Final Version January 2003

the Sefton Coast Woodlands

A 20 Year Woodland Working Plan, 2003 - 2023

Volume I Overview

Co-ordinated by The Mersey Forest on behalf of the Sefton Coast woodland owners

CONTENTS FOREWORD ______I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ______III PREAMBLE______V SECTION 1 ______1 Background ______3 General History______3 Geology, Topography, Soils and Climate ______4 Coastline Development ______5 Ownership of the Woodlands______5 Woodland and Scrub Types ______6 Woodland and Scrub Age Structure______7 Statutory Designations ______8 Nature Conservation______12 1.2 Management History, Issues, Constraints and Opportunities ______12 History______12 Issues______14 Statutory Constraints ______17 Opportunities – Approval and Funding ______19 1.3 A Hierarchy of Objectives ______22 Common Vision ______23 Goal______25 Management Objectives ______25 Forest Operations ______26 The Red Squirrel______33 Production Forecasts and Yields ______35 Marketing and Utilisation______36 SECTION 2 ______39 2.1 Sefton Coast Woodlands by Compartment ______41 SECTION 3 ______65 3.1 Proposed 5-year Plan of Operations ______67 SECTION 4 ______87 4.1 Review and Indicators______89 4.2 Cycle of Monitoring______90 4.2.1 Annual Monitoring and Review ______90 4.2.2 Five-year Monitoring and Review ______90 4.2.3 Ten-year Monitoring and Review ______91 4.3 Responsibility for Monitoring ______91 4.4 Indicators ______91 4.4.1 Vision ______91 4.4.2 Goal______92 4.4.3 Management Objectives ______93 SECTION 5 ______95 5.1 Bibliography ______97

A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2002 - 2022

Final Draft iii October 2001 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2002 - 2022

Final Draft iv October 2001 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Foreword

The Sefton Coast Woodlands are a special part of the Sefton environment. Beautiful in their own right and much loved by most inhabitants and visitors, they provide an important refuge as the national habitat of the Red Squirrel shrinks to isolated areas of England and perhaps eventually the UK.

The writing of the Sefton Coast Woodland Working Plan for a partnership of diverse landowners is a significant event in the history of the management of the woodlands. The pinewoods were established early in the 1900s by several of the large landowners in the area. It was a collaborative response to the encroachment of the sand dunes onto private and public land. By the turn of the Millennium, ownership of the woodlands had been broken up and distributed between 27 landowners and the pinewood habitat was being threatened by the new pressures of ageing, lack of management, under-funding and a national decline in the Red Squirrel. The fact that in the new Millennium the majority of the owners have been able to come together with the help of the Forestry Commission and the Mersey Forest Team to manage the woodlands as a whole once more, is a credit to this partnership. Those participating and giving their support should be congratulated for the hard work in accomplishing this very complex task.

However, it is still not enough for all those concerned to be aware of the problems. It is not enough for people to know how to address the problems and it is not enough for there to be a ‘plan of action’. In order that all the information contained in this document can be put to good use and for the ideas to be fully implemented, funding needs to be put in place to assist the landowners and woodland managers, and technical advice must be made available to support them over the period of the Plan. The work, once kick-started by grant funding, must be monitored to ensure that the vision and objectives articulated in the Plan are met and quality of management is maintained. Only then will this initiative be considered to be truly successful.

The Partnership and its supporters should be strongly encouraged to maintain this excellent initiative, building on the initial investment of time to create what could become a national model of excellence in partnership and habitat management.

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ii Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Executive Summary

This is a 20 year plan compiled "to provide a coherent, comprehensive and long-term view of the woodland management” (Forestry Commission, Oct 1999). There is a 20 year vision with 10 years of management activity specified to help the owners work towards the vision.

The Working Plan was commissioned by a partnership between the Forestry Authority, owners, managers, interest groups and local residents. In its full form it is three volumes: The first being the background, the basic data and a summary of the management; the second being map and tabular background information about the woodlands; the third being the detailed management activities for up to ten years, from 2003 to 2013. Finally the three volume Working Plan has provided the basis for the Forestry Commission to develop a single volume document known as the Forest Plan to be used for approval of grant funding and felling licences this document is limited to the 5-year cycle of management and does not go into the detail of annual management activities.

There are 419.4 hectares (ha) of woodland of which 263.0 ha is designated as pinewood and is distributed between 27 distinct ownerships. Of the ownerships, 1 declined to join the partnership and 7 were not contactable, leaving only 10 hectares remaining outside the Plan.

The pinewoods were largely established by private landowners at the turn of the 19 th and 20 th Centuries and have been subject to various natural and manmade influences over their history. Originally planted to counter wind erosion of the sand dunes, management has since become driven by recreational and conservation objectives, though in more recent times, a lack of investment has generally lead to underthinning and inadequate management of regeneration.

Major issues to be addressed therefore include: o Over-mature and underthinned pinewoods o Red squirrel refuge o High levels of public access o Important conservation objectives o High landscape value o Dynamic coastal environment

The plan provides clear management principles to address the issues: 1. To work towards a ‘normal’ age profile using ‘coupe’ felling to minimise canopy disturbance and use patterns 2. It develops a regular schedule of thinning, cleaning and coppicing to maintain health of woodlands 3. It maintains a focus on pine as a red squirrel food source and maintains broadleaf content at about 10% to discourage grey squirrel invasion 4. It fosters a mosaic of species, age and vegetation type to retain landscape character and interest 5. It recommends the retention of deadwood and the provision of nesting and roosting boxes where possible to improve habitat range 6. It schedules regular review of management and natural processes, with the view to adjusting management to deal with issues as they arise 7. It provides for an economic return where possible and promotes work in partnerships to reduce unit costs and improve market returns

Management activities for the first ten years have been developed through a process of consultation to ensure that owner objectives are met and the public understand the

Final Version iii January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023 intentions. These activities are represented in map and tabular form for use by the managers and for public reference.

Finally a structure has been developed to guide monitoring using indicators to measure progress or lack thereof, with opportunities to review objectives and activities.

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Preamble

The Task Group for the Forest Plan of the Sefton Coast woodlands a representative collection of people drawn from the public, the owners and managers of the Sefton Coast woodland required that a Woodland Working Plan be written. In the first instance it is intended that this document form the basis for the ‘Forest Plan’ application to the Forestry Commission for grant support. However, it is also intended that the Woodland Working Plan is a tool that enables the owners and land mangers to co-ordinate the management throughout of the Sefton Coast woodland area. Thirdly it should be possible to use it to monitor progress towards the objectives and long-term goal. It in no sense removes responsibility from individual owners and managers for maintaining the woodland on their properties and the Plan should be a tool for their use.

This document has been prepared by Nick Roche (a forester employed through the Mersey Forest) within a twelve week period between November 2000 and February 2001. A number of key planning and background documents have been drawn on heavily, at times verbatim : A working Plan for Woodlands on the Sefton Coast, 1986; Forest Plan, The Mersey Forest; A Management Plan for the Rearward Woodlands, Ainsdale Sands National Nature Reserve; The Sefton Coast Management Plan, Second Review, 1997–2006; The England Forestry Strategy: A New Focus for England’s Woodlands, Strategic Priorities and Programmes; The Sefton Coast Woodland and Scrub Management Strategy; The Sands of Time – an Introduction to the Sand Dunes of the Sefton Coast. Given the quality and importance of these background documents, it is imperative that recognition be given to the original authors and responsible organisations.

Within the constraints of the time available, extensive consultation was undertaken in an attempt to understand and then adequately represent the issues and opportunities that have emerged. It is possible that some interested people will feel that they have been neglected, but given the time available to complete the task it was impossible to meet and include everyone, however, it is hoped that their interest or vision will have been represented by one means or another. It should be noted that the final ‘Forest Plan’ submission was based on those owners that were contacted and further opted to join the initiative.

For the purpose of discussion on the Sefton Coast Woodlands the words ‘forest’ and ‘woodland’ should not be used as technical words. In their broadest sense they can both be used to denote, to quote from the Forest Plan of The Mersey Forest, ”a magnificent mix of woods, heaths, farmland, wetlands, ponds and streams. Here also were settlements − hamlets, villages and small towns − where people lived and worked.”….”Today, the concept of community forests is breathing new life into this ancient meaning of the word.” In attempting to be pragmatic, this Plan is seeking to capture this sentiment through stakeholder involvement involvement in the management of a community forest that is important to a wide range of owners, users and admirers.

The area that is being dealt with lies on the Sefton Coast between Hesketh and the Alt estuary. The designated woodlands are about 420 hectares and are distributed between 27 different ownerships. The following map indicates location of the woodlands:

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Map 1, The Woodland Area of The Sefton Coast

There is a total of 419.4 hectares or 1,035.8 acres designated as woodland within the Working Plan area.

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SECTION 1

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Background

General History Woodland Development: Over the past several thousand years woodland vegetation on the coast has undergone many changes resulting from natural trends and human influences. Following the end of the last ice age (approximately 10,000 years before present) pre-boreal scrub and steppe tundra vegetation featured in the landscape. This gave way, as the climate warmed, to boreal conditions (c. 7,000 – 10,000 years before present) when birch, pine, hazel and elm woodland predominated. As the climate became warmer and wetter in the Atlantic Period oak, elm and alder woodland developed. The first human influences on the natural vegetation occurred in the late Mesolithic Period (c. 8,500 – 5,300 years before present) and pollen analysis indicates that woodland clearance for agriculture began.

In the Bronze Age (c. 4,000 years before present), cooler and drier conditions with periods of lower sea levels caused blown sand to overwhelm woodland communities and led to the development of a specialist ecosystem with microclimate, soil, drainage and vegetation patterns distinct from adjacent mosslands (Innes and Tooley 1993). The coast probably comprised an extensive network of sandbars, lagoons, estuarine creeks and marshes with poorly drained fen carr woodland to the rearward of the mosslands (Jones et al. 1993).

Before the nineteenth century the dune system would have been largely treeless except for patches of carr woodland. Whilst the pine woodlands today are a major feature of the Sefton Coast, their development dates from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when landowners’ attitude to open dune management changed markedly. Uncontrolled grazing by sheep and rabbits led to widespread sand blow causing problems for the surrounding population. The landowners organised formal management of the dunes as rabbit warrens planting marram grass to stabilise the moving sand.

A prominent landowner, Charles Weld Blundell tried a wide range of tree species on his estate. In 1893-94 Blundell and another landowner, Jonathan Formby, started large-scale planting schemes using mainly Corsican and Austrian pines and some Scots, mountain and maritime pines. Planting continued in the south section of the area until 1925 and 1930 to the north.

One further development was the felling of large areas of the pine during the Second World War. Although some of the areas were replanted, towards the south much of the felled area was left untouched. By the 1960s the old estates were sold off and broken up with ownership being divided up between The National Trust, The Nature Conservancy Council (now English Nature), several golf courses and latterly the Merseyside County Council (becoming Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council).

Some planting and regeneration has occurred in the later part of the twentieth century on the Territorial Reserve, Formby Golf Course and English Nature land. Restocking has been limited and in all, since 1920 some 25% of the woodland area has been lost as a result of felling, erosion or die-back (Richardson, 1986). A comparison of aerial photographs between 1945 and 1982 shows a retreating high water mark and areas felled during the Second World War (Bale 1995).

Scrub Development: During the first half of the twentieth century, dune scrub was fairly limited in extent on the sand dunes, perhaps restricted by the large rabbit populations of that period. However, since

Final Version 3 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023 about 1945, changes in the areas of scrub on the Sefton Coast have been dramatic (Smith, 1994; Nesbitt, 1981) estimated that at the Ainsdale and Birkdale Hills the area of scrub changed from about 4 hectares in 1945 to 15 hectares in 1980 a fourfold increase. At Formby Point, (Burns, 1987) reported a thirteenfold increase between 1945 and 1984 and at Ravenmeols, (Wild, 1988) reported a fivefold increase in a similar period.

There are a number of reasons that have led to the massive increase in scrub areas on the coast (Smith, 1994). One was the deliberate attempt at the beginning of the twentieth century to stabilise the dunes by planting the pines and sea buckthorn. As the pines matured, they created the shelter necessary to promote scrub development. For some time scrub expansion was largely held back by the rabbit population, so with the introduction of myxomatosis in 1954 (Wheeler et al . 1993) the greatly reduced rabbit populations allowed the scrub to expand. By the time that the rabbit populations increased again (though never to pre-myxomatosis days) the scrub was sufficiently well established to resist their attack. A second reason may be that the droughts of the 1970s reduced the water tables in the slacks sufficiently to allow sea buckthorn in particular to establish. Generally the drier conditions of the twentieth century with consequent lowering of water tables has favoured the development of scrub on dunes and dune slack habitats. This has been heightened by the effect that the pine planting has had on lowering the water table where, in the vicinity of the plantations, the trees increase precipitation interception and increase water loss through evapo-transpiration.

Geology, Topography, Soils and Climate Borehole information from the area indicates blown sand to a depth of 6 metres and boulder clay, probably including lenses of silt, peat and sand for a further 25 metres, overlying the Keuper Marl series (grey shales and mudstones). These were part of the sedimentary rock series laid down in the Triassic division (245 million years ago to 208 million years ago) of the Mesozoic period.

The topography consists of dunes and slacks with varying slope angles up to 35 ° and a fluctuating water table, particularly on the dunes.

The Keuper Marl and evolving sand dune topography have directly influenced the soils. The woodlands occupy the low-lying coastal belt of blown dune sand in various stages of stability. The free draining soils are poorly developed, often consisting of an acid needle layer overlying sand in the pine woodlands. The raw sand of the foredunes have a pH of 8-9 due to the high calcium carbonate content, are low in organic matter and plant nutrients and do not retain moisture well. With time and increasing stability the organic matter in the upper section of the profile rises, lowering the pH to 5-6. Water retention increases reducing the leaching of nutrients and improving the potential for plant growth. However, even after 200 to 300 years the changes are likely have extended down only to 10cm or so. Where pines have been planted the process of acidification is much faster, with needle litter reducing pH further to pH 3-4. This lower pH mobilises the iron salts in the profile down to 20cm, with some iron- rich layers forming in the older soils. Those areas that are below the water table for extended periods exhibit anaerobic profiles, with reduced organic decay and a much higher pH of 8-9. Peat forms in the top few centimetres and leaching and drainage from surrounding dunes enriches the slacks improving conditions for plant growth despite the higher pH. The Keuper Marl boulder clays inland of the dune belt give rise to the flat poorly drained and heavy soils of the agricultural hinterland.

The area receives approximately 800mm of rain annually and the recorded mean annual daily temperature is 9.5 ° Centigrade, varying between 4.0 ° in the winter and 16.0 ° in the summer. The prevailing wind is north-westerly, with a mean annual wind speed of 9 knots. Salt laden winds, potentially damaging to trees, blow throughout the period November to March and can rise to 70 or more knots during storms.

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Coastline Development Prevalent sea currents, offshore topography, onshore geomorphology, soils, wind patterns and vegetation all play a role in changes that occur along a coastline. All UK coastlines are subject to a variety of forces and are undergoing, and will always undergo, change. Often it is the sea currents and offshore topography that will determine the major developments accretion or erosion of the coastline but it is the interaction of the other factors that will help create the character of a shoreline at any particular time. Changes in these will bring about some changes in this character.

The development of the sand dunes along the Sefton Coast have been dated to about 4,000 to 4,600 years ago when the conditions for sand accumulation were right (lower sea levels, quieter waters for silt deposition). Large amounts of sand were brought up into the shallows offshore, exposed at low tide and then blown over the low-lying peat moss land inland of the high-water line.

The dune system over the millennia will have had periods of stability and of mobility and the periods of stability would have been characterised by succession of vegetation, soil formation and slack development. The unstable periods would have seen dunes moving through the area, with many blow-outs occurring where vegetation failed or the sea breached the fore dunes.

Where the shoreline is eroding, the dunes play an important role in defending the hinterland by rolling back as the seaward dune slopes are undermined and then exposed by the sea. This roll-back, despite the apparent damage in isolated areas, maintains the defence against the breaching of the dune system as a whole. A dune, as it rolls-back, reaches a point when vegetation can begin to re-colonise and stability is once more established. Vegetation plays an important role within this dynamic system and it is in response to this that the management of the dunes has developed.

It has been suggested that management of the dune area extends back for some centuries with Acts of Parliament passed as far back as the eighteenth century to control overuse of the vegetation on the dune areas. By the nineteenth century, the threat of encroachment posed by windblown sand of the developing railway system, of large private properties and of valuable agricultural land ensured that there were concerted efforts to stabalise the dunes using brush faggots, the planting of marram grass and of course pine trees.

Ownership of the Woodlands Sefton Coast woodland and scrub is distributed between 27 different ownerships, the largest being English Nature at 160.81 hectares and the smallest in private ownership at 0.11 hectares. The breakdown is detailed in Table 1 (overleaf), with maps of the different ownerships contained in Section 2 of this document:

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Table 1, Sefton Coast Woodland Ownership S. No Ownership Area (Ha) 1. English Nature – Ainsdale Sand Dunes & Cabin Hill Nature Reserves 160.81 2. The National Trust – the squirrel reserve 75.19 3. Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council 57.66 4. The Formby Golf Club 40.64 5. The Reserve Forces & Cadets Association – Altcar Rifle Range 28.78 6. Shorrocks Hill 9.90 7. Hesketh Golf Club 8.44 8. Hillside Golf Club 5.99 9. Formby Ladies Golf Club 5.46 10. Royal Birkdale Golf Club 3.46 11. Pilkington Estate 2.54 12. MoD – Woodvale Airfield 3.23 13. Shorrocks Hill Country Club 2.18 14. Lark Hill Farm 2.57 15. Hawes House 2.09 16. Badger’s Rake 1.88 17. St Joseph’s Adult Services 1.75 18. Firwood 1.25 19. Freshfield Dune Heath 1.25 20. Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club 1.16 21. Garden Woods 0.97 22. Greenloons Farm 0.59 23. St Luke’s Church 0.45 24. Alexander Road Cottages 0.37 25. Atherton Cottage 0.24 26. Golf Cottage 0.20 27. Asparagus Cottage 0.11

TOTAL 419.16

Woodland and Scrub Types The 419.82 ha of woodland, in terms of tree cover are divided up between woodland, scrub and bare areas: Table 2, Areas of Woodland and Scrub

Cover Area, ha. Woodland 359.90 Scrub 56.31 Bare 2.95 Total 419.16

Within these broad definitions, The Sefton Coast Woodland and Scrub Management Strategy (Ennion 1999) has identified three woodland types and three scrub types: Table 3, Woodland Types

Woodland type Area, ha. Pinewood 263.23 Broadleaf woodland 32.08 Mixed woodland 64.59 Total 359.90

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Pinewood being defined as those with pine constituting 75% or greater canopy composition. The pine species being a mixture of Corsican, Scots, lodgepole and maritime pine. Of the species Corsican pine is the most common at approximately 80%.

Broadleaf woodland being defined as having 75% or more deciduous species in the canopy composition. A number of distinct broadleaf woodland types are found in the Sefton Coast region: alder carr woodland; planted mixed broadleaf consisting of sycamore, beech, horse chestnut, white poplar with an understory of elder, hawthorn and bramble; a third type has developed from poplar, willow, birch and sycamore scrub.

Mixed woodland being defined as 25-75% (by crown composition) pine mixed with deciduous and other conifer species. There is a wide range of species mixtures.

Table 4, Scrub Types

Scrub type Area, ha. Sea buckthorn scrub 0.46 Poplar scrub 9.42 Mixed scrub 46.43 Total 56.31

Sea buckthorn scrub is relatively pure having been planted in the 1900s for sand stabilisation and as shelter for the young pine plantations. During the twentieth Century it naturalised and expanded to pose a serious threat to sand dune habitats. By the end of the Millennium owners had taken action to substantially reduce the areas of sea buckthorn, a process that is on going with the view to eventual elimination.

Poplar scrub is composed of white and balsam poplar introduced in the mid-twentieth century to stabilise sand on the golf links and as wind breaks around seaward houses. The species have again naturalised spreading by sucker creating dense canopies, which shade out most other species in the earlier stages. With age, colonisers such as sycamore, willows, hawthorn and occasionally holly begin to appear in the poplar stands.

Mixed scrub includes a broad range of scrub types characterised by a high frequency of silver and downy birch, but include willow, sycamore, hawthorn and even Corsican pine in some areas. The sites tend to be limited to those cleared within pine areas as fire breaks or unmanaged, but protected areas of the golf links.

Woodland and Scrub Age Structure The figures that are represented in the tables and the following diagram are rough estimates. A full analysis of the data is made difficult by the structure of the database where many of the compartments have multiple layers of information, but do not have identification tags within the structure. Analysis therefore picks up only that information that has the tags, this in many cases overestimates area of conifer species and age and underestimates the area of deciduous species. However, the figures do still given an indication of proportion

In general it can be seen that the age structure is skewed towards mature plantation. Of the total area 53% is over 60 years in age. This skew becomes even more apparent if the three age ranges of the pinewood are considered 1-30; 31-60; and above 61. In the region of 10% of the pinewood area is under 30, 11% is between 30 and 60 and 79% is over 60. This is illustrated in Diagram 1:

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Diagram 1, Age Profile of Pine Woodland on the Sefton Coast

Sefton Coast Forest Age Distribution

70.00 60.00 50.00 40.00 30.00 20.00 Area, hectares Area, 10.00 0.00

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 ------1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 1 9 0 1 Age Class

In some senses this can be seen as a reasonable distribution, however, it must be understood that about 23 hectares, or 85%, of pine below 30 years is in one location on the Altcar Rifle Range.

