing the lowland heath, although birch is a major threat. proposals will extend the potential available open habitat within the plan area by approximately a further additional 6Ha. To conserve, maintain and enhance cultural and heritage assets. Management proposals were in line with management intentions laid out within site specific management Management proposals will continue these intentions and the site planning process will plans. look to identify and record any unidentified heritage features.
Scenario and master forecast comparing thinning and felling Volume m3
Volume m3
S = Scenario M = Master (current FP)
S M S M S M S M S M
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan Name: Phytophthora ramorum (PR) 2017 - 2027 First appearance in District: 2009 Attacks: Larches P. ramorum was first found in the UK in 2002 and Pests & Diseases until 2009 in the woodland environment had largely been associated with rhododendron species acting as a host from which spores are produced. In August Name: Chalara fraxinea 2009 P. ramorum was found on a small number of dead and dying Japanese Larch in South West First appearance in District: 2012 England, causing particular concern since some Attacks: Ash affected trees were not close to infected rhododendron and showing a significant change in the Rampant in Europe, showing up in 2012 mainly in East dynamics of the disease than experienced previously. Anglia and along the East coast of England. Infection has Following this testing in Devon and west Somerset been found within some parts of the West England Forest confirmed the presence of PR in mature Japanese District and looks set to continue spreading. No Ash is larch as well as species in its under-storey, including being planted but natural regeneration from existing crops sweet Chestnut, Beech, Birch, Oak, Douglas Fir and © Crown copyright and database right [2015] is being accepted in the hope that there is some natural Western Hemlock. On some sites there is little or no resistance. rhododendron present. It is now known that Japanese Larch can produce very high quantities of disease- Name: Oak ‘dieback’ or ‘decline’ carrying spores when actively growing in spring and First appearance in District: unknown summer, at much higher levels than those produced Affects: Oak by rhododendron. These can be spread significant distances in moist air. PR is a notifiable disease dealt Oak ‘dieback’ or ‘decline’ is the name used to describe poor health in oak with by felling the infected area under a statutory trees and can be split into Chronic decline and Acute decline. Chronic plant health notice (SPHN) issued through FERA and decline is protracted taking effect on the Oak over a number of decades the Forestry Commission. whilst Acute decline is much swifter acting over much shorter periods usually five years or so. Symptoms can be caused by a range of living agents e.g. insect and fungal attack, or non-living factors, e.g. poor soil and drought or prolonged water logging. Factors causing decline can vary between sites, as can the effects of the factors through time. Oak decline is not new; oak trees in Britain have been affected for the most part of the past century. Both native species of oak are affected, but Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) more so than Sessile oak (Quercus petraea). Successive exposure to any of these agents on a yearly/ seasonal basis further reduces the health of the tree(s) and predisposes it to other living (Biotic) agents that can often spell the eventual death © Crown copyright and database right [2015] knell for the tree.
Name: Dothistroma Needle Blight (DBN)
First appearance: mid 1990s Attacks: Pine species Often referred to as Red Band Needle Blight (RBN) and can reduce growth rates by between 70 and 90%. Effects of RBN are managed
through thinning the wood more heavily than you would normally to introduce higher levels of air flow through the remaining crop.
© Crown copyright and database right [2015]
© Crown copyright and database right [2015]
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Utilities
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
Tidenham and Wyeside Forest Plan 2017 - 2027
West England
Forest District WYESIDE