Furthermore, the structure of the deciduous and mixed woodlands is such that 58 hectares is under 30 (about 38%), 82 ha between 41-50 (53%) and the remaining 13.7 ha (9%) is over 60 years old. Again this demonstrates a skew in the age structure. Also the total figure of broadleaf woodland and scrub some 88 hectares is about 20% of the total, without even considering the mixed stands (which at an average of 50% BLF composition comes out at about 32 ha, increasing BLF composition to 29%) and this must be seen in terms of the effect on red squirrel habitat.

Silvicultural and conservation objectives are being compromised and unless the management deals with this imbalance the majority of woodlands will become over-mature within twenty to thirty years. The ideal will be to distribute species and ages evenly throughout the Sefton area, maintaining the percentage of pine at about 90%.

Statutory Designations The Sefton Coast is highly valued for its intrinsic beauty and for its biodiveristy, some of which is rare by European and UK standards. This has lead to the statutory protective designations at national and international levels and also national and local planning designations. These are listed below:

International: • 1 Ramsar Site • 1 Special Protection Area (SPA) • 1 candidate Special Area of Conservation with proposed extensions (cSAC).

National: • 7 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) 5 of which were amalgamated in August 2000 to make the Sefton Coast SSSI. • 3 National Nature Reserves (NNR).

Local: • 2 Local Nature Reserves (LNR) • Numerous Sites of Local Biological Interest (SLBI)

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Map 2, International Statutory Designations (cSAC, Ramsar Site, SPA)

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Map 3, The Sefton Coast SSSI – as notified 16 August 2000

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Map 4, National & Local Nature Reserves, Sefton Coast

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There are additionally a number of national, regional and local non-statutory planning and management documents that cover the area, or parts of the area:

• A working Plan for Woodlands on the Sefton Coast, 1986 (now out-dated). • Forest Plan, The Mersey Forest, August 1994. • A Management Plan for the Rearward Woodlands, Ainsdale Sands National Nature Reserve, February 1995. • Long Term Woodland Management Plan for Ainsdale Sands National Nature Reserve, January 1997. • The Sefton Coast Management Plan, Second Review, 1997 – 2006. • The England Forestry Strategy: A New Focus for England’s Woodlands, Strategic Priorities and Programmes, December 1998. • Sefton Coast candidate Special Area of Conservation Strategy, September 1999. • The Sefton Coast Woodland and Scrub Management Strategy, November 1999.

Nature Conservation As indicated there is significant conservation value in the area, with two SSSIs, three National Nature Reserves (NNR), two Local Nature Reserves (LNR), the whole area designated as a Ramsar site and a candidate Special Area for Conservation (cSAC). The RSPB manages an adjoining site for wildfowl protection.

Under the impetus of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21 and the Convention on Biological Diversity, local authorities and other interested bodies have produced (or are in the process of producing) Biodiversity Action Plans for a number of key species and vegetation types. Some of the relevant ones include Lowland Mixed Broadleaf Woodland Habitat, Coniferous Woodland Habitat, Wet Woodland Habitat, The Sand Dune and Dune slack Habitat, The Red Squirrel, Bats (Pipistrelle, Brown Long-eared, Whiskered, Natterer’s, Noctule), Sand Lizard, Natterjack Toad, Skylark, Grey Partridge.

A number of species have also been prioritised on the basis of the Habitats Directive Annex II: Great Crested Newt and Petalwort, also the Habitats Directive Annex IV: Brown Long- eared Bat; Natterjack Toad; Sand Lizard.

Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Species include: Natterjack Toad; Great Crested Newt; Sand Lizard; Skylark; Linnet; Song Thrush; Grey Partridge; Pipistrelle Bat; Red Squirrel; Tiger Beetle; Long-leaved Threadmoss. Nationally rare species include the plants Yellow Bartsia; Seaside Centaury; Early Marsh Orchid; Pyramidal Orchid; Grass of Parnassus.

1.2 Management History, Issues, Constraints and Opportunities

History The earliest attempts at management on the Sefton Coast sand dunes were prompted by a desire to halt the inland movement of wind-blown sand that was inundating valuable farmland. As it was the uncontrolled grazing by sheep and rabbits that was causing the problems, the landowners organised a formal management system of rabbit warrens and replanted marram grass to stabilise the dunes. This was later complemented in the late nineteenth century by placing willow and poplar brushwood faggots in the areas behind the frontal dunes where it was found that marram grass was not becoming established. The faggots acted as a filter to trap sand and once the dunes were of sufficient height, marram grass could be successfully introduced.

As the landowners developed a consistently successful technique for dune stabilisation, they began to look for opportunities to make the best commercial use of their land. Where marram grass became marginally successful inland, a policy of conifer tree planting was 12 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023 adopted. This process was taken to its conclusion by Charles Weld Blundell who having noted the successful establishment of pine plantations Les Landes on the west coast of France initiated a large-scale planting scheme using mainly Corsican and Austrian pines and some Scots, mountain and maritime pines. By 1920 the Formby and Blundell estates had planted significant areas between Ainsdale and Freshfield. William Ashton in his book ‘Evolution of a Coastline’ (Ashton 1920) commented that “this enlightened policy cannot fail to serve both a useful and aesthetic purpose, as well as promising a large financial return.”

To the south of the area, planting stopped by 1925 as by this time much of the seaward planting had been overwhelmed by sand or eroded back into the sea. To the north (the present Formby Golf Course) planting continued into the 1930s.

During the Second World War substantial areas were felled for timber to make up the shortfall caused by the reduction in imported timber. Although some of the areas were replanted, towards the south much of the felled area remained untouched. By the 1960s the old estates were sold off and broken up with ownership being divided up between The National Trust, The Nature Conservancy Council (now English Nature), several golf courses and latterly the Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council.

Management by the end of the twentieth century has focused on conservation, landscape value and recreation. A number of radical changes in the Government’s forest strategy through the 1980s and 90s, the changes in ownership, active lobby groups and changing social needs have meant that management in the closing stages of the century has generally tended to be reactive and protective, rather than proactive and forward looking. An attempt to address the age structure of the woodlands was first made in the The Working Plan for the Woodlands on the Sefton Coast (Richardson, 1980), where the author identifies and prescribes for the restructuring of the forest to achieve ‘normality’ in age structure where a ‘normal’ forest is one with roughly equal proportions of area in each age class, spread over the whole forest area. The subsequent Long Term Woodland Management Plan for the NNR (Greenough 1997) took this issue further by recommending a rate of felling at 2.8 hectares per year to restructure the woodland on the NNR. The Sefton Coast Woodland and Scrub Management Strategy (Ennion, 1999) built on the NNR model by exploring three scenarios for the whole woodland area: ‘do-nothing’; fell at 3 hectares per year; and fell at 5 hectares per year. It was accepted by the Sefton Council, after public consultation, that the 3 hectares over the whole area was the preferred option.

In reality these plans were only partly followed with felling and restocking limited to small areas and are now outdated by three to five years. The Sefton Council, The National Trust, English Nature and some of the golf courses have all had small-scale restocking schemes running within their woodlands and whereas these have not altered the predominant age structure significantly they have demonstrated the viability of natural and artificial regeneration within the pinewoods. Two developments that have had some impact on the age structure are firstly the gradual infilling with natural regeneration of the old, over-wide firebreaks on the NNR. Secondly the planting of new areas that has been undertaken on the Altcar Range. However, it is essential to build on these developments by initiating felling and planting within the mature woodlands on a regular cycle to ensure that restructuring is adequately addressed.

In summary, the vast majority of the pine woodland is old, having been planted at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth Centuries over 70% of the pine woodland being over 60 years in age. The frontal woodlands are eroding, the rear woods are ageing, with only small areas being regenerated. The owners and managers have been in ‘limbo’ since 1999 waiting for the new forestry initiatives and planning designations to take effect. They are waiting for the Working Plan to become operational it is therefore crucial for the future of the woodland and associated habitats that this Plan be both pragmatic and implemented!

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Issues Some of the key issues are as follows:

Biotic importance • The pinewoods are a refuge for the red squirrel (Ramsar, SPA and BAPs). • The woods adjoin important wader bird and wildfowl sites (SSSIs and LNRs). • The woods adjoin important open dune habitat (NNR and SSSIs). • The woods adjoin important open grassland bird sites (BAPs).

Landscape and Social • The pinewoods are perceived as a key feature of the Sefton Coast (candidate SAC and Unitary Plan). • A large, active urban population (c. 1,400,000 people, 1991 census) lives within 30 kilometres of the woodlands (Mersey Forest and EFS) at a very high density of 21.4 persons/hectare (average for England being 3.2).

Silvicultural • The frontal woods serve as ‘protection forest’ and suffer the effects of strong, desiccating, on-shore winds. During the winter months the browning of needles on pine shoots occurs, particularly as height increases. Distorted crowns and slow growth are characteristic of the effects of wind. Even the hardwoods tolerant of coastal conditions suffer die-back of annual growth and in exposed sites never reach their normal size, remaining scrub-sized and ‘wind-planed’. • Climatic and site conditions are hostile with only trees and shrubs well adapted to the conditions surviving. Even among those species suited to the conditions, planting mortality will be high and managers will need to be prepared for high ‘beating up’ costs. The dune soils dry out rapidly and spring droughts can be critical to new planting. Potential transpiration exceeds average rainfall between April and July, thus hot spring sun and drying winds can stress young plants to the point of non-recovery. • The growth rates, height and ultimate survival of mature woodlands are determined by several interrelated exposure factors: shelter provided by seaward dunes; their height, size and location relative to the high water mark; shelter (or lack of) given by the topography; distance from the sea; the duration of winds above damaging growth thresholds (increasing with proximity to the sea); the predominant wind direction; the shape, width and orientation of woodland areas; shelter given by vegetation on the seaward sides of woodland areas; the species, the type and variety, dependent on tolerance to extreme conditions; the density of planting or regeneration. • In the pine plantations, where height has exceeded 20 metres, some very localised wind-blow has occurred. This is perhaps due to thinning cycles being neglected in the past. The practice of regular thinning allows remaining trees to develop more extensive root systems and to become wind-firm. In general, on very exposed sites, trees above the threshold height of 20 metres will be vulnerable to wind-blow however well developed the root system and although the Sefton coast does not suffer from extensive wind-blow, each site should be assessed for susceptibility. • The pinewoods are ageing, the majority having been planted in the early part of the twentieth Century. • Due to the landscape importance of the area, extensive clear fell for regeneration will be socially unacceptable. • Habitat requirements of the red squirrel require adequate cover of suitable coning pine and other small seeded species. • Natural regeneration of many species is occurring where encouraged and the conditions are suitable.

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Access The woodlands are heavily used by the public throughout the area, with the exception of the Altcar Rifle Range and restricted access on the Ainsdale Sand Dunes NNR. In an attempt to provide some information on use patterns, the following two maps (Maps 5 & 6) show the most used routes obtained by highlighting those paths that stand out on the 1997 aerial photographs.

Map 5, Sefton Coast Woodlands: Routes used by the public, southern section c

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Map 6, Sefton Coast Woodlands: Routes used by the public, northern section

The maps are not exhaustive and do not show all routes used by people, only those routes most obviously used by people. The maps do not attempt to show differences between Rights of Way, permissive routes and routes used without consent. The purpose of the maps is simply to provide more information to the managers for management purposes and to provide some link into access management in the various coastal management plans:

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Coastal Erosion • The Sefton Coast woodlands have been part of a successful strategy to stabilise mobile areas of dune with subsequent development of soil profiles and, in the existing mosaic of habitats, sheltered environments for important species such as the red squirrel. • In some localities, nationally important dune habitats are being squeezed between areas of frontal woodland and the eroding coastline. • The frontal dune woodlands have the potential to interfere with the capacity of the coastline to adjust to the changes in condition. On the seaward side of the dunes, where the shoreline has eroded back to the edge of the pinewoods, the collapsing tree root plates can rip out sections of the dune profile. This exposes raw sand to being washed away or blasted away by prevailing winds to cause localised ‘blow-outs’. The process without tree cover allows for a gradual erosion of the dune profile, with the sand being carried out a short distance to be exposed at low tide and blown back into the dunes to help build up the dunes once more (Pethick, 2001). • Similarly the fore ward pinewoods can interfere with the protection of dune surfaces. Much of the planting in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries was undertaken to stabilise windblown sand resulting from over cutting and overgrazing by stock and rabbits. These conditions no longer prevail and there is evidence that the tree cover on the fore dunes suppresses the sand-binding marram grass through shading.

Dune restoration and frontal woodlands: English Nature has been engaged in a process of dune restoration on the NNR. The strategy has been to clear some of the frontal woodlands to restore the internationally important dune habitat. This strategy has been subject to public scrutiny and in response English Nature engaged the Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CMAS) of Liverpool University to carry out an independent review – submitted in January 2001. The review will inform the public consultation process which is due to continue for a period that does not coincide with the writing of the Forest Plan. The Review will inform the consultation on the Forest Working Plan.

Given the different time scales, for the moment, the Plan does not include the frontal woodland compartments on the NNR in the management recommendations. The area concerned covers six compartments, about 22.5 hectares, 5% of the total woodland area. It has been agreed that the implementation of the Forest Plan should not be held up pending the outcome of the Dune Restoration Review.

Statutory Constraints Under the European Union Habitats Directive the foreshore, dunes and dune slack areas were designated in 1995, firstly under the ‘Ramsar’ Convention on the conservation of wetlands, and secondly together with some extensions, as a candidate for Special Area of Conservation (cSAC). Under the European Wild Birds Directive the foreshore has also been designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA), however this does not affect any areas of woodland. Between 1963 and 1985 seven Sites of Special Scientific Interest were designated under the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) previously the National Parks and Access to Countryside Act 1949 and recently partly amalgamated into the Sefton Coast SSSI.

The Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 1994, as amended, and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended, form the legal basis for the protection of the above mentioned national and international statutory designations. The main working mechanism being the list of ‘operations likely to damage’ that is issued in the documentation for all designated SSSIs. Owners and managers subsequently have to seek consent from English Nature to carry out management operations on those sites to ensure that the features of the site are not damaged or destroyed. In the case of the European

Final Version 17 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023 designations, English Nature operates a parallel system of consent on behalf of the UK Government (DETR).

This list of operations is general to the whole of the UK and consent can therefore be given to particular operations in situations where those operations do not damage the features of the site. Written consent being obtained from English Nature, with on-going operations being provided for under five year agreements.

For the purposes of the Forest Plan, these designations are exclusively focused on the dune nature of the coastline and managers will therefore have to consider the impact of forest management operations on these features. The Sefton Coast is considered to be of European importance because of the following features: • Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation ‘grey dunes’ (priority habitat) • Dunes with Salix repens spp. argentea • Embryonic shifting dunes • Humid dune slacks • Eu-Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes (dune heath) (priority habitat) • The species Petalophyllum ralfsii (petalwort) • Shifting foreshore dunes with Ammophila arenaria • The species Triturus cristatus (great crested newt)

The list of operations associated with the SSSIs number 32 in all and range from “Application of manure, slurry, silage liquor, fertilisers and lime” to “Use of lead shot”. For the purposes of this Working Plan, the relevant operations are numbers:

The list of operations associated with the SSSIs number 32 in all. For the purposes of the Forest Plan, the relevant operations are numbers:

1. Cultivation, including ploughing, rotovating, harrowing and re-seeding (the re-seeding of existing golf tees and greens at the notification date is not subject to consultation).

4. The introduction of mowing or cutting and alterations to the mowing or cutting regime.

5. Application of manure, slurry, silage liquor, fertilisers and lime.

6. Application of pesticides, including herbicides (weedkillers) whether terrestrial or aquatic, and veterinary products.

9. Release into the site of any wild, feral, captive-bred or domestic animal* plant, seed or micro-organism (including genetically modified organisms).

10. Killing, injuring, taking or removal of any wild animal*, or their eggs and nests, including pest control, but excluding existing coastal fishing and disturbing them in their places of shelter.

11. Destruction, displacement, removal or cutting of any plant or plant remains, including tree, shrub, herb, dead or decaying wood, moss, lichen, fungus, leaf-mould, turf.

12. The introduction of, and alterations to, tree and/or woodland management including planting, felling, thinning, coppicing, changes in species composition, removal of fallen timber.

13a. Drainage (including moor-gripping, the use of mole, tile, tunnel or other artificial drains).

21. Destruction, construction, removal, rerouting or regrading of roads, tracks, walls, fences, hardstands, banks, ditches or other earthworks, including soil and soft rock exposures or the laying, maintenance or removal of pipelines and cables, above or below ground.

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22. Storage of materials.

23. Erection of permanent or temporary structures or the undertaking of engineering works, including drilling.

26. Use of vehicles or craft.

28. Use of lead shot.

* ‘animal’ includes any mammal, reptile, amphibian, bird, fish or invertebrate (including honey bees).

Finally the designation that will lend weight to recommended forest management regimes is the designation of the red squirrel and pipistrelle bat as species of national importance under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. These have Priority Species Action Plans which have been taken into account in the forest management prescriptions.

In summary, there is a complex range of biotic, ecological and statutory planning considerations to take account of in the preparation of a working plan. The individual objectives of owners and the perceptions of the interested public all add to the complexity. There are a number of complementary though diverse interests, but also some conflicting ones. All interests will have to be prioritised and balanced to maintain a sustainable, living and dynamic set of woodland habitats and landscape in the Sefton Coast area.

Opportunities – Approval and Funding Approval Development and approval of the Forest Plan and the provision of grants and licences will have to go through several stages:

The Forest Plan Steering Group in the first instance completed the Plan Preparation Grant (PPG) application to the Forestry Commission. The application was submitted 1 October 2000.
The Forest Plan Steering Group then gave their approval for the Mersey Forest to field a forester to carry out an inventory in the Sefton Coast Forest for the Forest Working Plan. The forester worked in the field and on the database between mid-November 2000 and mid-February 2001.
The managers, owners and interest group representatives gave their initial support to a draft 20-year management plan which was written using the inventory and up-dated database. The draft was completed mid-February 2001.
Next in the process, the approved draft plan was used as the basis for public consultation with adjustments made to incorporate changes deemed necessary as a consequence of the full consultation. This stage fulfilled many of the criteria for the ‘scoping process’ required by the Forestry Commission to satisfy the need for public consultation. The timing for completion was July 2001.
The partners in the Forest Plan application undertook the Scoping process with the view to ensuring that all concerned groups were aware and informed of implications of the plan. The draft plan was used as the basis for the scoping work and a report was submitted to the Forestry Commission in August 2001.
It was agreed by the Forest Plan Working Group (see minutes 27 June 2001) that the draft plan would comprise three volumes and be known as the Woodland Working Plan: 1. The Working Plan (a summary of management issues and proposals) 2. Background Data and Information 3. The Annual Working programme

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The annual programmes over the ten years 2002-2012, once compiled, will form the basis of the draft Forest Plan and will be submitted to the Forestry Commission for approval. This submission will be by October 2001.
As part of the approval process the Forestry Commission, in liaison with English Nature, was designated the Competent Authority under the cSAC designation to permit forest operations where it is judged they will not damage the features of the SSSIs and cSAC. The forest operations will be thought of as ‘on-going operations’ and would be viewed under the Habitats Regulations 19 & 20 and/or 48 & 49 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act to ascertain whether there will be ‘likely significant effect’ on the European site before consent is given. Once consent is given, the Plan can become operational.
Once there is a finalised and consented Forest Plan, the Forestry Commission will be in a position to issue Annual Management Grants, New Plant groups and felling licenses for the ten year period and restocking grants on application to the owners.

Those owners with existing grant schemes and licences will continue to draw down on those allocated funds and licences until expiry. Once the old schemes, grants and licences expire, new applications will be made according to and under the umbrella of the Plan.

Key dates in the process are: Application for Plan Preparation Grant 1 October (2000) Contract lasts 1 year Applicants carry out scoping exercise Oct-July (2000-01) Scoping report submitted End July (2001) Short report of process PPG 1 st instalment paid August (2000) Forest Plan drafted and discussed Oct-Aug (2000-01) Final draft of Forest Plan submitted 1 October (2001) Final PPG instalment claimed October (2001) Approval granted End of 2002 Operational work begins Beginning of 2003 Funds, licences issued

Funding The Forestry Commission funding under the Forest Plan will be the same as under the existing Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS), an umbrella term for grant funding. Within this the Forestry Commission offers two types pf grant: 1. The Annual Management Grant (AMG) which pays a basic rate per hectare for management maintenance operations litter picking, weed control, cleaning. The agreement is normally for 5 year periods of activity. 2. The Woodland Improvement Grant (WIG) which pays 50% of agreed operational costs restocking, natural regeneration, thinning, fellingwithin an initial three year period. A forest compartment can qualify on the basis of one or more of three categories: Access; Under-managed Woodlands; Biodiversity. 50% of total costs up to a maximum of £10,000 can be awarded for Under-managed woodlands or £100,000 for Access and / or Biodiversity. Any single compartment can be eligible for both grant types. A third form of grant funding exists for planting sites that have not recently been under trees:

Table 5, Forestry Commission Grant Rates

Title Qualifications Grant Limitations Existing Woodland AMG General maintenance £35/ha 0.25ha minimum

WIG General management 50% agreed 0.25ha minimum operational costs to £100,000 max

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Title Qualifications Grant Limitations Restocking, broadleaf £525 0.25ha minimum Restocking, conifer £325 0.25ha minimum

Natural Regen, broadleaf £525 0.25ha minimum Natural Regen, conifer £325 0.25ha minimum Natural Regen, discretionary 50% agreed 0.25ha minimum payment (scarification, fencing, etc) operational costs New Woodland New Planting Broadleaf, <10 ha £1350 0.25ha minimum Broadleaf, >10 ha £1050 0.25ha minimum

Conifer, <10 ha £700 0.25ha minimum Conifer, >10 ha £700 0.25ha minimum

New Planting Better Land Contribution £600/ha 0.25ha minimum Supplements Community Forest Premium £600/ha 1.0ha minimum Community Woodland Contribution £950/ha 0.25ha minimum Farm Woodland Premium, grassland £260/ha 1.0ha minimum Farm Woodland Premium, arable £300/ha 1.0ha minimum Generally the time taken to process grant applications is about three months. Additionally thinning and felling work will have to be listed on the public register.

For full details of the current grant levels and criteria, applicants should consult the WGS applicants pack available from Forestry Authority (01606 889912). It should be noted that the grant system is under review and changes are scheduled to come into effect in the year 2003 / 04. Details are not yet released.

Additional funding streams exist and these are summarised below:

1. The Certification Pilot Forest certification is a means of independently proving that woodland is being managed sustainably in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria.

This is a three-year pilot project that commenced in October 2002 looking at increasing the uptake of forest certification through grant aid and other support mechanisms. The grant levels are due to be announced in March 2003. Grants will be available through the Forestry Commission with the emphasis being on rewarding woodland owners for the benefits that sustainable forestry brings to society as a whole.

The fact that the Sefton Coast woodlands have a high quality detailed management plan means that the woodlands are one step along the route to achieving forest certification. The Mersey Forest Team (01925 816 217) can provide further details about this project.

2. ICEP Mersey Forest Grant Grants are available for tree planting and woodland management operations under the Integrated Countryside and Environment Plan (ICEP) for the Merseyside Objective 1 area. This area includes the Sefton Coast woodlands. These grants are administered by The Mersey Forest. Funds come from both the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Grants are based on the actual cost of work carried out and will generally pay up to 50% of total costs. The grants are known as ‘funding of last resort’ and only come into play once all other funding streams (eg Forestry Commission grants) have been pursued. Grants are available until December 2004 although funds are limited.

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Grants to the private sector fall under ‘state aids’ regulations that do not allow one company or individual to receive grants (from all sources) that make up more than 50% of total costs. Therefore it is unlikely that all costs could be covered from grants.

Application forms and further information are available from The Mersey Forest Team (tel 01925 816 217).

1.3 A Hierarchy of Objectives A number of the words used in this section can be used interchangeably. It is never absolutely clear the distinction between ‘vision’ and ‘goals’, ‘goals’ and ‘objectives’. For the purpose of this document, the intention is a hierarchy or cascade of objectives: There is an overall Vision (long term objective) to which all can subscribe in total or in part; below Vision there is the Goal (medium term objective) which is again common to all, but which forms part of the process of working towards the Vision the Goal cannot be controlled by any one stakeholder in part or in total. There are a number of Management Objectives (short term objectives) which are site and owner specific and are within the control of the owners / managers. The aggregate of Management Objectives work towards the Goal and Vision. Finally from this hierarchy spring the variety of forest operations (or activities), again entirely in control of the owners / managers.

Diagram 2, The Hierarchy of Objectives

Long Term Objective VISION

GOAL Medium Term Objective

Management Objective

Management Objective Short Term Objectives Management Objective

Management Objective Management Forest Objective Operations

Forest Operations Forest Operations Forest Forest Operations Forest Operations Operations Activities Forest Forest Operations Operations Forest Operations

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Common Vision The Government clearly states in the England Forest Strategy that it has given priority to the four key programmes: Forestry for rural development; for economic regeneration; for recreation, access and tourism; for environment and conservation.

The Sefton Coast Partnership in the Coast Management Plan for the coast states that its vision is: “for the Sefton Coast to be managed to ensure the conservation of one of most important coastal areas in Europe for nature while being an asset to a healthy local economy and providing a much needed area for the quiet enjoyment of the countryside.” The Partnership has accepted the joint responsibility to “ensure that the integrity and natural value of the dune system and estuaries is protected in perpetuity as one of the series of European nature areas.” In the Woodland And Scrub Management Strategy, the partners seek to achieve “well-managed woodland and scrub…founded on the principle of sustainable woodland and scrub management to include key issues of coastal ecology, landscape conservation, recreational provision and good silvicultural practice.”

The Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council endorses the Sefton Coast Management Plan and aims to work towards the objectives on its own land holding. Through the various strategies, such as the Woodland and Scrub Strategy, it seeks to support and guide the other owners and managers towards the vision and objectives.

The Mersey Forest aims to encourage and sustain ”a magnificent mix of woods, heaths, farmland, wetlands, ponds and streams” where access, recreation, tourism, wildlife and nature conservation, geological and archaeological conservation, education, agricultural diversification, woodland habitat and industries are promoted.

The National Trust is committed to the “permanent preservation for the benefit of the nation of lands and tenements (including buildings) of beauty and scientific interest and as regards lands for preservation…of their natural aspect features and animal and plant life”. The Trust is concerned with the conservation of the landscape character through working with natural processes and preserving elements of the human landscape such as field patterns created by asparagus growing. The management of the pinewoods is given high priority contributing significantly to the maintenance of suitable red squirrel habitat. The National Trust maintains facilities for public access and enjoyment of the coastal area and recognises the important contribution that the property makes to quality of life locally. It attempts to strike a balance between diverse obligations: to the public seeking access; to those seeking to make a living from the countryside; to achieve internationally agreed conservation objectives. The red squirrel is a key species on the Sefton Coast and some even consider the area to be a ‘refuge’ by virtue of the isolation of the pinewoods from other woodland. The National Trust has given the conservation of the Squirrel a very high priority in its management of the area.

The conservation bodies champion the conservation of wildlife and natural features. Their participation in the management of woodland and adjacent sites is based on the promotion of the principles of sustainable management of multiple-value resources for present and future generations. In general they promote the use of natural species, natural regeneration methods, the protection of natural habitats and species, a matrix of habitats to encompass needs of a variety of species and the education of the public.

English Nature manages the NNR of Ainsdale Sand Dunes and Cabin Hill. Consistent with the aims of all NNRs, wildlife is given priority in management, with opportunity for scientific research and the development of conservation management techniques. The public have access to the sites and people can experience and enjoy the wildlife and habitats typical of the area. The sites give highest priority to the geomorphological processes of the coast,

Final Version 23 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023 yellow and fixed dune habitats, pine woodland, sand lizard, great crested newt, red squirrel, landscape value and interpretation.

As significant landowners on the Sefton Coast, the Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve at Altcar are conscious of the importance of their holding. They are keen to promote the principles of conservation on what, because of the restricted access, has become a sanctuary area for birds and dune fauna and flora. They are also one of the few landowners that has indulged in new planting in the rearward areas largely for wind protection and to provide a variety of landscape in the less important inland dune areas. Having restricted the public access, they are in a strong position to support conservation objectives as a contribution to the management of the Sefton Coast.

There are six golf courses in the Sefton Coast area, which in itself reflects the importance of the landscape to golfers. The clubs’ management interests vary, at the most basic, being to maintain the links nature of the courses a landscape objective that favours dune and dune slack habitats. Some of the clubs have active conservation bodies and manage the land for specific habitats. Small areas of scrub and trees are often retained for wind protection and as minor landscape features. None, with the exception of Formby Golf Course, contribute much to the overall area of pine woodland.

The private owners vary in size of holding from 10.2 to 0.11 hectares. Some, such as the Shorrocks Hill Country Club and Formby Caravan Park, clearly have commercial considerations, but most, if not all, have in common an interest to maintain the integrity of the landscape and to contribute to the conservation of habitat for key species. Generally the owners are interested and willing to work in partnership.

The consistency between the visions is marked. Policy development in England has, by the end of the Millennium, brought together key policy organisations, landowners and managers in, potentially, a very fruitful partnership. The consistency within policies is less certain in that the aims of conservation do not always sit easily with access and recreation, though this is addressed through the zoned access approach of the Sefton Coast Management Plan. It is also possible that market economies will not be sympathetic to the aims of conservation or small-scale rural economic activities. Furthermore there is a tension generally healthy between planning practices and public involvement in the management of land that has multiple ownership, but ‘traditional’ public access.

In an attempt to sum up the Vision, the following seeks to be inclusive: Taking account of natural landscape formation processes, the Sefton Coast woodlands should be managed sustainably and in perpetuity as a mosaic of land uses to ensure: • The integrity of historically important landscapes • The viability of habitats for rare and important species • Opportunities for the rural and peri-urban economy to thrive • Opportunities for the quiet enjoyment of the countryside.

One of the key words being ‘mosaic’ this because the entirety of the vision cannot be achieved in any one area. Some areas will have to be given higher priority in achieving some parts of the vision than others. Where public access is high, then conservation aims may have to be adjusted. Where landscapes or habitats are internationally important, then public access may have to be carefully guided. Where livelihoods are threatened, then support must be given to seek sustainable economic solutions. However, as a mosaic of land uses over the whole area, the vision is achievable in its entirety as long as the vision and its management mechanisms are well understood by all the stakeholders.

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Goal Working together is a key principle of the Sefton Coast Partnership and partnership in forest management, supported by the Mersey Forest, will be vital in achieving the Vision.

The Forest Plan of the Mersey Forest states a fundamental objective….”that all should be encouraged to participate in the planning, development and enjoyment of their Forest and, through their commitment to it, play a part in its long-term stewardship and ownership.” The practical outworking of this being through partnerships and networks forged with and between owners and users in existing workplaces and everyday venues. Programmes include the promotion of access, recreation, tourism, wildlife and nature conservation, geological and archaeological conservation, education, woodland habitat and industries.

In order to achieve a corporate vision, there must be in place a number of partnerships and forums which ensure that consultation occurs and stakeholder involvement is fostered. In terms of a Goal for this Plan, this can be summarised as follows: Partnerships and fora established to enable landowners, managers, user groups, interest groups and support organisations work individually and jointly through good silvicultural management to achieve the vision.

Management Objectives The higher level objectives are either corporate or mechanisms by which the Vision can be achieved. However, not all the Vision in its entirety will be appropriate to all the owners or stakeholders, nor will it be within the control of any one of the organisations. Thus there must be a set of achievable objectives which in their entirety will work towards the Vision. Each organisation being able to sign up to those that are appropriate to their more specific objectives.

The Management Objectives required to work towards the Goal and Vision are listed below without prioritisation: • To maintain the present woodland mosaic and variety of structure. • To create a ‘healthy’ or normal woodland age profile • To maintain the focus on pine species as a food source for the red squirrel and to retain the existing woodland character. • To maintain areas of indigenous small-seeded broadleaf species, up to but no more than 10% of the total area. • To provide suitable habitats within the woodland structure for all appropriate species, especially those designated as Priority Species. • To ensure an economic return where feasible. • To involve additional willing land owners in the development of suitable woodland mosaic habitats. • To maintain, establish and participate in appropriate joint ventures and forums for the purposes of management and evaluation.

It is hoped that the Working Plan will provide a link for user and owner networking in areas of product marketing, co-ordinated recreational use, access and conservation management.

Furthermore in Section 3 of the Plan, indicators of achievement are highlighted for use by the managers to review progress towards achieving the objectives. It will be the responsibility of The Mersey Forest to use the indicators to assist individual managers and owners in the pursuit of the objectives.

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Forest Operations Underlying the Management Objectives there are a series of broad principles. These dictate good silvicultural practice and the Working Plan has been developed using these principles. The strength of the Sefton Coast management strategy is partnership. In isolation the many areas of woodland cannot hope to see the Management Objectives achieved, but as a co-ordinated whole, they are achievable.

• A key to good silvicultural practice will be the creation of a ‘healthy’ age profile, where: in perpetuity at least 30% of the area would be between 0 and 30 years old; 30% between 30 and 60 years old; 30% between 60 and 100 years old; and the remaining 10% being allowed to develop into mature ‘character’ woodlands (e.g. the older Scots pine) or left bare (e.g. species rich dune slacks within the woodland). This will mean that in the first phase of management, the rate of restocking thinning and felling will have to be higher to redress the overabundance of old stands. Once progress has been made towards creating a ‘normal’ forest structure, the rate of felling will drop to maintain equilibrium.

• The second driving principle will be to maintain the focus on pine species as a food source for the red squirrel and to retain the existing woodland character. There will be a subsidiary objective of increasing the percentage of Scots pine in the more protected rear woods, up to 30 to 40% of total pine in some areas. The justification being that it is important to diversify pine cone production as Scots pine produces cones sooner, for a longer period and over a shorter cycle than Corsican pine.

This focus will not preclude pockets of maritime pine, yew, holly, especially where it is naturally regenerating. Some judicious use of Norway spruce and Japanese larch could be considered to help spread the red squirrel food source over a wider base. However, in general non-indigenous conifers (other than Corsican pine) should be allowed to die out over time. It is recommended that Lodgepole pine be actively removed. The particular provenance present on the Sefton Coast suffers badly from wind throw (as it does on all its UK sites) above the age of about 30. Given that it does not contribute to the woodland objectives, there is a danger that it will become a weed species as it regenerates prolifically and could develop into a significant management problem. If there is a desire to maintain the species, then it is recommended that a wind firm provenance be sought out for small areas of planting.

• The third principle will be to maintain areas of indigenous mixed broadleaf, up to and no more than 10% of the total area alder, birch, willow, hawthorn and elm (where elm still exists, it should be encouraged by management on a short coppice rotation of 20 years to prevent further attack by Dutch elm disease). Sycamore can be included as a coppiced under-story to provide a food source for the red squirrel in spring, however it must be managed as coppice to stop seed production. A mosaic of broadleaf, pine and mixed woods provides for a diversification of habitat and species. 10% will keep below the ‘grey squirrel threshold’, anything above this is likely to encourage an invasion by the grey.

• The fourth principle will be to maintain dead wood within many of the compartments. Where possible (i.e. areas isolated from public access) the deadwood should be left standing, but otherwise should be left on the ground. This will encourage the development of fungal flora, invertebrate fauna and will contribute toward maintaining bird and bat populations. The exception may have to be in key areas of high public access where there will be a safety problem and public perception may be of ‘untidiness’ and therefore require the clearing of most of the dead wood.

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• The fifth principle will be to work towards a mosaic of woodland structures (as well as species). Commercial interests tend to dictate stands of uniform age and single composition, but the more complex objectives of the Sefton woodlands will require that stands be broken up by age and species known as ‘continuous cover forestry’. This can be achieved by utilising natural regeneration potential where it already exists through the creation of regeneration coupes of between 0.1 and 0.5 hectares and reducing restocking and planting to coupes of 0.5 hectares. This can be illustrated as follows: Diagram 3, The mosaic of woodland structures

• The final principle will be to provide suitable habitats within the woodland structure for appropriate Priority Species. This can be as simple as providing nesting boxes for birds and bats or more complicated measures such as ensuring mature canopy bridges for the red squirrel in areas subject to restocking operations. It should also include associated non-woodland management of glades and heath to maintain the ”mosaic of species and habitats” to ensure broadleaf, grassland and heath birds, mammals, invertebrates and fungi have suitable habitats.

• Ensure an economic return where feasible.

Springing out of these principles, the following forest operations will help the owners and managers achieve the Management Objectives: Felling Extensive areas will not be clear felled for regeneration. Instead trees will be taken out round existing canopy gaps, limited numbers removed to open new gaps in the canopy on carefully chosen sites and to enlarge existing areas where there is natural regeneration. To distinguish this from clear felling it will be called ‘restocking felling’. For the next 20 years the rate of restocking felling will have to be 15 hectares over each of the four 5 year periods this will ensure that restocking gives the woodlands a more healthy age profile. This figure is based on the recommended rate of 3 hectares per year. The 15 hectares will be spread over the whole of the Sefton woodlands to help in the process of developing a mosaic of ages and species. It will be designed to have minimal impact in any one compartment.

Restocking felling will be undertaken at a ‘rotation age’ of 80 in Corsican pine and 120 in Scots pine (considering the coning characteristics). In the current situation restocking coupes will be sited in the oldest age class areas. As already discussed some areas of Corsican and Scots pine will be left to grown on into ‘old age’ (in their ‘native’ environments, Scots pine generally lives to more than 400 years and Corsican pine 200) and these areas must be chosen by the managers on the basis of access and landscape impact.

Other criteria for siting restocking coupes will be the use of existing canopy gaps, placement in the centre of compartments to minimise visual impact and prevent unwanted ground cover developing through seeding from outside the compartments. Size will be between 0.1 and 0.6 hectares, depending on public access. Over the regeneration cycles the coupes will be placed progressively nearer the compartment edges until the whole compartment has been restocked. For some of the smaller compartments this will mean

Final Version 27 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023 two or three coupes over a fifteen year period, for some of the bigger compartments, this may mean 10 to 15 coupes over 20 to 40 years.

To minimise the disturbance to red squirrel feeding, coupes and thinning should be structured to maintain canopy bridges between undisturbed areas and retain heavily coning trees (see Maps 7 & 8).

Poplar, lodgepole pine and sycamore should be cleared, especially where mature trees are acting as a source of seed or root sucker causing intrusion into new areas.

At times some of the broadleaf stands will have to be coppiced or cleared for re-seeding to ensure that vigour does not fall. In some compartments it may be desirable to retain a coppiced sycamore under story for squirrel feeding, but this will require a commitment to maintenance, because if left alone sycamore will come to dominate the upper canopy, changing the nature of the woodlands. Thinning A number of the pine stands are under-thinned and, those that are not already mature, as a matter of priority require regular thinning to take them to a more suitable spacing:

Diagram 4, Unthinned 30-60 year old Corsican pine

Diagram 5, Thinned Corsican pine

In many woodlands thinning cycles and intensities are dictated by commercial objectives. Marketing and manpower constraints mean that the cycles are set at levels which maximise volume production giving the best commercial return against costs of marking and control.

However, the objectives for the Sefton woodlands do not give commercial return a high priority. The more important landscape, conservation and amenity objectives will dictate the thinning cycle. Widely spaced woodlands above the age of 25 years, with trees of varying shape and height will be more attractive, will allow for increased crown development and cone production and provide for better light penetration to help in the development of desirable and suitable ground cover. Thinning cycle should therefore work towards this over the lifetime of a stand and can be achieved through regular early thinning to the age of 25. From 25 onwards thinning would be managed using canopy (rather than basal area) and would be more intensive than strictly commercial systems would allow. Control can be maintained by monitoring basal area to ensure that thinning slightly exceeds commercial recommendations. By 55 to 60 years the final wide-spaced stand with full, continuous canopy would be achieved. These would be left to the age of 80 to 90 in the

28 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023 case of Corsican pine and 110 to 120 in the case of Scots pine. Selected stands (up to 10% of the area) would be left to grow on into ancient ‘Caledonian’-like woodland these stands would be regularly monitored to assess condition with a small portion (perhaps 1% of the 10%, i.e. 0.1% of the total pine area) being regenerated every 10 years if deemed necessary.

Some of this work is exploratory and it will need to be closely monitored by the managers and Mersey Forest, with changes in approach being built into the next Working Plan scheduled to be written in 2012 (see Section 3). Restocking Planting (restocking) will be used for maritime pine, Scots pine and where natural seeding is not occurring in Corsican pine and broadleaf stands. Planting will also have to be used in areas where a change of species is required e.g. where an increase in the proportion of Scots pine is desirable. Coupes should be opened up between 0.1 and 0.6 hectare. Some of the smaller compartments in areas heavily accessed by the public will have to use smaller coupes (0.1ha) using enlarged, existing canopy gaps. Larger, less accessed compartments should use larger coupes up to a maximum of 0.6 hectare.

Spacing should be at the standard 2,500 stems per hectare (2.0m spacing) with a year 10 check. Successful establishment will be judged to be even cover at 2,250 stems per hectare. Coupes should be opened up between 0.1 and 0.6 hectare. Some of the smaller compartments in areas heavily accessed by the public will have to use smaller coupes (0.1ha) using enlarged, existing canopy gaps. Larger, less accessed compartments should use larger coupes up to a maximum of 0.6 hectare.

Restocking will always require fencing to prevent damage from rabbits. From the Sefton experience, most sites will require beating up at least once. Fencing should be removed once the trees have reached 2 metres in height, or are considered to be safe from damaging factors.

Planting sites will have to weeded for at least three years, perhaps more on selected sites. Chemical weeding is the general practice, but mechanical weeding is possible where staffing allows or conservation objectives dictate it.

As with any UK planting site, late spring frosts can kill young growth. The heavier the frost, the more damage it will do, especially to newly planted trees and shrubs. Autumn planting and the use of container-grown stock allows for planting stock to harden off over winter with subsequent improved establishment rates in spring. Natural Regeneration It is apparent that many of the major species in the Sefton woodlands are capable of regeneration through natural means. This includes some of the species that are considered less desirable such as poplar and sycamore. However, the ability of Scots and maritime pine in Sefton to regenerate naturally is less well understood and it will be worth experimenting to establish potential. From experience Corsican pine has a variable potential with the limiting factors uncertain (possibly related to ground cover and coning cycle) (Kerr, 2000).

Regeneration will be considered to have been successful if stem density reaches 2,250 per hectare (c. 2.1m spacing), evenly spaced throughout the coupe. It is often the case that regeneration density is variable and high density in some sections of the compartment and low density (below 2,250 stems per hectare) in others will not be considered successful.

Existing experience within the Sefton area suggest that the ‘best fit’ system is to open coupes of between 0.1 and 0.6 hectares, leaving seeding mother trees in the biggest

Final Version 29 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023 coupes. Existing canopy gaps should be exploited and coupes opened up in the centre of compartments to avoid an ‘edge-effect’ through the development of bramble, grass and other ground cover. Where possible coupes should be sited in areas where good coning mother trees exist. A time limit will have to be set on a regeneration period and it is suggested that 8 years could be the cut-off and where regeneration is not sufficient, then restocking planting should be undertaken.

Diagram 6, Thinned Corsican pine, pre-regeneration felling – year 1

Diagram 7, Regeneration coupe with natural regeneration – year 8

Diagram 8, Regeneration coupe, well stocked with regeneration thinned – year 20

Natural regeneration should not be fenced except where rabbit populations are high or public pressure is preventing regeneration. It should be prepared for by tilling the soil at its simplest, a branched log dragged over the site, but if available an agricultural harrow to create a seedbed within the coupe in the first year. This exercise should coincide with a good seed year. Where there is subsequent bramble and fern invasion, weeding should be undertaken using a selective weedkiller annually in the early summer, however, by regenerating from the centre of a compartment outwards, it is hoped that this will not be necessary on most sites. Restocking vs Natural Regeneration It is attractive to think in terms of using only natural regeneration as it is less disruptive to species habitat, provides for a greater range of habitats, is more attractive in that it breaks up the ‘plantation effect’, is less demanding of resources and retains species varieties that are adapted to the local climate. The downsides are that it is more complicated to manage, it is commercially less efficient and takes much longer to establish (6 to 20 years as opposed to 3 to 4 for planting).

It is suggested that the factors which will influence decisions are: • The need for speed in the restocking process • The desirability of change in species composition e.g. increasing Scots pine or broadleaf composition 30 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

• The existence of ground cover, such as bramble, grass or buckthorn • The viability of seed and seed sources • The availability of resources – money for fencing, seedlings, personnel for marking, specialised felling skills.

Thus the justification for speeding up the regeneration process by planting are many, especially in this first phase of the working plan. The overriding consideration being that given the skewed age structure, it is imperative that restocking is fast and successful in the effort to redress the age imbalance. Furthermore in the early stages of the Plan, public perception must be of positive, successful management interventions and planting will most likely achieve this.

The use of natural regeneration will be best considered where it has already been proved to be a success and is more likely to work in those areas where public pressure is lower. Mangers will also feel less pressured to plant when suitable regeneration sites are only occasionally visited by the public. Restocking Felling, Thinning and Extraction It is assumed that contractors will do the bulk of thinning and restocking felling, where owners and managers do not have sufficient staff. All work should be marked to ensure control as contractors will not have the incentive to follow non-obligatory guidelines. Where marking is not possible, contracts should specify very clear requirements for thinning spacing, tree selection, coupe size and should include penalty clauses for non-compliance.

The use of extraction vehicles should be managed carefully as although the sandy soils do not suffer compaction, the dune morphology can be damaged. The timing of the work should be carefully planned for with prolonged access being avoided during the wettest periods. Managers should monitor impact of machinery during operations.

Finally, contractors should be vetted for quality of work and professionalism. Cleaning A number of the forest areas will require regular or cyclical maintenance. This may vary from swiping open grass sward, to weeding new plantations, to cutting excessive ivy growth off infested trees. The operations may be simple ‘all-over’ treatments or may require careful tailoring to meet specific site requirements e.g. some ivy left where it forms valuable bird nesting and bat roosting sites, in some habitats grass sward would benefit from creeping willow or birch regeneration being left. Woodland Hygiene and Fire Control Commercial plantations benefit from carefully regulated hygiene regimes. However, given the conservation objectives in the Plan area, it is desirable to leave standing dead trees, lying deadwood, multiple and contorted stems, ‘character trees’ and a species mixture where there is natural regeneration (of holly, yew, hawthorn, alder).

There is a danger of the fungus Heterobasidion annosum gaining a foothold once restocking felling and thinning becomes a regular operation again. It is imperative that stumps are treated throughout the forest to prevent infestation. It is desirable to use the Pinnioforum sp. treatment (as opposed to urea) as a longer lasting, more successful treatment. If Heterobasidion is not kept under control, then it is conceivable that a second generation of pine would fail in infected stands, over time this would gradually change the face of the Sefton coastland, eventually threatening the red squirrel.

Although fires are common, major fire events appear to be rare in the Sefton area. This is not to say that major fires will not happen. Given the very heavy public use, in a dry summer fires do occur and could become of major importance. This suggests that

Final Version 31 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023 although there is probably not a need for major investment in fire fighting systems fire dams, patrols, vehicles and specialised equipment the maintenance of existing equipment, fire breaks, brashing and the cleaning of brash in vulnerable compartments is still important. There are a many natural breaks in the forest area due to changes in ownership and landuse and these should continue to be utilised as natural firebreaks. However there are several large, contiguous blocks where breaks should be maintained. This applies largely to the Ainsdale Nature Reserve and National Trust land. It will be desirable to continue to utilise roads, rides, landscape and landuse features. The width of the breaks should be at a minimum, equivalent to more than the height of the tallest trees in the adjacent stands. Exceptions can be made to width in a few sensitive locations where road access is good, road surfaces all-weather and there are staff on-site who are trained in tree felling techniques and would be able to increase the width of breaks in the event of an emergency e.g. a crown fire during a period with strong winds. In general it is important to maintain the breaks by swiping the grass verges during the summer, clearing tree regeneration and sucker growth annually and clearing deadwood and rubbish throughout the summer and autumn months and after storms.

Managers/owners should continue to produce road maps for access and to liaise on an annual basis with the local Fire Brigades to discuss and test emergency plans. The following map shows where the fire breaks should be maintained in the next ten years, the breaks are all based on existing roads, some of which have permanent sealed surfaces:

Map 6, Firebreak Lines, Sefton Pinewoods

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Finally it is vital that managers and interest groups recognise the long-term nature of the forest operations. For example, opening a regeneration coupe may not demonstrate obvious results for 5 to 6 years; equally the effect of thinning young pine can initially seem to be damaging, but within 5 years the trees will have closed canopy again putting on height to the extent that the effect of the operation will no longer be noticeable.

The Red Squirrel Silvicultural decisions will be made to favour red squirrel habitat, so it is important to summarise the principles that will guide management.

The Sefton Coast pinewoods are considered by some to be a ‘refuge’ by virtue of their isolation within a relatively treeless agricultural hinterland. To maintain the woodlands as a suitable habitat for the red squirrel, they must to some extent remain isolated. Within the woodland adequate cover of suitable coning pine and other small seeded species must be retained. Heavily coning and suitable fruiting trees should be retained and operations which affect the canopy over larger areas should be avoided in years when food is scarce. Forest operations should, as far as possible, seek to minimise the disturbance to the canopy with coupes and thinning sited to maintain bridges or corridors between undisturbed areas: Map 7, Canopy Corridors on the Ainsdale Sand Dunes NNR

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Map 8, Canopy Corridors on the ‘squirrel reserve’, National Trust, Formby Point.

It is felt that any amount of broadleaf above 10% of the total area is likely to encourage an invasion by the grey squirrel and it is therefore imperative that owners keep the broadleaf species mix below this threshold. Pine is crucial as greys do not habitually feed on pine cones. However, it must be said that the preponderance of Corsican pine in the forest structure has its own dangers. If there is a bad coning year coupled with a year bad for diseases, then the red squirrel population might drop to a level where grey squirrels could become established by virtue of the woodlands being ‘empty’ of reds. It is being suggested that the percentage of Scots pine, mostly in the more protected rear woods, be increased to up to 30 to 40% of total pine.

The logic behind mixing species is that Corsican pine cones from about 25 years of age, but begins to drop off after 90 and it has a coning cycle of 5 years. An increase in Scots pine which produces cones sooner from about 15 years and for a longer period up to 100 years or more with a coning cycle of 3 years will reduce the likelihood of species specific lean years coinciding. To diversify the feeding base, the judicious use of Norway spruce and Japanese larch, together with the small-seeded broadleaves and coppiced sycamore under-story in some selected areas will help maintain a diverse, more constant food source.

Currently the age structure, with over 70% above 60 years of age suggests that within 20 years most of the pine will have a reducing cone crop. It is therefore critical that the forest

34 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023 be managed as a ‘normal’ forest. This will ensure a continuous and vigorous cone production.

The effect of various management scenarios on the Ainsdale Sand Dunes National Nature Reserve are explored in the following graph (pers comm. Adam G):

Diagram 9, The Effect of Management on Squirrel Feeding Area

1 2 0

1 0 0

8 0 No action 6 0 Active Management 4 0 Habitatarea(ha) 2 0

0 0 5 1 0 1 5 2 0 2 5 3 0 3 5 4 0 4 5 5 0 5 5 6 0 Tim e in 5 year intervals

Two scenarios are explored here: ‘No action’ where the pinewoods are allowed to age with a gradual decay of food source for the squirrel, resulting in a gradual loss of suitable feeding area to the point of probable population collapse. It is suggested that this process would take about 50 years. The second scenario, ‘active management’, represents a gradual replacement of the aging pinewoods at the rate of about 15 hectares every 5 years – here the effect of replacing the pine is to reduce the suitable feeding area for about 25 years to the point at which it begins to increase once again as the younger trees begin to produce cones.

These figures are based on the area of suitable feeding habitat, rather than squirrel numbers, but the assumption is that the red squirrel population would be affected by loss of feeding habitat and would then respond to any subsequent management in pattern similar to that demonstrated by the graph lines. This graph clearly demonstrates the need for management, it also highlights the importance of beginning the renewal process as soon as possible. Any further delay will increase the effect of a reducing feeding areathe ‘dip’ in the graph will deepen so extending a recovery period.

The main points to be taken from this representation are that: Firstly, management work should begin immediately to ‘normalise’ the forest area. Secondly, that once work does begin, initially there will be a reduction in suitable squirrel habitat and probably numbers, but if the reduction is understood to be a predictable response with the subsequent improvement, then it will be acceptable.

Production Forecasts and Yields The work of Alan Bale on the Ainsdale National Nature Reserve is drawn on to provide some indications of what can be expected from the pine crops in the Sefton area.

Regular thinning over 40 to 50 hectares and restocking over an area of 10 to 12 hectares on a 5 year cycle of production, the pine timber will generate a significant amount of material. This is assuming that the area of pine remains constant at about 263 hectares and that for the first 20 years some 3 hectares is felled per year. Final Version 35 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Using Bale’s figures as an indicator, where he found standing timber volumes ranging between 80m 3 and 450m 3 per hectare, thinning and felling over the 5 year cycle could produce 1,800m 3 or more.

Once again the key to commercial interest is in the co-operation of owners in marketing timber and other produce. Together, the owners can produce quantities of reasonable quality timber that will be attractive to timber merchants and will ensure some financial return on restocking felling and thinning operations. These issues are dealt with in more detail in the next section.

Marketing and Utilisation It has already been suggested that the Sefton Coast woodlands have the potential for producing regionally important quantities of wood fibre and timber. A key to making the most of this potential lies in the co-ordination of supply to the markets. The Sefton Coast Forest Plan Steering Group, using this Woodland Working Plan, is perhaps the mechanism by which this co-ordination could occur.

Potential Markets Softwood timber does not present a marketing problem at the present time. It is relatively easy to sell to large scale industrial users (see below). It may be useful for some owners to outline the process of selling timber in order to make it clear as to what level of involvement is needed on the part of the owner or land manager.

Timber to be felled needs to be selected and marked according to the principles already discussed in this document. It is acknowledged that many owners may not have this skill. The Mersey Forest or other organisations with the appropriate skills may carry out this job. Timber may be sold standing to a contractor who will carry out the harvesting and sell the logs. The owner’s input can be limited to contacting a number of contractors in order to get the best price for the timber. Obviously benefits can be gained from cooperation between owners in that larger parcels sizes mean that contractors can operate more efficiently, which may be reflected in higher prices paid.

Selling Timber to Industrial Users Processing facilities such as the board mills at Knowsley and Chirk will buy softwood roundwood. Shotton Paper use large volumes of softwood timber to manufacture thermo- mechanical pulp for newsprint. These uses are ideal for softwood thinnings because the long fibres give excellent mechanical properties in the final product. As the timber is broken down (to varying degrees) in the chipboard, MDF and pulping processes the size of the tree is not as important as for alternative uses (e.g. saw milling). However, even the board and paper mills do have minimum specifications for timber (see below) as logs with very poor form cause problems for the highly automated processing equipment.

Table 6, Typical Board or Paper Mill Specification for Softwood Roundwood Delivered to the Mill Gate

Length (m) Diameter Over Bark (cm) max min 2.7-3.6, 1.8 -2.3 50 6

Prices for softwood roundwood are currently low (£20-£25/T delivered to the mill) and continue to suffer from downward pressure. It is important to note that timber supplied to 36 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023 manufacturers producing commodity materials will be subject to downward price pressure because of the highly competitive markets that these producers sell into. The cost of the timber in relation to the value of the final product will always be significant. For example, timber typically makes up 50% of the costs associated with chipboard manufacture. An advantage of supplying a local processing facility is the fact that transport costs will be lower which in theory will mean more value can be realised from the raw material.

Other Uses Larger hardwood and softwood logs with straight form and few defects (knots, reaction wood, forking etc) may be suitable as saw logs. A timber buyer would typically visit the site and offer a price based on either standing timber or felled and stacked at roadside. The Mersey Forest could offer advice on grading and quality whether timber may be suitable as saw logs.

Hardwood logs can present more of a challenge to sell. High quality logs will sell easily as saw logs (see above) but it is likely that the majority of hardwood timber is of lower quality. For example, sycamore is relatively common and is often regarded as an invasive species with poor timber. Traditionally it has been used for kitchen implements and furniture. It is possible to make flooring from sycamore as well as other hardwood species. ‘Rustic’ timber flooring is at present in-vogue and makes a feature of defects such as knots.

Some hardwoods such as elm, robina, yew, apple, pear, holly are desirable to wood turners. These will be available in only small quantities but the timber is relatively valuable.

Owners will again benefit from co-operation as it is usually easier to sell larger quantities of timber.

Marketing Lower Quality Timber A proportion of timber will be difficult to market. Prices achieved for the poorer quality material may not cover harvesting costs, particularly in the case of low-grade hardwoods. Innovation in woodland operations and in marketing timber is required to maximise financial return. Potential options include the following: • Processing of logs on site using mobile sawmills means that only processed timber needs to be transported out of the woodland. • Use of timber on site or in the immediate locality. Most woodland sites require timber for items such as fencing, gates, styles, benches. There may be potential for some timber to be processed on site using simplistic processing (mobile sawmills) for basic uses. • Rediscovering uses for timber. Many traditional woodworking skills have died out in the last half-century. Demand for rustic products is growing. Products often sell for a high value although this is dependant on product quality, packaging, branding, image and the retail mechanism used. • Technology. Advancements in technology may allow low-grade timber to be utilised in higher value end uses e.g. finger jointing and improved glues allowing the use of short dimension logs in making long span timber.

The Mersey Forest Timber Project The Mersey Forest Timber Project aims to develop markets for locally grown timber in The Mersey Forest area. Tools available include the following: • Grant aid to promote market development through training, capital purchases and marketing; • Technical advice to assist with, for example, modifying processes or equipment to use different types of timber;

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• Support the initiatives that look to process timber on site or seek revive traditional woodworking crafts in small-scale industries; • Business advice for companies that wish to become more efficient or expand; • Job creation through training and work placements.

For example, the project could assist with the following operations in the Sefton Coast woodlands: • Assistance in dealing with necessary paperwork; • Financial assistance to make thinning and harvesting operations economic; • Financial assistance to improve access for harvesting operations; • Coordination between the various owners to gain from economies of scale when carrying out thinning operations; • Providing a useful contacts list on a yearly basis in addition to copies of the timber business directory (Root and Branch).

The money for the above assistance comes from the Merseyside Objective 1 European Regional Development Fund. The present scheme runs until December 2001. It is likely that similar funding will become available in the future. All grant aid is subject to application procedures and eligibility for funding. Please contact The Mersey Forest for more details.

The coordination role is vital and will be through communication on an individual owner basis as well as through the task group. It is important to maintain transparency between the owners in order to be able to maximise opportunities for cooperation.

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Section 2

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2.1 Sefton Coast Woodlands by Compartment

2.1.1 Background The database used to compile the information for this Plan is based on that used by EAS (previously JCAS) in its Sefton Coast Woodland and Scrub Management Strategy, November 1999.

The original database has been up-dated and moved into database software. Although essentially the same some of the coded data has been dropped and aspects of the inventory carried out in 2000 / 2001 included. The database the full version in MS Access known as sftn_data.mdb , with an alternative abbreviated version in MS Excel known as sft_data.xls be distributed to each of the owners in digital form (CD ROM) as part of the plan. The owners can choose to use their digital copies as ‘working copies’ to be up-dated and added to for management purposes.

It is essential that a definitive version be deposited, for ‘safe-keeping’, with an appropriate organisation (such as EAS) to ensure that all changes can be centralised at review points in the Plan period. This copy should remain unchanged and only be up-dated at appropriate intervals (every five years) using information gathered from new inventories and from the owners. The original copy should be up-dated and the up-dated version then be sent out to the owners as the new ‘official’ database. This process will prevent the creation of multiple copies that diverge over the years, but will ensure that changes are incorporated to keep the Plan operational.

2.1.2 Abbreviations etc. A number of abbreviations are used. The owners are reduced to an abbreviation in many cases e.g. the National Trust to NT.

Many of the species are abbreviated:

Abbreviation Explanation

BE, Be Beech BI, Bi Birch BLF Broadleaf BTH Buckthorn CAR Alder carr CP Corsican pine HTH Hawthorn HOL, HLY Holly JL Japanese larch LP Lodgepole pine LY Leyland cypress MB Mixed broadleaf MC Mixed conifer MP Maritime pine NS Norway spruce POP,WPO, BPO Poplar, white poplar, balsam poplar SP Scots pine SY, SYC Sycamore WL, WIL , CrWL Willow, crack willow WSH Woody shrubs

Final Version 41 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

42 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

2.1.3 The Sefton Woodlands Database Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Planting Age General Comments No. Area Type year class (years) 1a Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.10 CP Pine wood 1970 31-40 Underthinned CP 1a Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.17 CP Pine wood 1970 31-40 Underthinned CP 1a Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.13 CP Pine wood 1970 31-40 Underthinned CP 1a Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.09 CP Pine wood 1970 31-40 Underthinned CP 1b Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.07 CP Pine wood 1975 21-30 Isolated copse 1c Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.19 WPO Poplar scrub 1985 11-20 Boundary 'hedge' 1e Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.60 WPO Mixed wood 1965 31-40 Poplar scub SY 1970 31-40 Mixed, CP and Bi 1f Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 1.39 WPO Mixed wood 1960 41-50 Poplar scrub MB 1970 31-40 Poplar scrub and CP mix 1g Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.20 CP Pine wood 1980 21-30 Boundary screen 1h Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.18 WPO/CP Poplar scrub 1970 31-40 Scrub poplar & CP mix 1i Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.19 CP Pine wood 1970 31-40 Mostly CP, screen to road 1j Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.15 CP Pine wood 21-30 Small CP copse 2a Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.53 CP Pine wood 1940 61-70 Exposed, maturing CP 2b Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.06 CP Pine wood 1970 31-40 Maturing CP, well spaced 2c Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.13 CP Pine wood 1940 61-70 Exposed, maturing CP 2d Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.06 LY,WL,CP Mixed wood 1970 31-40 Scrub CP,WL, older Leylandii 2e Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.04 LP Pine wood 1979 21-30 Maturing LP, reasonable form 2f Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.07 CP Pine wood 1940 61-70 Exposed CP, holly understory 2g Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.18 CP Pine wood 1940 61-70 Maturing CP, underthinned 2h Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 1.84 CP Pine wood 1940 61-70 Maturing CP, underthinned 2i Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.32 SYC,WPO BLF wood 1935 61-70 Old BLF wood round cottage 2j Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.15 CP Pine wood 1987 11-20 Maturing, well spaced CP 2k Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.39 SP,MP Pine wood 1910 91-100 Exposed, character SP, MP 2l Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.53 BI,BTH,POP Mixed scrub 11-20 Dune slack mixed BLF 2m Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.95 POP,BI Mixed scrub 1950 51-60 Scrubby screen round Hawes 2n Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.34 CAR BLF wood 1940 61-70 Vigorous alder carr, Bi 2o Hillside Golf Club Birkdale Hills LNR 0.40 BI,BTH,POP Mixed scrub 11-20 Dune slack mixed BLF 3b Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 4.31 CP Pine wood 1905 91-100 Stunted frontal CP CP 1970 31-40 Regeneration Bare Grass sward 3c Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 1.95 MB Mixed wood 1970 31-40 Bi/Ald/CP/SP 3d Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 1.55 CP Pine wood 1930 71-80 Good quality, overstocked 3e Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 4.77 CP Pine wood 1930 71-80 Good quality, overstocked 3f Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 1.03 CP Pine wood 1950 51-60 Maturing CP, overstocked

Final Version 43 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Planting Age General Comments No. Area Type year class (years) 3g Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.72 CP Pine wood 1950 51-60 Good quality, overstocked CP 1980 21-30 Fairway edge regen 3h Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.12 BTH Buckthorn scr 1980 21-30 Bi, Buckthorn scrub 3i Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 1.61 CP Pine wood 1910 91-100 Mature, overstocked 3j Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.52 AR BLF wood 1950 51-60 Mature Ald 3k Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.84 CP Pine wood 1905 91-100 Mature CP, overstocked 3l Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.13 BI Mixed scrub 1960 41-50 Bi scrub 3m Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.11 BI Mixed scrub 1965 31-40 Bi scrub, bankside 3n Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.43 SP Pine wood 1905 91-100 Slow grown SP overstocked 3o Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 2.43 MB Mixed scrub 1980 21-30 Pop/Bi scrub, some CP 3p Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 2.75 Bare Bare Grass sward, Wil scrub 3q Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.98 CP Pine wood 1950 51-60 Maturing CP, overstocked 4a Formby Golf Club Dale Slack Gutter 1.01 CP Pine wood 1940 61-70 Frontal CP 4b Formby Golf Club Dale Slack Gutter 1.11 CP Pine wood 1940 61-70 Mature frontal CP 4c Formby Golf Club Dale Slack Gutter 0.33 SP,CP Pine wood 1965 31-40 Stunted SP 4d Formby Golf Club Dale Slack Gutter 1.19 LP Pine wood 1965 31-40 Windblown LP 4e Formby Golf Club Dale Slack Gutter 0.26 CP Pine wood 1965 31-40 Mature CP, a few LP 4f Formby Golf Club Dale Slack Gutter 0.64 SP Pine wood 1910 91-100 Stunted frontal SP 4g Formby Golf Club Old Plantation 0.13 CP,SP Pine wood 1910 91-100 Mature frontal pinewood LP 1962 31-40 Small area scrappy LP 4h Formby Golf Club Old Plantation 0.26 CP,SP Pine wood 1910 91-100 Frontal pinewood, open scrub 5a Formby Golf Club Wedge 0.15 CP Pine wood 1975 21-30 Unthinned, unbrashed 5b Formby Golf Club Wedge 0.55 CP,LP Pine wood 1965-70 31-40 Unthinned, unbrashed 5c Formby Golf Club Wedge 0.45 CP,LP Pine wood 1970 31-40 Unthinned, unbrashed 5d Formby Golf Club Wedge 0.32 CP,LP Pine wood 1970-75 21-30 Unthinned, unbrashed 5e Formby Golf Club Wedge 0.54 CP,LP Pine wood 1975 21-30 Unthinned, unbrashed 5f Formby Golf Club Wedge 0.11 CP Pine wood 1993 1-10 Unthinned, unbrashed 5g Formby Golf Club Wedge 0.64 SP Pine wood 1905 91-100 Mixed aged, SP to north 6a Formby Golf Club New Track 0.25 CP Pine wood 1960-80 21-30 Maturing CP BI 1970 31-40 Scrub Bi CP 1906 91-100 Mature CP patch 6b Formby Golf Club New Track 0.46 CP Pine wood 1905 91-100 Mature CP, underplanted CP 1993 1-10 Planting 6c Formby Golf Club New Track 0.69 SP Mixed wood 1960-80 21-30 Fairway divider 6d Formby Golf Club New Track 0.80 BI Mixed scrub 1950-80 21-30 Birch copses 6e Formby Golf Club New Track 0.43 BI Mixed scrub 1950-80 21-30 Bi scrub 6f Formby Golf Club New Track 0.28 CP Pine wood 1960-80 21-30 Maturing plantation 6g Formby Golf Club Scots/sycamore wood 0.29 CP,SY Mixed wood 1906 51-100 Mature CP, maturing syc 7 Formby Golf Club Fariway block 0.23 BI BLF wood 1970-80 21-30 Scrub screen

44 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Planting Age General Comments No. Area Type year class (years) 8a Formby Golf Club Golf Cottage 0.26 MC Pine wood 1965-80 21-30 Mixed, open pine, Bi 8b Formby Golf Club Golf Cottage 1.34 SP Mixed scrub 1950-80 31-40 Mixed open scrub BI 1940-80 21-30 Mixed open scrub BPO 1960-80 21-30 Mixed open scrub Bare Mixed open scrub 8c Formby Golf Club Golf Cottage 0.38 Bare Mixed scrub 11-20 Bi, Ald scrub Scrub Bare 8d Formby Golf Club Golf Cottage 0.37 LP Pine wood 1960-70 31-40 Very poor LP CP 1960-70 31-40 Sparse CP 9a Formby Golf Club Railway Belt 0.26 LP Pine wood 1965 31-40 Very poor LP CP 1975-80 21-30 Sparse CP 9b Formby Golf Club Railway Belt 0.28 LP Pine wood 1965 31-40 Very poor LP, some CP 9c Formby Golf Club Railway Belt 0.27 LP,CP Pine wood 1965 31-40 Very poor LP, some CP CP 1993 1-10 Unthinned CP 9d Formby Golf Club Railway Belt 0.39 LP Pine wood 1975-80 21-30 Pine screen, some Pop CP 1975-80 21-30 Pine screen, some Pop 11 Formby Golf Club Shireburn Road 1.72 BI Mixed wood 1950-60 41-50 Mixed, Bi, Pop BI 1993 1-10 Planted, Bi, CP, Oak CP 1920 81-90 Mature CP CP 1993 1-10 Planting 12a SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.56 CP Pine wood 1900 101-110 Old, frontal pinewood 12b SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 1.19 PO,CP Mixed wood 1983 11-20 Pop scrub, small CP plant 12c SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.50 CP Pine wood 1983 11-20 CP planting CP 1900 11-20 Mature patch of CP 12d SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.18 CP Pine wood 1984 11-20 Overstocked planting 12e SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.33 CP Pine wood 1991 11-20 Overstocked planting 12f SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.48 CP Pine wood 1990 11-20 2 stage CP plantation 12g SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 3.59 CP Pine wood 1900 101-110 Mature, overstocked CP BE 1940 61-70 Maturing beech 13a SMBC Lifeboat Rd Sth 0.86 CP,SP Pine wood 1982 11-20 CP/SP plantation PO,WSH 1982 11-20 Pop patches in plantation 13b SMBC Lifeboat Rd Sth 2.06 CP Pine wood 1905 91-100 Mature, overstocked, gaps 14 Private Greenloons Farm 0.59 WPO/SY BLF Wood 1960 41-50 15 St Luke's Church St Luke's Church Wood 0.45 WPO/SY BLF Wood 1960 41-50 Mature trees, sycamore regen BE 1940 61-70 Line of mature beech 16a Private, Shorrocks Hill Shorrocks Hill 9.19 CP Pine wood 1901 101-110 Mature CP BE 1901 101-110 Felled by Country Club CP 1960-80 21-30 Maturing BPO 1975 21-30 Scattered trees SP 1901 101-110 Mature SP

Final Version 45 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Planting Age General Comments No. Area Type year class (years) 16b Private, Shorrocks Hill Shorrocks Hill 0.71 WPO Mixed Wood 1930-40 61-70 Mature mixed wood SP 1901 101-110 Mature SP SY 1920-30 71-80 Maturing regen sycamore BE 1920-30 71-80 Scattered trees 16c Private Shorrocks Hill Country Club 2.18 CP Pine wood 1901 101-110 Mature SP, Be, Oak 17 Private Badgers Rake 1.88 MB Mixed wood 1950 51-60 CP 1920 81-90 CP,SP 1920 81-90 18a SMBC Ravenmeols scrub 0.46 WPO Poplar scrub 1960 41-50 Frontal scrub, protects buildings 18b SMBC Ravenmeols scrub 0.86 WPO Poplar scrub 1960 41-50 Frontal scrub 18c SMBC Ravenmeols scrub 0.93 WPO Poplar scrub 1980? 11-20 Frontal scrub, protects CP wood 18d SMBC Ravenmeols scrub 0.11 WPO Poplar scrub 1980 21-30 Frontal scrub, protects CP wood 18e SMBC Ravenmeols scrub 0.18 WPO Poplar scrub 1980 21-30 Frontal scrub, protects CP wood 18f SMBC R'meols new planting 2.22 CP,SP,MB Mixed wood 2002 1-10 Potential planting 18g SMBC R'meols new planting 2.11 CP,SP,MB Mixed wood 1998 1-10 New planting 18h SMBC R'meols Mixed wood 0.68 BLF Wood 1950 51-60 Maturing syc 18i SMBC R'meols Mixed wood 1.32 CP,SYC Mixed Wood 1910 91-100 Mixed wood, Syc and CP 18j SMBC R'meols Mixed wood 1.41 CP,SYC Mixed Wood 1950 51-60 Mixed wood, CP and Syc 18l SMBC R'meols Shelterbelt 4.73 CP Pine wood 1905 91-100 Exposed mature pine Bare Past wind blow 18m SMBC R'meols Mixed wood 0.70 CP,SYC Pine wood 1910 91-100 Mostly CP, some syc to rear 18n SMBC Asparagus Cott Scrub 1.40 WPO,SYC BLF Wood 1970 21-30 Mixed aged and species 18o SMBC Ravenmeols scrub 0.22 WPO Poplar scrub 1960 41-50 Frontal scrub, protects CP wood 19 EN Cabin Hill NNR 1.02 SY BLF Wood 1940 61-70 Maturing, scrappy BLF wood CP,WPO,MB 1970-80 21-30 Maturing, scrappy BLF wood 20 Private Firwood 1.25 BE,MB Mixed Wood 1901 101-110 MB 1970 31-40 SY 1950 51-60 WPO 1970 31-40 21a Private Alexander Road 0.23 CP Pine wood 1901 101-110 21b Private Alexander Road 0.14 SY BLF wood 1950 51-60 22 Private Asparagus Cottage 0.11 SY BLF Wood 1930 71-80 22 mature Syc trees 23a RFCA Grange Farm 0.34 SY Mixed Wood 1930 71-80 Mature Syc CP 1960 41-50 Maturing CP, underthinned 23a RFCA Grange Farm 0.96 WPO Poplar scrub 1970 31-40 WPO scrub 23b RFCA Wignalls Butts 0.23 CP Pine wood 1970 31-40 Maturing CP, good condition 23b RFCA Wignalls Butts 1.32 CP Pine wood 1970 31-40 Mixed CP/BLF, house screen 23b RFCA Wignalls Butts 0.21 CP Pine wood 1970 31-40 Mixed CP/BLF, house screen 23c RFCA Battery Cottage 0.05 CP,MB Mixed wood 1960 41-50 Mixed CP/BLF, house screen 23c RFCA Battery Cottage 0.07 CP,MB Mixed wood 1960 41-50 Pop, mixed BLF/CP

46 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Planting Age General Comments No. Area Type year class (years) 23c RFCA Battery Cottage 0.17 CP,MB Mixed wood 1960 41-50 Pop, mixed BLF/CP 23d RFCA Shanty 0.22 SY BLF Wood 1930 71-80 Pop, mixed BLF/CP 23e RFCA Shanty 0.79 SY BLF Wood 1930 71-80 Pop, mixed BLF/CP 23f RFCA Shanty 0.29 CP Pine wood 1960 41-50 CP plantation, good cover 23g RFCA Shanty 0.21 WPO Poplar scrub 1970 31-40 Bi mix in CP 23h RFCA Shanty 0.17 WPO Poplar scrub 1970 31-40 Poplar scrub 23i RFCA Shanty 0.32 WL,BI BLF Wood 1970 31-40 BLF scrub wood 24a RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 1.97 CP Pine wood 1989 11-20 CP plantation, good cover 24b RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 1.40 CP Pine wood 1989 11-20 CP plantation, good cover 24c RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 1.37 CP Pine wood 1983 11-20 CP plantation, good cover CP,JL,MB 1983 11-20 Syc scrub 24d RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 1.10 CP,MB Pine wood 1993 1-10 Mixed CP/BLF 24e RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 3.44 CP,JL Pine wood 1993 1-10 CP & JL planting, MB 1993 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps 24f RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 0.97 CP,JL,MB Mixed wood 2003 1-10 New planting site 24g RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 1.91 CP,JL Mixed Wood 1993 1-10 CP & JL planting, MB 1993 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps 24j RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 0.56 CP,JL Mixed Wood 1993 1-10 CP & JL planting, MB 1993 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps 24k RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 1.33 CP,JL Mixed Wood 1993 1-10 CP & JL planting, MB 1993 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps 24l RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 0.92 CP,JL Mixed Wood 1993 1-10 CP & JL planting, MB 1993 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps 24m RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 0.34 CP,JL Mixed Wood 1993 1-10 CP & JL planting, MB 1993 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps 24n RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 4.47 CP,JL Mixed Wood 1993 1-10 CP & JL planting, MB 1993 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps 24p RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 0.48 CP,JL Pine wood 1993 1-10 CP & JL planting, MB 1993 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps 24q RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 0.10 CP/BLF Mixed Wood 1998 1-10 CP, BLF mix in triangle 24s RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 0.35 CP,JL Pine wood 1993 1-10 CP & JL planting, MB 1993 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps 24t RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 0.27 CP,JL Pine wood 1998 1-10 CP & JL planting, MB 1998 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps 24u RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 0.58 CP Pine wood 1983 11-20 CP planting, maturing WPO 1960 41-50 WPO scrub 24v RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 0.09 CP Pine wood 1993 1-10 CP planting, maturing 24w RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 0.29 CP/BLF Mixed wood 1993 1-10 Screen planting 24x RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 0.17 CP/BLF Mixed wood 1993 1-10 Screen planting 24y RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 0.47 CP,JL Pine wood 1993 1-10 CP & JL planting,

Final Version 47 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Planting Age General Comments No. Area Type year class (years) 24z RFCA Altcar Ranges Recent Planting 0.85 MB Pine wood 1993 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps 25 NT Old Plantation 3.64 CP,SP Pine wood 1910 91-100 Mature frontal pinewood CP 1991 11-20 Young plantation LP 1962 31-40 Very scrappy LP 26a NT New Plantation 0.33 ALD,BI BLF wood 1945 51-60 10 year old coppice 26b NT New Plantation 2.67 CP Pine wood 1951 51-60 Reasonable plantation CP 1921 81-90 some SP, syc, bir. CP,SP 1990 11-20 Young plantation 27 NT Old Plantation West 1.35 CP Pine wood 1921 81-90 Damaged frontal pinewood CP 1996 1-10 Failed plantation Bare Open sward 28a NT Landmark Wood 0.33 SP Mixed wood 1985 11-20 Mixed plantation 28b NT Landmark Wood 1.48 SP Pine wood 1921 81-90 Stunted , frontal SP CP 1914 81-90 Some stunting, SP/CP mix 29 NT Cornerstone Wood 4.17 SP Pine wood 1914 81-90 Stunted and wind blown SP 30 NT Pinetree Wood 2.51 CP Pine wood 1914 81-90 Mature frontal pinewood SP 1914 81-90 Mature frontal pinewood SP,CP 1995 1-10 Young plantation 31a NT Victoria Wood 4.09 BI Mixed wood 1951 51-60 Scrub, high Syc content CP 1916 81-90 Area of mature CP SP,CP,MB 1991 11-20 Mixed plantation SY 1951 51-60 Patches of mixed wood SY 1964 31-40 Scub Syc BI 1965 31-40 Patches of mixed wood 31b NT Victoria Wood 2.05 BI Mixed wood 1960 41-50 Mixed Bi wood CP 1921 81-90 Isolated pines 32 NT Cornerstone Wood 3.17 CP Pine wood 1916 81-90 Mature CP 33a NT Big Gate Wood 3.23 SY Mixed wood 1951 51-60 Older Syc block BI 1951 51-60 Mixed Bi/Syc/SP AR 1941 61-70 Mixed Ald/Bi wood 33b NT Victoria Road Wood 1.34 CP Pine wood 1940 61-70 Screen along access road 33c NT Big Gate Wood 0.28 CP,SP,MB Mixed wood 2001 1-10 Old asparagus field 34a NT Squirrel Wood 1.18 SP Pine wood 1903 91-100 Underplanted oak CP 1941 61-70 SP / CP mix SY 1951 51-60 Mature syc roadside BE 1979 21-30 Mature SP overstorey POP 1979 21-30 Mature poplar roadside 34b NT Squirrel Wood 2.27 SP Pine wood 1903 91-100 Some stunted growth CP 1921 81-90 Some SP mix 34c NT Squirrel Wood 0.64 SP,CP Pine wood 1991 11-20 Old asparagus field

48 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Planting Age General Comments No. Area Type year class (years) 35a NT Farm Wood 2.15 SP Pine wood 1903 91-100 Mature CP with some BLF BI 1950 51-60 Edge along old field SY 1951 51-60 Patches near houses 35b NT Farm Wood 4.64 SP Pine wood 1921 81-90 Quality timber stand CP 1941 61-70 Quality timber stand CP,SP 1991 11-20 Pine plantation CP,SP 1996 1-10 Pine plantation 35c NT Farm Wood 0.17 SP,CP Pine wood 1987 11-20 SP regeneration on old field 35d NT New Planting 0.54 SP,CP,MC Pine wood 2001 1-10 New plantation 35e NT New Planting 0.19 MC Pine wood 2001 1-10 New plantation 36a NT Horse/Jennings Wood 6.50 SP Pine wood 1903 91-100 Mature, overstocked SP CP 1916 81-90 Mature, overstocked CP BI 1951 51-60 Birch patches CP,SP 1995 1-10 Small planting 36b NT New Planting 0.43 CP,SP,MB Pine wood 2001 1-10 New plantation 36c NT New Planting 0.38 CP,SP,MB Pine wood 2001 1-10 New plantation 36d NT New Planting 0.28 BI,WL,HTH BLF wood 2001 1-10 New plantation 36e NT New Planting 0.32 CP,SP,MB Pine wood 2001 1-10 New plantation 36f NT New Planting 0.22 CP,SP Pine wood 2001 1-10 New plantation 37a NT Blundell Wood 6.67 CP Pine wood 1914 81-90 Mature, overstocked CP SY 1930 71-80 Patches of mature Syc BI 1951 51-60 Mature Bi patches POP 1935 71-80 Mature Pop trees SP,CP 1992/96 1-10 Pine plantation 37b NT Blundell Wood 4.25 Bare Mixed scrub 11-20 Bare, scattered pine trees 37c NT Blundell Wood 3.24 SP/CP Pine wood 1903 91-100 Mature, overstocked SP 37d NT Larkhill Farm Wood 0.10 SYC,MB BLF wood 1940 61-70 Maturing sycamore 37e NT St Joseph's Screen 0.29 CP,MB Mixed wood 2002 1-10 New planting 38a NT Nicotine Wood 1.43 CP Pine wood 1903 91-100 Good stand, eroding front CP 1995 1-10 Small planting 38b NT Nicotine Wood 0.50 CP,SP Pine wood 1985 11-20 Small planting POP 1985 11-20 Small planting 38c NT Nicotine Wood 3.00 LP Mixed wood 1951 51-60 Exposed and stunted SY, PO,BI 1951 51-60 Mixed aged, mixed BLF 38d NT Shelterbelt 0.27 CP,MB Mixed wood 2002 1-10 New planting 39 NT Nut Wood 0.97 CP Pine wood 1951 51-60 Stunted frontal pine BI 1965 31-40 Scrub frontal BLF 40 NT Wicks Deciduous 2.20 AR,BI,SY BLF wood 1952 41-50 Mixed frontal scrub 41 NT Wicks Conifer 0.70 CP Pine wood 1924 71-80 Frontal pinewood 42 NT Evans Wood 1.02 AR,PO,SY BLF wood 1936/52 51-60 Mature BLF

Final Version 49 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Planting Age General Comments No. Area Type year class (years) 45a Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.32 SP Pine wood 1955-80 21-30 30 year SP CP 1955-80 21-30 30 year CP Scrub 1960 41-50 Scrub, Bi 45b Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.25 SP Pine wood 1910 91-100 Mature SP heavily branched CP 1970 31-40 Maturing CP 45c Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.75 SP Pine wood 1950-80 21-30 Mature branched & younger SP BI,WL 1960-70 31-40 Scrub Bi 45d Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.39 SP Pine wood 1906 91-100 Mature SP CP 1965-70 31-40 Maturing CP SY 1960-70 31-40 Maturing Syc 45e Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.28 SP Pine wood 1906 91-100 Mature, fairway edge 45f Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.17 SY BLF wood 1920-50 51-60 Maturing Syc 45g Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.29 SP,CP,BI Pine wood 1910 91-100 Maturing, fairway edge 45h Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.33 SP Pine wood 1906 91-100 Mature SP, a few CP 47 Formby Ladies Golf Club Central Block 3 0.38 LP,CP Pine wood 31-40 Maturing LP, reasonable form 48 Formby Ladies Golf Club Central Block 2 1.30 BI,MB Mixed scrub 1960 41-50 Low Bi scrub Pond irrigation pond BI 1970 31-40 Low Bi scrub CP 1970 31-40 Isolated trees 49a Formby Ladies Golf Club Central Block 1 0.79 CP,SP,LP Pine wood 1970 31-40 Partly thinned LP, poor form 49b Formby Ladies Golf Club Central Block 1 0.21 CP,MB Mixed wood 1970 31-40 Mixed, CP & scrub eastern end 50a EN Ainsdale NNR 0.88 CAR BLF wood 1905 91-100 Homogenous alder carr 50b EN Ainsdale NNR 0.39 CAR Mixed scrub 1950 51-60 Scrub in grass sward 51 EN Ainsdale NNR 1.79 SP,CP Pine wood 1935 61-70 Predominantly 'character' SP 52 EN Ainsdale NNR 3.90 CP Pine wood 1918/10 81-90 Uniform, mature CP stand Scrub CP 1970 31-40 Pine scrub, open. 53 EN Ainsdale NNR 6.08 CP Pine wood 1922/33 71-80 Uniform, overstocked CP CP 1990 11-20 CP regen in old firebreak CP 1982 11-20 CP regen in old firebreak BI 1970 31-40 Bi regen in old firebreak Bare Bare areas along tracks 54 EN Ainsdale NNR 4.63 CP Pine wood 1960 41-50 Heavily thinned CP 55 EN Ainsdale NNR 10.27 CP Pine wood 1922/33 71-80 Mature, thinned CP SY 1960 41-50 Sycamore regeneration Bare Dune slack CP 1982 11-20 CP regeneration BI 1970 31-40 Areas of Bi

50 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Planting Age General Comments No. Area Type year class (years) 56 EN Ainsdale NNR 2.10 CP Pine wood 1914 81-90 Uniform, mature CP SY 1940 61-70 Area of Syc/CP, rail side CP 1980 21-30 CP regen in old firebreak BI 1970 31-40 Birch in open patches Bare Scrub along track & field edge 57 EN Ainsdale NNR 0.95 CP Pine wood 1953 41-50 Dense, unthinned, uniform 58a EN Ainsdale NNR 6.08 CP Pine wood 1932 61-70 Mature pinewood CP 1960 41-50 Overstocked pine WPO,SY 1970 31-40 BLF slacks 58b EN Ainsdale NNR 1.83 CP Mixed scrub 1979 21-30 Mixed regeneration BI 1979 21-30 Scrub Bare Bare rearward slacks 59 EN Ainsdale NNR 2.73 BI Mixed wood 1960/79 31-40 Mature Bi CP 1979 21-30 CP regen Bare Grass sward CP 1912 81-90 Mature CP 60 EN Ainsdale NNR 6.31 CP Pine wood 1912 81-90 Mature CP CP 1933 61-70 Mature CP CP 1953 41-50 Mature CP SY 1970 31-40 Scattered Syc 61 EN Ainsdale NNR 3.07 CP Pine wood 1977 21-30 Mature CP MB 1977 21-30 Birch slack SY 1970 21-30 Scattered mature Syc 62a EN Ainsdale NNR 13.16 CP Pine wood 1930s 61-70 Mature CP CP 1953 41-50 Mature CP CP 1979 21-30 CP regeneration LP 1960 41-50 Windblown LP BI 1979 21-30 Birch dry slacks Bare Grass slacks 62b EN Ainsdale NNR 2.30 MB Mixed scrub 1970 31-40 Birch scrub 63a EN Ainsdale NNR 22.11 CP Pine wood 1913 81-90 Over mature, good quality CP 1930 71-80 Mature, good quality CP 1953 41-50 Maturing, good quality CP 1979 21-30 Mixed regeneration CP 1990 11-20 Good regeneration CP 1996 1-10 Weak regeneration MP 1913 81-90 Strip of MP SY 1960 41-50 Scrub and regen Syc SY,BI 1980 21-30 Copses within CP BI 1960 41-50 Copses within CP

Final Version 51 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Planting Age General Comments No. Area Type year class (years) BI 1980 21-30 Copses within CP AR 1950 51-60 Copses within CP Bare Grass sward 63b EN Ainsdale NNR 6.36 CP Mixed wood 1979 21-30 Frontal regeneration BI 1979 21-30 Frontal regeneration Bare Grass sward 64 EN Ainsdale NNR 5.72 CP Pine wood 1913 81-90 Ov er mature, good quality CP 1930 71-80 Over mature, good quality SY 1980 21-30 Syc understory/copses 65 EN Ainsdale NNR 8.94 CP Pine wood 1934 61-70 Ov er mature, overstocked CP 1943 51-60 Mature, overstocked CP 1980 21-30 Overstocked planting CP 1982 11-20 Overstocked planting BPO 1970 31-40 Scrub front to compartment PO 1980 21-30 Scrub front to compartment BI 1980 21-30 Copse in CP BI 1982 11-20 Scrub front to compartment Bare Grass sward 66 EN Ainsdale NNR 4.17 CP Pine wood 1923 71-80 Mature CP CP 1950 51-60 Maturing CP BPO 1970 31-40 Scattered Pop trees AR 1940 61-70 Patches of Ald BI 1960-70 31-40 Birch copses 67 EN Ainsdale NNR 2.27 MB BLF wood 1950 51-60 Mixed BLF BE 1960 41-50 Mixed BLF CP 1943 51-60 Mixed BLF 68 EN Ainsdale NNR 7.04 CP Pine wood 1900 101-110 Overmature, good quality SP 1900 101-110 Overmature, variable MP 1900 101-110 Strip of MP on west edge SY 1960 41-50 Syc understory SY 1960 41-50 Strip along boundary POP 1960 41-50 Single trees 69 Private, Pilkington Estate Ainsdale NNR 2.54 CP Pine wood 1900 101-110 Mature CP CP 1934 61-70 Mature CP 70 EN Ainsdale NNR 1.98 MB BLF wood 1950 51-60 Well developed mixed BLF Pond Pond MB 1960 41-50 Well developed mixed BLF BI 1960 41-50 Birch coppice 73 EN Ainsdale NNR 0.46 CP Pine wood 1911 91-100 Frontal pinewood

52 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Planting Age General Comments No. Area Type year class (years) 74 EN Ainsdale NNR 1.00 CrWL Mixed scrub 1960 41-50 Mosaic of Bi,Will,alder and grass MB 1960 41-50 Mosaic of Bi,Will,alder and grass Bare Bare 75 EN Ainsdale NNR 6.90 CP Pine wood 1928-35 71-80 Frontal, but reasonable condition MB 1940-50 51-60 Some BLF understory 76a EN Ainsdale NNR 5.76 MB Mixed scrub 1960-70 31-40 Birch alder woodland 76b EN Ainsdale NNR 5.03 CP Mixed scrub 1979 21-30 Isolated pine trees 77 EN Ainsdale NNR 3.13 CP Pine wood 1930-36 61-70 Mature CP, MP - windblow 79 EN Ainsdale NNR 1.26 MB Mixed scrub 1960-70 31-40 Mixed woodland, maturing Bi 81a EN Ainsdale NNR 2.40 CP Pine wood 1926 71-80 Older, but exposed CP 81b EN Ainsdale NNR 4.91 LP Pine wood 1960 41-50 Bad form LP 81c EN Ainsdale NNR 3.88 CP Pine wood 1940-60 51-60 Small clumps of CP, poor form 83 Private Golf Cottage Copse 0.20 BI BLF wood 1970 31-40 Maturing BI 84a Private Freshfield Dune Heath 0.59 BI,WPO Mixed scrub 31-40 Unmanaged heath/scrub 84b Private Freshfield Dune Heath 0.66 CP,MB Mixed Wood 31-40 Unmanaged heath/wood 85a MoD Woodvale 0.28 Elm BLF wood 1960 41-50 Unmanaged elm 85b MoD Woodvale 0.06 CP Mixed scrub 1960 41-50 CP regen 85c MoD Woodvale 0.33 WPO,SYC Mixed scrub 1960 41-50 Unmanaged BLF 85d MoD Woodvale 0.30 WPO,SYC Mixed wood 31-40 Unmanaged BLF 85e MoD Woodvale 0.06 CP Pine wood 61-70 Old pine planting 85f MoD Woodvale 0.40 LP Pine wood 31-40 LP regen(?) 85g MoD Woodvale 1.80 SP,BI,MB Mixed wood 41-50 Unmanaged planting / scrub 86a Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.07 Bi BLF wood 1960 41-50 Birch copse 86b Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.16 POP,SYC BLF wood 1960 41-50 Dense maturing pop 86b Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.25 POP,SYC BLF wood 1960 41-50 Dense maturing pop, syc 86c Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.36 POP,SYC,WL BLF wood 1950 51-60 Decaying, neglected wood 86d Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.99 CP,POP Mixed wood 11-20 Screen of mixed age/species 86e Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.55 WPO,SYC Mixed scrub 1970 31-40 WPO scrub, pine underplanted 86f Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.95 WPO,BI Mixed scrub 31-40 Scrub 86g Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.62 WPO,SYC Mixed scrub 31-40 Open scrub dividing fairways 86h Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.17 WPO,BI,MB Mixed wood 41-50 Maturing wood 86i Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.06 WIL BLF wood 31-40 Maturing wood 86j Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.49 WPO,WIL BLF wood 41-50 Ivy infested wood 86k Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.61 WIL,BI,WPO BLF wood 41-50 Willow screen 86l Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.44 NS,CP,MB Mixed wood 31-40 Fairway divider 86m Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.13 WIL,SYC BLF wood 51-60 Over mature willow 86n Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.68 WIL BLF wood 41-50 Willow boundary 86o Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.14 WPO BLF wood 41-50 Fairway divider 86p Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.22 WIL,SYC BLF wood 41-50 Boundary wood

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Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Planting Age General Comments No. Area Type year class (years) 86q Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.17 BI BLF wood 31-40 Birch copse 86r Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.12 CP,MP,LP Pine wood 31-40 Small pine stand 86s Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.32 WPO,CP,LP Mixed wood 51-60 Neglected wood 86t Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.08 WPO,SYC,WL BLF wood 31-40 Dense roadside wood 86u Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.26 WPO BLF wood 41-50 Cottage protection 86v Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.60 SYC,BI,CP Mixed wood 31-40 Screen along road 87a SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.51 WL,HTH,SYC BLF Wood 21-30 Screen, scrubby, 1 or 2 trees 87b SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.77 SYC,WPO,HTH BLF Wood 21-30 Variable, dense SYC scrub / wood 87c SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.16 WL BLF Wood 21-30 Willow scrub, fairway divider 87d SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.28 SYC,WL,CHY BLF Wood 31-40 Screen, scrubby wood 87e SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.18 WPO,BPO BLF Wood 41-50 Screen, line of mature Pop 87f SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.32 SYC,WPO,HTH BLF Wood 41-50 Screen, maturing trees 87g SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.15 SYC,WPO BLF Wood 31-40 Fairway feature, trees with gaps 87h SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.24 SYC,PVT,HLY BLF Wood 31-40 Roadside screen, maturing 87i SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.31 WL,SYC,PVT BLF Wood 1-20 Weather screen, stunted 87j SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.10 WPO,SYC,WL BLF Wood 21-30 Fairway divider, low wood 87k SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.29 SYC,WPO,WL BLF Wood 31-40 Weather screen, low wood 87l SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.09 WPO,WL BLF Wood 21-30 Fairway feature, low wood 87m SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.32 WL,WPO BLF Wood 1-20 Weather screen, exposed, stunted 87n SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.05 WL,SYC BLF Wood 1-20 Fairway feature, low wood 87o SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.06 WL BLF Wood 1-20 Fairway feature, low wood 90 Private Hawes House 2.09 Mixed wood 91-100 91a Southport & A’dale Golf Club S&A Golf Course 0.46 CP,PO Poplar scrub 31-40 91b Southport & A’dale Golf Club S&A Golf Course 0.35 PO,BI Poplar scrub 31-40 91c Southport & A’dale Golf Club S&A Golf Course 0.24 CP Pine wood 1965? 11-20 91d Southport & A’dale Golf Club S&A Golf Course 0.11 SY,PO BLF Wood 1950? 41-50 92a SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.34 SY,PO,WL Poplar scrub 41-50 Roadside scrub 92b SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.24 SY,PO,WL Poplar scrub 41-50 Roadside scrub 92c SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.70 PO,WL Poplar scrub 21-30 Roadside Bi, Pop copse 92d SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 1.06 PO,BI Mixed scrub 31-40 Valley bottom Bi, WSH scrub 92e SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.80 Bi, PO, BTH Mixed scrub 31-40 Area of Bi and WSH scrub 92f SMBC Birkdale Hills 0.34 BTH Buckthorn scr 31-40 Pure buckthorn scrub 92g SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 1.99 Bi, PO, BTH Mixed scrub 21-30 Bi, Pop, CP, BTH scrub 92h SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.44 Bi, PO, BTH Mixed scrub 21-30 Bi, Pop, CP, BTH scrub 92i SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.93 Bi, PO, BTH Mixed scrub 21-30 Bi, Pop, CP, BTH scrub 92j SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 2.22 Bi, PO, BTH Mixed scrub 21-30 Bi, Pop, CP, BTH scrub 92l SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 3.75 Bi, PO, BTH Mixed scrub 21-30 Bi, Pop, CP, BTH scrub 92m SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.64 Bi, PO, BTH Mixed scrub 21-30 Bi, Pop, CP, BTH scrub 92n SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.88 WPO,BI,WL Mixed scrub 31-40 Wet scrub, variable

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Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Planting Age General Comments No. Area Type year class (years) 92o SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 1.45 BI,WL,AR BLF wood 31-40 Scrub with Bi and Ald 92p SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.35 BI BLF wood 1965 31-40 Birch scrub 93a SMBC Falklands Way Dunes 0.53 AR BLF Wood 1930/70 31-40 Small alder copse 93b SMBC Falklands Way Dunes 0.54 CP Pine wood 1930 71-80 Roadside CP 93c SMBC Falklands Way Dunes 1.33 SY,PO,CP Mixed wood 1965 31-40 Mixed species, scrubby 93d SMBC Falklands Way Dunes 1.00 BI,WL,BTH BLF Wood 1970 31-40 Mixed, some buckthorn 93e SMBC Falklands Way Dunes 0.45 POP,WL Poplar scrub 1975 21-30 Mixed scrub, some Bi 94a SMBC Kenilworth Rd 0.33 WPO Poplar scrub 1985 11-20 Poplar scrub 94c SMBC Kenilworth Rd 0.40 POP,WL BLF Wood 1950 51-60 Scattered Syc 95a SMBC Sands Club 0.39 PO,SY,WL BLF Wood 1940 61-70 Mixed, mostly Syc and Pop 95b SMBC Sands Club 0.90 PO,WL Poplar scrub 1960 41-50 Poplar, sycamore scrub 95c SMBC Sands Club 0.41 CP,PO Pine wood 1930 71-80 Pine screen on road 96 Private Garden woods, S'port 0.97 MB BLF Wood 1930 71-80 97 SMBC Cambridge Rd, Formby 1.07 MB BLF Wood 51-60 Syc, ivy infestation 98a St Joseph's Adult Services St Josephs Hospital 1.05 PO,SY Poplar scrub 1920? 71-80 Adjacent to mature pine 98b St Joseph's Adult Services St Josephs Hospital 0.40 CP Pine wood 1940 61-70 Very scruby poplar 98c St Joseph's Adult Services St Josephs Hospital 0.30 CP/SP Pine wood 1996 1-10 New plantation, some gaps 99 Private Lark Hill Farm 2.57 SY Mixed Wood 1940 61-70 SP,CP 1930 71-80 WPO 1970 31-40 100a SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.78 WPO Poplar scrub 1986 11-20 Roadside screen 100b SMBC Wicks Conifer Wood 0.56 CP Pine wood 1924 71-80 Frontal pinewood 102a SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.44 WPO BLF Wood 1960 41-50 Large poplar trees 102b SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.20 Bare Bare Field with low scrub 102c SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.87 WPO/SY BLF Wood 1960 41-50 Mixed scrub, some trees 102d SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.18 CP Pine wood 1900 101-110 Roadside trees 102e SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.24 CP Pine wood 1900 101-110 Roadside trees 103a Private Atherton Cottage 0.09 CP Pine wood 1905 91-100 Old CP 103b Private Atherton Cottage 0.15 SY, BPO BLF Wood 1970 31-40 Maturing scrub

419.16

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2.1.4 Compartment Maps, Seton Coast Woodlands

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SECTION 3

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3.1 Proposed 5-year Plan of Operations

3.1.1 Introduction The tables and maps are based on the original database contained in the Sefton Coast Woodland and Scrub Management Strategy. For the purposes of this Working Plan the inventory and management data have been appended, imported from sftdta_full.xls into Microsoft MapInfo GIS and used to generate the tables and maps:

The following points should be noted:

The maps contained in this section of Volume I, are only a summary of the detailed management information. Reference should be made to Volume II and III if the more detailed information is required. Copies of Volumes II and III are held at the Forestry Authority offices at Delamere, The Mersey Forest Offices at Risley Moss, the Offices of The Environmental Advisory Service in Magull. Each owner/manager also has a copy of the section of Volume II relevant to their responsibility.

The unique or key identifying factor in working with the data contained in the database has been the compartment number. Very few of the compartments on the coast are homogenous in species content and age structure. To overcome this, the original structure of the database gave the larger compartments multiple entries. However, this data is not geographically located and the GIS cannot therefore cope with the multiple entries. It has been possible to reflect only the first level of data on the maps e.g. the primary species in each compartment, but not the secondary species. This means that some important operations listed in the tables associated with secondary species are not reflected on the accompanying map. It is necessary for a full understanding of the management information that reference be made to accompanying tables. A more detailed analysis is made in Volume II of the Working Plan.

Only those owners who could be traced or have indicated their interest in participating in the Forest Working Plan are included in this section.

3.1.2 Survey Methodology The whole forest area was surveyed using the compartments as the primary unit, a detailed inventory was not carried out.

The process of surveying:

1. An initial site visit to discuss issues together with owner or site manager. 2. A second detailed site visit to walk through each compartment to discuss long term objectives and short term action over two five-year cycles. 3. A concurrent assessment of condition and other features. 4. A final visit to break down actions into a programme of annual operations.

The following form was filled in for every compartment and transferred to the database which is represented in Section 3 (and partly in 2):

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Diagram 10, Survey Form

Owner ………………………..

Visited ……………………….. Entered into database …………………….

Comp’t Comp’t Long term Proposed Year of Foot- Level of Timber Red name & description objective management activity: path recreatio quality squirrel number 1st cycle nal use feeding 2nd cycle intensity

Incidence of pine regeneration: Other comments Other comments

Notes: Woodland type: Visual assessment of forest type. (Section 1, Woodland Type) Pine wood Broadleaf wood (BLF) Mixed wood Poplar scrub Mixed scrub Buckthorn scrub Bare

Age structure: From records Ten year age categories starting from 1 – 10 going up to 101 – 110

Level of recreational use: Local knowledge and visual assessment of compartment Heavy use Moderate use Infrequent use Isolated area

Timber quality: Visual assessment of average tree stem quality Sawlog Palletwood Firewood Chipwood Not applicable (too young, scrub or bare)

Incidence of Pine regeneration: Visual evidence Adequate Sparse None Lodgepole pine regeneration (LP regen)

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Squirrel feeding intensity: Visual evidence, cone core counts High Medium Low None

The information was transferred from the forms to a database within a period of 1 to 7 days to ensure that it was still ‘fresh’. Once incorporated into the database, the tables were imported into the GIS and the information mapped and returned in both table and map form to the owners / managers for comment and further discussion.

The final stage in the development of the management plans was to break up the five year cycles into annual operational plans. These in turn were tabulated, imported into the GIS and mapped. These tables and maps are contained in Volume III of the Working Plan and should be referred to for more detailed information.

3.1.3 Abbreviations etc. A number of abbreviations are used. The owners are reduced to their initials in many cases e.g. the National Trust to NT. Many of the species are abbreviated:

Abbreviation Explanation

BE, Be Beech BI, Bi Birch BLF Broadleaf BTH Buckthorn CAR Alder carr CP Corsican pine HTH Hawthorn HOL, HLY Holly JL Japanese larch LP Lodgepole pine LY Leyland cypress MB Mixed broadleaf MC Mixed conifer MP Maritime pine MS Norway spruce POP,WPO, BPO Poplar, white poplar, balsam poplar SP Scots pine SY, SYC Sycamore WL, WIL , CrWL Willow, crack willow WSH Woody shrubs

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3.1.2 Management Data, 5-year Cycles, 2003 - 2013 Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Age General Comments Objective by 2020 First cycle No. of Size Total Second cycle No. of Size Total No. Area Type class management regen of area management regen of area (years) coupe regen of coupe regen of coupe coupe coupe coupe 1a Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.10 CP Pine wood 31-40 Underthinned CP Maintained, diversified Thinning Thinning 1a Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.17 CP Pine wood 31-40 Underthinned CP Maintained, diversified Thinning Thinning 1a Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.13 CP Pine wood 31-40 Underthinned CP Maintained, diversified Thinning Thinning 1a Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.09 CP Pine wood 31-40 Underthinned CP Maintained, diversified Thinning Thinning 1b Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.07 CP Pine wood 21-30 Isolated copse Maintained, diversified Thinning Thinning 1c Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.19 WPO Poplar scrub 11-20 Boundary 'hedge' Maintained, renewed None Coppicing 1e Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.60 WPO Mixed wood 31-40 Poplar scub Regenerated as SP/Bi/Al None Cleaning SY 31-40 Mixed, CP and Bi Maintained, gaps planted None Cleaning 1f Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 1.39 WPO Mixed wood 41-50 Poplar scrub Alder carr wood Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 MB 31-40 Poplar scrub and CP mix Alder/CP/SP mix Cleaning Cleaning 1g Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.20 CP Pine wood 21-30 Boundary screen Gaps planted Planting Thinning 1h Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.18 WPO/CP Poplar scrub 31-40 Scrub poplar & CP mix Regenerated as CP/Bi Cleaning Cleaning 1i Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.19 CP Pine wood 31-40 Mostly CP, screen to road Maintained, consolidated Thinning Thinning 1j Royal Birkdale Golf Club Birkdale Hills 0.15 CP Pine wood 21-30 Small CP copse Maintained, reviewed yr 10 Thinning Thinning 2a Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.53 CP Pine wood 61-70 Exposed, maturing CP Retain, review at yr 10 Thinning Thinning 2b Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.06 CP Pine wood 31-40 Maturing CP, well spaced Retain, review at yr 10 Thinning Thinning 2c Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.13 CP Pine wood 61-70 Exposed, maturing CP Retain, review at yr 10 Thinning Thinning 2d Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.06 LY,WL,CP Mixed wood 31-40 Scrub CP,WL, older Leylandii Retain, review at yr 10 Cleaning Cleaning 2e Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.04 LP Pine wood 21-30 Maturing LP, reasonable form Restore to dune Cleaning Cleaning 2f Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.07 CP Pine wood 61-70 Exposed CP, holly understory Review at yr 10 Cleaning Cleaning 2g Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.18 CP Pine wood 61-70 Maturing CP, underthinned Maintained with reduduced WPO Thinning None 2h Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 1.84 CP Pine wood 61-70 Maturing CP, underthinned Manage to mature spacing Thinning Thinning 2i Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.32 SYC,WPO BLF wood 61-70 Old BLF wood round cottage Convert to SP/deciduous mix Selection felling Cleaning 2j Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.15 CP Pine wood 11-20 Maturing, well spaced CP Managed to maturity Thinning Thinning 2k Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.39 SP,MP Pine wood 91-100 Exposed, character SP, MP Retained, some restocking Cleaning Cleaning 2l Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.53 BI,BTH,POP Mixed scrub 11-20 Dune slack mixed BLF Retained, cleaned of BTH Cleaning Cleaning 2m Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.95 POP,BI Mixed scrub 51-60 Scrubby screen round Hawes Retained as screen Cleaning Cleaning 2n Hillside Golf Club Hillside Golf Course 0.34 CAR BLF wood 61-70 Vigorous alder carr, Bi Review at yr 10 None None 2o Hillside Golf Club Birkdale Hills LNR 0.40 BI,BTH,POP Mixed scrub 11-20 Dune slack mixed BLF Retained, cleaned of BTH Cleaning Cleaning 3b Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 4.31 CP Pine wood 91-100 Stunted frontal CP Maintain as frontal windbreak None None CP 31-40 Regeneration Manage to maturity None None Bare Grass sward Maintain as dune sward None None 3c Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 1.95 MB Mixed wood 31-40 Bi/Ald/CP/SP Maintain as mosaic Cleaning Coppice 3d Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 1.55 CP Pine wood 71-80 Good quality, overstocked 30% restocked Restocking felling 2 0.10 0.20 Restocking felling 2 0.10 0.20 3e Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 4.77 CP Pine wood 71-80 Good quality, overstocked 30% restocked Restocking felling 2 0.20 0.40 Restocking felling 2 0.20 0.40 3f Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 1.03 CP Pine wood 51-60 Maturing CP, overstocked Thinned to maturity Restocking felling 1 0.10 0.10 Thinning 1 0.10 0.10 3g Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.72 CP Pine wood 51-60 Good quality, overstocked Thinned to maturity Restocking felling 1 0.10 0.10 Thinning 1 0.10 0.10 CP 21-30 Fairway edge regen manage to maturity T hinning Thinning 3h Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.12 BTH Buckthorn scr 21-30 Bi, Buckthorn scrub Restocked as pinewood Restocking felling 1 0.10 0.10 Cleaning 3i Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 1.61 CP Pine wood 91-100 Mature, overstocked 30% regenerated Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 3j Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.52 AR BLF wood 51-60 Mature Ald Maintain as alder block None None 3k Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.84 CP Pine wood 91-100 Mature CP, overstocked 30% restocked Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 Cleaning 3l Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.13 BI Mixed scrub 41-50 Bi scrub Maintain as Bi copse Coppicing None 3m Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.11 BI Mixed scrub 31-40 Bi scrub, bankside Maintain as Bi copse Coppicing None 3n Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.43 SP Pine wood 91-100 Slow grown SP overstocked Respaced for ageing Thinning Thinning 3o Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 2.43 MB Mixed scrub 21-30 Pop/Bi scrub, some CP Maintain as mosaic None None 3p Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 2.75 Bare Bare Grass sward, Wil scrub Maintain as mosaic None None 3q Formby Golf Club Fisherman's Path 0.98 CP Pine wood 51-60 Maturing CP, overstocked Thinned to maturity Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 4a Formby Golf Club Dale Slack Gutter 1.01 CP Pine wood 61-70 Frontal CP Retain, review yr 10 None None 4b Formby Golf Club Dale Slack Gutter 1.11 CP Pine wood 61-70 Mature frontal CP Thinned to maturity Thinning Thinning 4c Formby Golf Club Dale Slack Gutter 0.33 SP,CP Pine wood 31-40 Stunted SP Maturing to 'Caledonian' Thinning Thinning 4d Formby Golf Club Dale Slack Gutter 1.19 LP Pine wood 31-40 Windblown LP Restocked to CP,SP Restocking felling 2 0.25 0.50 Restocking felling 1 0.25 0.25 4e Formby Golf Club Dale Slack Gutter 0.26 CP Pine wood 31-40 Mature CP, a few LP Restocked to CP,SP None Cleaning 4f Formby Golf Club Dale Slack Gutter 0.64 SP Pine wood 91-100 Stunted frontal SP Maturing to 'Caledonian' None Thinning

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Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Age General Comments Objective by 2020 First cycle No. of Size Total Second cycle No. of Size Total No. Area Type class management regen of area management regen of area (years) coupe regen of coupe regen of coupe coupe coupe coupe 4g Formby Golf Club Old Plantation 0.13 CP,SP Pine wood 91-100 Mature frontal pinewood CP/SP mix with regen Thinning None LP 31-40 Small area scrappy LP Convert to SP/CP mix Cleaning Cleaning 4h Formby Golf Club Old Plantation 0.26 CP,SP Pine wood 91-100 Frontal pinewood, open scrub Review yr10 None None 5a Formby Golf Club Wedge 0.15 CP Pine wood 21-30 Unthinned, unbrashed Managed to maturity Thinning Thinning 5b Formby Golf Club Wedge 0.55 CP,LP Pine wood 31-40 Unthinned, unbrashed Managed to maturity Thinning Thinning 5c Formby Golf Club Wedge 0.45 CP,LP Pine wood 31-40 Unthinned, unbrashed Managed to maturity Thinning Thinning 5d Formby Golf Club Wedge 0.32 CP,LP Pine wood 21-30 Unthinned, unbrashed Managed to maturity Thinning Thinning 5e Formby Golf Club Wedge 0.54 CP,LP Pine wood 21-30 Unthinned, unbrashed Managed to maturity Thinning Thinning 5f Formby Golf Club Wedge 0.11 CP Pine wood 1-10 Unthinned, unbrashed Managed to maturity Thinning Thinning 5g Formby Golf Club Wedge 0.64 SP Pine wood 91-100 Mixed aged, SP to north Managed to maturity None Thinning 6a Formby Golf Club New Track 0.25 CP Pine wood 21-30 Maturing CP Managed to maturity None Thinning BI 31-40 Scrub Bi Maintain None Coppicing CP 91-100 Mature CP patch Thinned None Thinni ng 6b Formby Golf Club New Track 0.46 CP Pine wood 91-100 Mature CP, underplanted Thinned 10% restocked None None CP 1-10 Planting Managed to maturity None Non e 6c Formby Golf Club New Track 0.69 SP Mixed wood 21-30 Fairway divider Maintained Cleaning Thinning 6d Formby Golf Club New Track 0.80 BI Mixed scrub 21-30 Birch copses Maintained None Cleaning 6e Formby Golf Club New Track 0.43 BI Mixed scrub 21-30 Bi scrub Maintained None Cleaning 6f Formby Golf Club New Track 0.28 CP Pine wood 21-30 Maturing plantation Maintained Thinning Thinning 6g Formby Golf Club Scots/sycamore wood 0.29 CP,SY Mixed wood 51-100 Mature CP, maturing syc Review yr10 None None 7 Formby Golf Club Fariway block 0.23 BI BLF wood 21-30 Scrub screen Maintained None None 8a Formby Golf Club Golf Cottage 0.26 MC Pine wood 21-30 Mixed, open pine, Bi Maintain as mosiac Cleaning Cleaning 8b Formby Golf Club Golf Cottage 1.34 SP Mixed scrub 31-40 Mixed open scrub Maintained as open wood Cleaning Cleaning BI 21-30 Mixed open scrub Maintained as open wood Cleaning Cleaning BPO 21-30 Mixed open scrub Maintained as open wood Cleaning Cleaning Bare Mixed open scrub Maintained as open wood Cleaning Cleaning 8c Formby Golf Club Golf Cottage 0.38 Bare Mixed scrub 11-20 Bi, Ald scrub Maintain as srcub Cleaning Cleaning Scrub Bare Encourage regen Cleaning Cleaning 8d Formby Golf Club Golf Cottage 0.37 LP Pine wood 31-40 Very poor LP Restocked with SP, CP Selection felling Cleaning CP 31-40 Sparse CP Managed to maturity Thinning Cleaning 9a Formby Golf Club Railway Belt 0.26 LP Pine wood 31-40 Very poor LP Restocked with SP, CP Selection felling Cleaning CP 21-30 Sparse CP Managed to maturity Thinning Cleaning 9b Formby Golf Club Railway Belt 0.28 LP Pine wood 31-40 Very poor LP, some CP Restocked with SP, CP Selection felling Cleaning 9c Formby Golf Club Railway Belt 0.27 LP,CP Pine wood 31-40 Very poor LP, some CP Restocked with SP, CP Selection felling Cleaning CP 1-10 Unthinned CP Managed to maturity Thinnin g Cleaning 9d Formby Golf Club Railway Belt 0.39 LP Pine wood 21-30 Pine screen, some Pop Restocked with CP Selection felling Cleaning CP 21-30 Pine screen, some Pop Managed to maturi ty Cleaning Cleaning 11 Formby Golf Club Shireburn Road 1.72 BI Mixed wood 41-50 Mixed, Bi, Pop Managed to maturity Cleaning Cleaning BI 1-10 Planted, Bi, CP, Oak Managed to maturity Cleaning Cleaning CP 81-90 Mature CP Retained as mature CP Thinnin g Cleaning CP 1-10 Planting Managed to maturity Cleaning Cleaning 12a SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.56 CP Pine wood 101-110 Old, frontal pinewood Retain as feature Thinning Thinning 12b SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 1.19 PO,CP Mixed wood 11-20 Pop scrub, small CP plant Retain, review yr 10 None Thinning 12c SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.50 CP Pine wood 11-20 CP planting Managed to maturity Thinning None CP 11-20 Mature patch of CP Maintain at wide spacing None None 12d SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.18 CP Pine wood 11-20 Overstocked planting Managed to maturity Thinning None 12e SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.33 CP Pine wood 11-20 Overstocked planting Managed to maturity Thinning None 12f SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.48 CP Pine wood 11-20 2 stage CP plantation Managed to mature pine Thinning None 12g SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 3.59 CP Pine wood 101-110 Mature, overstocked CP 30% restocked Restocking felling 2 0.20 0.40 Cleaning BE 61-70 Maturing beech Retain as mature trees None None 13a SMBC Lifeboat Rd Sth 0.86 CP,SP Pine wood 11-20 CP/SP plantation Manage to mature pine Thinning None PO,WSH 11-20 Pop patches in plantation Encourage regeneration None None 13b SMBC Lifeboat Rd Sth 2.06 CP Pine wood 91-100 Mature, overstocked, gaps Thinned and restocked Thinning None 14 Private Greenloons Farm 0.59 WPO/SY BLF Wood 41-50 15 St Luke's Church St Luke's Church Wood 0.45 WPO/SY BLF Wood 41-50 Mature trees, sycamore regen Thinned and some planting Thinning Cleaning BE 61-70 Line of mature beech Retained, some underplanting Planting Cleaning

72 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Age General Comments Objective by 2020 First cycle No. of Size Total Second cycle No. of Size Total No. Area Type class management regen of area management regen of area (years) coupe regen of coupe regen of coupe coupe coupe coupe 16a Private, Shorrocks Hill Shorrocks Hill 9.19 CP Pine wood 101-110 Mature CP 30% restocked Restocking felling 3 0.20 0.60 Thinning BE 101-110 Felled by Country Club 100% restocked Planting 1 0.60 0.60 Cleaning CP 21-30 Maturing Thinned Thinning Thinning BPO 21-30 Scattered trees Felled Selection felli ng Selection felling SP 101-110 Mature SP 30% restocked Thinning Thinning 16b Private, Shorrocks Hill Shorrocks Hill 0.71 WPO Mixed Wood 61-70 Mature mixed wood 100% restocked Restocking felling 2 0.20 0.40 Restocking felling SP 101-110 Mature SP Some trees retained Thinning Thinning SY 71-80 Maturing regen sycamore Cleared Selecti on felling Selection felling BE 71-80 Scattered trees Retained None None 16 c Private Shorrocks Hill C’try Club 2.18 CP Pine wood 101-110 Mature SP, Be, Oak Maintain, gaps filled Planting Planting 17 Private Badgers Rake 1.88 MB Mixed wood 51-60 CP 81-90 CP,SP 81-90 18a SMBC Ravenmeols scrub 0.46 WPO Poplar scrub 41-50 Frontal scrub, protects buildings Review yr 10 None None 18b SMBC Ravenmeols scrub 0.86 WPO Poplar scrub 41-50 Frontal scrub Review yr 10 None None 18c SMBC Ravenmeols scrub 0.93 WPO Poplar scrub 11-20 Frontal scrub, protects CP wood Review yr 10 None None 18d SMBC Ravenmeols scrub 0.11 WPO Poplar scrub 21-30 Frontal scrub, protects CP wood Review yr 10 None None 18e SMBC Ravenmeols scrub 0.18 WPO Poplar scrub 21-30 Frontal scrub, protects CP wood Review yr 10 None None 18f SMBC R'meols new planting 2.22 CP,SP,MB Mixed wood 1-10 Potential planting Maturing woodland Planting None 18g SMBC R'meols new planting 2.11 CP,SP,MB Mixed wood 1-10 New planting Maturing woodland Cleaning None 18h SMBC R'meols Mixed wood 0.68 BLF Wood 51-60 Maturing syc 100% restocked None Restocking felling 1 0.68 0.68 18i SMBC R'meols Mixed wood 1.32 CP,SYC Mixed Wood 91-100 Mixed wood, Syc and CP 30% restocked Restocking felling 1 0.80 0.80 Cleaning 18j SMBC R'meols Mixed wood 1.41 CP,SYC Mixed Wood 51-60 Mixed wood, CP and Syc 30% restocked Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 Cleaning 18l SMBC R'meols Shelterbelt 4.73 CP Pine wood 91-100 Exposed mature pine Gaps restocked Restocking felling 1 0.10 0.10 Restocking felling 1 0.25 0.25 Bare Past wind blow Manage to mature pine Planting 1 0.20 0.20 Cleaning 18m SMBC R'meols Mixed wood 0.70 CP,SYC Pine wood 91-100 Mostly CP, some syc to rear 30% restocked Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 Cleaning 18n SMBC Asparagus Cott Scrub 1.40 WPO,SYC BLF Wood 21-30 Mixed aged and species 100% restocked to CP,SP Restocking felling 1 0.40 0.40 Restocking felling 1 0.40 0.40 18o SMBC Ravenmeols scrub 0.22 WPO Poplar scrub 41-50 Frontal scrub, protects CP wood Review yr 10 None None 19 EN Cabin Hill NNR 1.02 SY BLF Wood 61-70 Maturing, scrappy BLF wood Increased CP/SP mix Restocking felling 2 0.10 0.20 None CP,WPO,MB 21-30 Maturing, scrappy BLF wood Increased CP/SP mix Restocking felling None 20 Private Firwood 1.25 BE,MB Mixed Wood 101-110 MB 31-40 SY 51-60 WPO 31-40 21a Private Alexander Road 0.23 CP Pine wood 101-110 21b Private Alexander Road 0.14 SY BLF wood 51-60 22 Private Asparagus Cottage 0.11 SY BLF Wood 71-80 22 mature Syc trees Convert 50:50 pine/BLF Restocking felling Restocking felling 23a RFCA Grange Farm 0.34 SY Mixed Wood 71-80 Mature Syc Maintain, review yr 10 None None CP 41-50 Maturing CP, underthinned Maturing stand Thinning None 23a RFCA Grange Farm 0.96 WPO Poplar scrub 31-40 WPO scrub Maintain, review yr 10 None None 23b RFCA Wignalls Butts 0.23 CP Pine wood 31-40 Maturing CP, good condition Maturing stand Thinning None 23b RFCA Wignalls Butts 1.32 CP Pine wood 31-40 Mixed CP/BLF, house screen Maturing stand as a screen Thinning None 23b RFCA Wignalls Butts 0.21 CP Pine wood 31-40 Mixed CP/BLF, house screen Maturing stand as a screen Thinning None 23c RFCA Battery Cottage 0.05 CP,MB Mixed wood 41-50 Mixed CP/BLF, house screen Maturing stand as a screen Thinning None 23c RFCA Battery Cottage 0.07 CP,MB Mixed wood 41-50 Pop, mixed BLF/CP Retain as cover None None 23c RFCA Battery Cottage 0.17 CP,MB Mixed wood 41-50 Pop, mixed BLF/CP Retain as cover None None 23d RFCA Shanty 0.22 SY BLF Wood 71-80 Pop, mixed BLF/CP Retain as cover Cleaning None 23e RFCA Shanty 0.79 SY BLF Wood 71-80 Pop, mixed BLF/CP Retain as cover Cleaning None 23f RFCA Shanty 0.29 CP Pine wood 41-50 CP plantation, good cover Retain to maturity Cleaning None 23g RFCA Shanty 0.21 WPO Poplar scrub 31-40 Bi mix in CP Retain to maturity Cleaning None 23h RFCA Shanty 0.17 WPO Poplar scrub 31-40 Poplar scrub Retain as cover Cleaning None 23i RFCA Shanty 0.32 WL,BI BLF Wood 31-40 BLF scrub wood Retain as screen None None 24a RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 1.97 CP Pine wood 11-20 CP plantation, good cover Retain to maturity Thinning None 24b RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 1.40 CP Pine wood 11-20 CP plantation, good cover Retain to maturity None Thinning 24c RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 1.37 CP Pine wood 11-20 CP plantation, good cover Retain and review yr 10 None Thinning CP,JL,MB 11-20 Syc scrub Review yr 10 None Cl eaning 24d RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 1.10 CP,MB Pine wood 1-10 Mixed CP/BLF Review yr 10 Cleaning Cleaning 24e RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 3.44 CP,JL Pine wood 1-10 CP & JL planting, Review yr 10 None Thinning MB 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps Review yr 10 None Cleaning

Final Version 73 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Age General Comments Objective by 2020 First cycle No. of Size Total Second cycle No. of Size Total No. Area Type class management regen of area management regen of area (years) coupe regen of coupe regen of coupe coupe coupe coupe 24f RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 0.97 CP,JL,MB Mixed wood 1-10 New planting site Established mixed wood Planting Cleaning 24g RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 1.91 CP,JL Mixed Wood 1-10 CP & JL planting, Review yr 10 None Thinning MB 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps Review yr 10 None Planting 24j RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 0.56 CP,JL Mixed Wood 1-10 CP & JL planting, Review yr 10 None Thi nning MB 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps Review yr 10 None Cleaning 24k RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 1.33 CP,JL Mixed Wood 1-10 CP & JL planting, Review yr 10 None Thi nning MB 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps Review yr 10 None Cleaning 24l RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 0.92 CP,JL Mixed Wood 1-10 CP & JL planting, Review yr 10 None Thi nning MB 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps Review yr 10 None Cleaning 24m RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 0.34 CP,JL Mixed Wood 1-10 CP & JL planting, Review yr 10 None Thi nning MB 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps Review yr 10 None Cleaning 24n RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 4.47 CP,JL Mixed Wood 1-10 CP & JL planting, Review yr 10 None Thi nning MB 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps Review yr 10 None Cleaning 24p RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 0.48 CP,JL Pine wood 1-10 CP & JL planting, Review yr 10 None Thinning MB 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps Review yr 10 None Thinning 24q RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 0.10 CP/BLF Mixed Wood 1-10 CP, BLF mix in triangle Review yr 10 Cleaning Cleaning 24s RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 0.35 CP,JL Pine wood 1-10 CP & JL planting, Review yr 10 None Cleaning MB 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps Review yr 10 None Cleaning 24t RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 0.27 CP,JL Pine wood 1-10 CP & JL planting, Review yr 10 Cleaning None MB 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps Review yr 10 Cleaning None 24u RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 0.58 CP Pine wood 11-20 CP planting, maturing Maturing None Thinning WPO 41-50 WPO scrub Review yr 10 None None 24v RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 0.09 CP Pine wood 1-10 CP planting, maturing Maturing None Thinning 24w RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 0.29 CP/BLF Mixed wood 1-10 Screen planting Gradually remove None Cleaning 24x RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 0.17 CP/BLF Mixed wood 1-10 Screen planting Gradually remove None Cleaning 24y RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 0.47 CP,JL Pine wood 1-10 CP & JL planting, Review yr 10 None Thinning 24z RFCA Altcar Recent Planting 0.85 MB Pine wood 1-10 Beaten up with BLF mix, gaps Review yr 10 Thinning Cleaning 25 NT Old Plantation 3.64 CP,SP Pine wood 91-100 Mature frontal pinewood CP/SP mix with regen Thinning None CP 11-20 Young plantation Open CP/SP pinewood No ne Thinning LP 31-40 Very scrappy LP Convert to SP/CP mix Re stocking felling 1 0.50 0.50 Cleaning 1 0.60 0.60 26a NT New Plantation 0.33 ALD,BI BLF wood 51-60 10 year old coppice Maintain coppice Coppicing Coppicing 26b NT New Plantation 2.67 CP Pine wood 51-60 Reasonable plantation Thin to maturity Thinning Thinning CP 81-90 some SP, syc, bir. 30% of area regenerated Thinning Thinning CP,SP 11-20 Young plantation Remove mature overstory Thinning Thinning 27 NT Old Plantation West 1.35 CP Pine wood 81-90 Damaged frontal pinewood Retain, review at yr 10 None None CP 1-10 Failed plantation Retain, review at yr 10 None Cleaning Bare Open sward Maintain sward Cleaning Clea ning 28a NT Landmark Wood 0.33 SP Mixed wood 11-20 Mixed plantation Mange to maturity Thinning Thinning 28b NT Landmark Wood 1.48 SP Pine wood 81-90 Stunted , frontal SP 'Caledonian' pinewood Cleaning None 29 NT Cornerstone Wood 4.17 SP Pine wood 81-90 Stunted and wind blown SP Mixed aged, 30% regen Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 Thinning CP 81-90 Some stunting, SP/CP mix 30% area regenerated Restocking felling Cleaning 30 NT Pinetree Wood 2.51 CP Pine wood 81-90 Mature frontal pinewood 'Caledonian' pinewood Thinning None SP 81-90 Mature frontal pinewood 'Caledonian' pinewood Thinning None SP,CP 1-10 Young plantation Manage to maturity Cleaning None 31a NT Victoria Wood 4.09 BI Mixed wood 51-60 Scrub, high Syc content Manage as BLF, favour Bi Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 Cleaning CP 81-90 Area of mature CP Manage to wide spacing Thinning Thinning SP,CP,MB 11-20 Mixed plantation Manage to mature pinewood Cleaning Cleaning SY 51-60 Patches of mixed wood Favour Bi, Al, Holly Thinning Thinning SY 31-40 Scub Syc Convert to Bi/Ald wood Cleaning Thinning BI 31-40 Patches of mixed wood Favour Bi, Al, Holly Thinning Thinning 31b NT Victoria Wood 2.05 BI Mixed wood 41-50 Mixed Bi wood Reduce Syc, maintain Bi None None CP 81-90 Isolated pines Maintain Planting Non e 32 NT Cornerstone Wood 3.17 CP Pine wood 81-90 Mature CP 30%restocked Restocking felling 2 0.10 0.20 Restocking felling 1 0.10 0.10 33a NT Big Gate Wood 3.23 SY Mixed wood 51-60 Older Syc block 30% of area restocked Restocking felling 2 0.22 0.44 Restocking felling BI 51-60 Mixed Bi/Syc/SP Favour Bi/CP None Cl eaning AR 61-70 Mixed Ald/Bi wood Maintain as BLF wood None Coppice 33b NT Victoria Road Wood 1.34 CP Pine wood 61-70 Screen along access road Maintained with some planting Planting Planting 33c NT Big Gate Wood 0.28 CP,SP,MB Mixed wood 1-10 Old asparagus field Manage to maturity Cleaning Cleaning

74 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Age General Comments Objective by 2020 First cycle No. of Size Total Second cycle No. of Size Total No. Area Type class management regen of area management regen of area (years) coupe regen of coupe regen of coupe coupe coupe coupe 34a NT Squirrel Wood 1.18 SP Pine wood 91-100 Underplanted oak 30% of area restocked Restocking felling 1 0.10 0.10 Thinning CP 61-70 SP / CP mix Thinned Thinning Thinnin g SY 51-60 Mature syc roadside Replaced with pine Selection felling None BE 21-30 Mature SP overstorey Retained as pine Cleaning Cleaning POP 21-30 Mature poplar roadside Replaced with pine Selection felling Cleaning 34b NT Squirrel Wood 2.27 SP Pine wood 91-100 Some stunted growth 10% of area restocked Restocking felling 1 0.10 0.10 Thinning CP 81-90 Some SP mix 10% of area restocked Resto cking felling Thinning 34c NT Squirrel Wood 0.64 SP,CP Pine wood 11-20 Old asparagus field Managing to maturity None Thinning 35a NT Farm Wood 2.15 SP Pine wood 91-100 Mature CP with some BLF Retain as screen Restocking felling 1 0.10 0.10 Restocking felling 1 0.10 0.10 BI 51-60 Edge along old field Retain None No ne SY 51-60 Patches near houses Restocked as pinewood None Selection felling 35b NT Farm Wood 4.64 SP Pine wood 81-90 Quality timber stand 10% restocked Thinning Thinning CP 61-70 Quality timber stand 30% restocked Thin ning Restocking felling 2 0.15 0.30 CP,SP 11-20 Pine plantation Manage to maturity Thinning Thinning CP,SP 1-10 Pine plantation Manage to maturity T hinning Thinning 35c NT Farm Wood 0.17 SP,CP Pine wood 11-20 SP regeneration on old field Thin to maturity Thinning Thinning 35d NT New Planting 0.54 SP,CP,MC Pine wood 1-10 New plantation Manage to maturity Cleaning Thinning 35e NT New Planting 0.19 MC Pine wood 1-10 New plantation Manage to maturity Cleaning Thinning 36a NT Horse/Jennings Wood 6.50 SP Pine wood 91-100 Mature, overstocked SP Thinned None Thinning CP 81-90 Mature, overstocked CP 30% restocked Re stocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 Restocking felling 1 0.10 0.10 BI 51-60 Birch patches Retain None None CP,SP 1-10 Small planting Manage to maturity Non e Thinning 36b NT New Planting 0.43 CP,SP,MB Pine wood 1-10 New plantation Manage to maturity Cleaning Thinning 36c NT New Planting 0.38 CP,SP,MB Pine wood 1-10 New plantation Manage to maturity Cleaning Thinning 36d NT New Planting 0.28 BI,WL,HTH BLF wood 1-10 New plantation Manage to maturity Cleaning Thinning 36e NT New Planting 0.32 CP,SP,MB Pine wood 1-10 New plantation Manage to maturity Cleaning Thinning 36f NT New Planting 0.22 CP,SP Pine wood 1-10 New plantation Manage to maturity Cleaning Thinning 37a NT Blundell Wood 6.67 CP Pine wood 81-90 Mature, overstocked CP 30% restocked Restocking felling 1 0.05 0.05 Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 SY 71-80 Patches of mature Syc Restocked as pinewood None Selection felling BI 51-60 Mature Bi patches Maintain as Bi patches None None POP 71-80 Mature Pop trees Use for regen coupes None Selection felling SP,CP 1-10 Pine plantation Manage to maturity None Thinning 37b NT Blundell Wood 4.25 Bare Mixed scrub 11-20 Bare, scattered pine trees Manage as rearward dune Cleaning Cleaning 37c NT Blundell Wood 3.24 SP/CP Pine wood 91-100 Mature, overstocked SP Thinned Cleaning Restocking felling 1 0.10 0.10 37d NT Larkhill Farm Wood 0.10 SYC,MB BLF wood 61-70 Maturing sycamore Managed as BLF Cleaning Thinning 37e NT St Joseph's Screen 0.29 CP,MB Mixed wood 1-10 New planting Managed to maturity Planting Cleaning 38a NT Nicotine Wood 1.43 CP Pine wood 91-100 Good stand, eroding front Retained and restocked Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 Cleaning CP 1-10 Small planting Managed to maturity Cleaning None 38b NT Nicotine Wood 0.50 CP,SP Pine wood 11-20 Small planting Managed to maturity None Thinning POP 11-20 Small planting Managed to pinewood Non e Thinning 38c NT Nicotine Wood 3.00 LP Mixed wood 51-60 Exposed and stunted Protection wood None None SY, PO,BI 51-60 Mixed aged, mixed BLF Variety Cl eaning Cleaning 38d NT Shelterbelt 0.27 CP,MB Mixed wood 1-10 New planting Managed to maturity Planting Cleaning 39 NT Nut Wood 0.97 CP Pine wood 51-60 Stunted frontal pine Review at yr 10 None Cleaning BI 31-40 Scrub frontal BLF Review at yr 10 None Cleaning 40 NT Wicks Deciduous 2.20 AR,BI,SY BLF wood 41-50 Mixed frontal scrub Review at yr 10 Cleaning Cleaning 41 NT Wicks Conifer 0.70 CP Pine wood 71-80 Frontal pinewood Review at yr 10 None Cleaning 42 NT Evans Wood 1.02 AR,PO,SY BLF wood 51-60 Mature BLF Restock to mixed wood None Restocking felling 1 0.15 0.15 45a Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.32 SP Pine wood 21-30 30 year SP Managed to maturity Cleaning Thinning CP 21-30 30 year CP Managed to maturity Cleaning Thinning Scrub 41-50 Scrub, Bi Maintained Cleaning Cle aning 45b Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.25 SP Pine wood 91-100 Mature SP heavily branched Maturing to 'Caledonian' Thinning Thinning CP 31-40 Maturing CP Maintained Thinning Thin ning 45c Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.75 SP Pine wood 21-30 Mature branched & younger SP Maturing to 'Caledonian' None Thinning BI,WL 31-40 Scrub Bi Managed Coppicing Coppic ing 45d Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.39 SP Pine wood 91-100 Mature SP Maturing to wide spacing None Thinning CP 31-40 Maturing CP Thinned None Thinning SY 31-40 Maturing Syc Restocked with SP, CP Clea ning Cleaning 45e Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.28 SP Pine wood 91-100 Mature, fairway edge Maturing to 'Caledonian' Thinning Thinning 45f Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.17 SY BLF wood 51-60 Maturing Syc Restocked to CP,SP None Cleaning

Final Version 75 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Age General Comments Objective by 2020 First cycle No. of Size Total Second cycle No. of Size Total No. Area Type class management regen of area management regen of area (years) coupe regen of coupe regen of coupe coupe coupe coupe 45g Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.29 SP,CP,BI Pine wood 91-100 Maturing, fairway edge Mature, some infilling Cleaning Planting 45h Formby Ladies Golf Club Scots/sycamore 0.33 SP Pine wood 91-100 Mature SP, a few CP Maturing to 'Caledonian' Thinning Thinning 47 Formby Ladies Golf Club Central Block 3 0.38 LP,CP Pine wood 31-40 Maturing LP, reasonable form Replaced with CP,SP mix Selection felling Selection felling 48 Formby Ladies Golf Club Central Block 2 1.30 BI,MB Mixed scrub 41-50 Low Bi scrub Maintained Bi wood Cleaning Cleaning Pond irrigation pond Irrigation pond None No ne BI 31-40 Low Bi scrub Maintained Bi wood Cleaning Cleaning CP 31-40 Isolated trees Maturing None None 49a Formby Ladies Golf Club Central Block 1 0.79 CP,SP,LP Pine wood 31-40 Partly thinned LP, poor form Restocked, SP,CP None Thinning 49b Formby Ladies Golf Club Central Block 1 0.21 CP,MB Mixed wood 31-40 Mixed, CP & scrub eastern end Managed to maturity Cleaning Cleaning 50a EN Ainsdale NNR 0.88 CAR BLF wood 91-100 Homogenous alder carr Review at yr 10 Cleaning Cleaning 50b EN Ainsdale NNR 0.39 CAR Mixed scrub 51-60 Scrub in grass sward Maintain as open scrub Cleaning Cleaning 51 EN Ainsdale NNR 1.79 SP,CP Pine wood 61-70 Predominantly 'character' SP Develop into character wood Thinning Thinning 52 EN Ainsdale NNR 3.90 CP Pine wood 81-90 Uniform, mature CP stand 25% regenerated Selection felling Restocking felling 2 0.20 0.40 Scrub CP 31-40 Pine scrub, open. Maintain as open CP scrub None Cleaning 53 EN Ainsdale NNR 6.08 CP Pine wood 71-80 Uniform, overstocked CP 30% regenerated Restocking felling 3 0.20 0.60 Cleaning CP 11-20 CP regen in old firebreak Thinned for maturity None None CP 11-20 CP regen in old firebreak Thinned for maturity None None BI 31-40 Bi regen in old firebreak Thinned for maturity Cleaning None Bare Bare areas along tracks Retain None Non e 54 EN Ainsdale NNR 4.63 CP Pine wood 41-50 Heavily thinned CP 30% regenerated None Restocking felling 2 0.40 0.80 55 EN Ainsdale NNR 10.27 CP Pine wood 71-80 Mature, thinned CP 30% regenerated Restocking felling 3 0.20 0.60 Restocking felling 5 0.20 1.00 SY 41-50 Sycamore regeneration Removed from canopy Selection felling Selection felling Bare Dune slack Cleaned to maintain slack Cleaning Cleaning CP 11-20 CP regeneration Developing to maturity None Thinning BI 31-40 Areas of Bi Maintained for variety Copp ice Coppice 56 EN Ainsdale NNR 2.10 CP Pine wood 81-90 Uniform, mature CP Maintained, with ends regen Restocking felling 3 0.10 0.30 Restocking felling 3 0.10 0.30 SY 61-70 Area of Syc/CP, rail side Converted to mixed BLF Selection felling Selection felling CP 21-30 CP regen in old firebreak Thinned to maturity Thinning None BI 31-40 Birch in open patches Maintained None Coppicing Bare Scrub along track & field edge Maturing mixed BLF Cleaning None 57 EN Ainsdale NNR 0.95 CP Pine wood 41-50 Dense, unthinned, uniform Thinned to mature crop Thinning None 58a EN Ainsdale NNR 6.08 CP Pine wood 61-70 Mature pinewood 30% restocked Restocking felling 2 0.40 0.80 Restocking felling 2 0.20 0.40 CP 41-50 Overstocked pine Maintained as firebreak Cleaning Cleaning WPO,SY 31-40 BLF slacks Maintained as firebreak None Coppicing 58b EN Ainsdale NNR 1.83 CP Mixed scrub 21-30 Mixed regeneration Favoured in NE & SW sectn Cleaning Cleaning BI 21-30 Scrub Manage on slack rotation None None Bare Bare rearward slacks Maintain Cleaning Cleaning 59 EN Ainsdale NNR 2.73 BI Mixed wood 31-40 Mature Bi Maintain on rotation None Coppicing CP 21-30 CP regen Managed to maturity Thinning None Bare Grass sward Maintain None None CP 81-90 Mature CP Maintain canopy corridor None None 60 EN Ainsdale NNR 6.31 CP Pine wood 81-90 Mature CP 30% restocked Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 Restocking felling 2 0.20 0.40 CP 61-70 Mature CP 30% restocked Restocking fell ing Restocking felling CP 41-50 Mature CP 30% restocked Restocking fell ing Restocking felling SY 31-40 Scattered Syc 30% restocked Selection f elling Selection felling 61 EN Ainsdale NNR 3.07 CP Pine wood 21-30 Mature CP 30% restocked Restocking felling 2 0.20 0.40 Restocking felling 2 0.20 0.40 MB 21-30 Birch slack Maintained Coppicing Non e SY 21-30 Scattered mature Syc Restocked with SP Restocking felling None 62a EN Ainsdale NNR 13.16 CP Pine wood 61-70 Mature CP 30% restocked Restocking felling 5 0.20 1.00 None CP 41-50 Mature CP 30% restocked Restocking fell ing None CP 21-30 CP regeneration Managed to maturity Non e None LP 41-50 Windblown LP Restocked with CP None Restocking felling 5 0.20 1.00 BI 21-30 Birch dry slacks Maintained as Bi None Coppice Bare Grass slacks Maintained for flora None Cleaning 62b EN Ainsdale NNR 2.30 MB Mixed scrub 31-40 Birch scrub Maintained as Bi Cleaning Coppice

76 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Age General Comments Objective by 2020 First cycle No. of Size Total Second cycle No. of Size Total No. Area Type class management regen of area management regen of area (years) coupe regen of coupe regen of coupe coupe coupe coupe 63a EN Ainsdale NNR 22.11 CP Pine wood 81-90 Over mature, good quality 30% restocked Restocking felling 3 0.40 1.20 Restocking felling 3 0.40 1.20 CP 71-80 Mature, good quality 30% restocked Rest ocking felling Restocking felling CP 41-50 Maturing, good quality 30% restocked Re stocking felling Restocking felling CP 21-30 Mixed regeneration Thinned to maturity Thinning None CP 11-20 Good regeneration Thinned towards maturity None Thinning CP 1-10 Weak regeneration Restocked and thinned None Restocking MP 81-90 Strip of MP Retained None None SY 41-50 Scrub and regen Syc Converted Bi/Ald or SP Coppicing None SY,BI 21-30 Copses within CP Maintain on cycle Coppicing None BI 41-50 Copses within CP Maintain on cycle Copp icing None BI 21-30 Copses within CP Maintain on cycle None Coppicing AR 51-60 Copses within CP Maintain on cycle None Coppicing Bare Grass sward Maintain None Cleaning 63b EN Ainsdale NNR 6.36 CP Mixed wood 21-30 Frontal regeneration Manage as mosaic Natural regen Cleaning BI 21-30 Frontal regeneration Manage as mosaic Natural regen Coppicing Bare Grass sward Maintain None Cleaning 64 EN Ainsdale NNR 5.72 CP Pine wood 81-90 Over mature, good quality 30% restocked Restocking felling 2 0.20 0.40 Restocking felling 3 0.20 0.60 CP 71-80 Over mature, good quality 30% restocked Restocking felling Restocking felling SY 21-30 Syc understory/copses Cleaned Cleaning Coppicing 65 EN Ainsdale NNR 8.94 CP Pine wood 61-70 Over mature, overstocked 30% restocked Thinning Restocking felling 3 0.40 1.20 CP 51-60 Mature, overstocked 30% restocked Thinning Restocking felling CP 21-30 Overstocked planting Manage to maturity Thinning Thinning CP 11-20 Overstocked planting Manage to maturity Thinning Thinning BPO 31-40 Scrub front to compartment Retain as windbreak None None PO 21-30 Scrub front to compartment Retain as windbreak None None BI 21-30 Copse in CP Maintain on cycle None N one BI 11-20 Scrub front to compartment Retain as windbreak Coppicing None Bare Grass sward Maintain Cleaning None 66 EN Ainsdale NNR 4.17 CP Pine wood 71-80 Mature CP Thinned & restocked Restocking felling 3 0.20 0.60 Cleaning CP 51-60 Maturing CP Thinned & restocked Restock ing felling Cleaning BPO 31-40 Scattered Pop trees Restocked as pinewood Restocking felling Cleaning AR 61-70 Patches of Ald Maintained None Coppi ce BI 31-40 Birch copses Maintained None Coppice 67 EN Ainsdale NNR 2.27 MB BLF wood 51-60 Mixed BLF Manged to maturity Thinning None BE 41-50 Mixed BLF Manged to maturity Thinning None CP 51-60 Mixed BLF Regen established Thinning None 68 EN Ainsdale NNR 7.04 CP Pine wood 101-110 Overmature, good quality 30% restocked Restocking felling 2 0.20 0.40 Restocking felling 3 0.20 0.60 SP 101-110 Overmature, variable 30% restocked Restocking felling Restocking felling MP 101-110 Strip of MP on west edge Retain None None SY 41-50 Syc understory Cleaned Cleaning Cle aning SY 41-50 Strip along boundary Managed Coppicing None POP 41-50 Single trees Felled Selection felling Cleaning 69 Private, Pilkington Estate Windy Gap 2.54 CP Pine wood 101-110 Mature CP 30% restocked Restocking felling 2 0.30 0.60 Restocking felling 2 0.30 0.60 CP 61-70 Mature CP 30% restocked Restocking fell ing Restocking felling 70 EN Ainsdale NNR 1.98 MB BLF wood 51-60 Well developed mixed BLF Maintained for variety Cleaning Cleaning Pond Pond Maintained None None MB 41-50 Well developed mixed BLF Maintained for variety Cleaning Cleaning BI 41-50 Birch coppice Maintained for variety Co ppicing None 73 EN Ainsdale NNR 0.46 CP Pine wood 91-100 Frontal pinewood Retain, review yr 10 None None 74 EN Ainsdale NNR 1.00 CrWL Mixed scrub 41-50 Mosaic of Bi,Will,alder and grass Retain, review yr 10 None Cleaning MB 41-50 Mosaic of Bi,Will,alder and grass Retain, review yr 10 None Cleaning Bare Bare Retain, review yr 10 None Cleaning 75 EN Ainsdale NNR 6.90 CP Pine wood 71-80 Frontal, but reasonable condition No operations proposed None None MB 51-60 Some BLF understory No operations proposed None None 76a EN Ainsdale NNR 5.76 MB Mixed scrub 31-40 Birch alder woodland Maintain as mixed BLF Coppicing Coppicing 76b EN Ainsdale NNR 5.03 CP Mixed scrub 21-30 Isolated pine trees Maintain Coppicing Cleaning 77 EN Ainsdale NNR 3.13 CP Pine wood 61-70 Mature CP, MP - windblow No operations proposed None None 79 EN Ainsdale NNR 1.26 MB Mixed scrub 31-40 Mixed woodland, maturing Bi No operations proposed None None 81a EN Ainsdale NNR 2.40 CP Pine wood 71-80 Older, but exposed CP No operations proposed None None 81b EN Ainsdale NNR 4.91 LP Pine wood 41-50 Bad form LP No operations proposed None None 81c EN Ainsdale NNR 3.88 CP Pine wood 51-60 Small clumps of CP, poor form No operations proposed None None

Final Version 77 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Age General Comments Objective by 2020 First cycle No. of Size Total Second cycle No. of Size Total No. Area Type class management regen of area management regen of area (years) coupe regen of coupe regen of coupe coupe coupe coupe 83 Private Golf Cottage Copse 0.20 BI BLF wood 31-40 Maturing BI Maintain as BI wood None None 84a Private Freshfield Dune Heath 0.59 BI,WPO Mixed scrub 31-40 Unmanaged heath/scrub Maintained as open heath Cleaning Cleaning 84b Private Freshfield Dune Heath 0.66 CP,MB Mixed Wood 31-40 Unmanaged heath/wood Develop to heath/wood mosaic Selection felling Cleaning 85a MoD Woodvale 0.28 Elm BLF wood 41-50 Unmanaged elm Retain as elm coppice None Coppicing 85b MoD Woodvale 0.06 CP Mixed scrub 41-50 CP regen Maintain as copse None Cleaning 85c MoD Woodvale 0.33 WPO,SYC Mixed scrub 41-50 Unmanaged BLF Review 2010 None Cleaning 85d MoD Woodvale 0.30 WPO,SYC Mixed wood 31-40 Unmanaged BLF Review 2010 Cleaning Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 85e MoD Woodvale 0.06 CP Pine wood 61-70 Old pine planting Review 2010 None None 85f MoD Woodvale 0.40 LP Pine wood 31-40 LP regen(?) Developing to pine copse Cleaning Restocking felling 1 0.40 0.40 85g MoD Woodvale 1.80 SP,BI,MB Mixed wood 41-50 Unmanaged planting / scrub Develop into mixed wood Thinning Cleaning 86a Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.07 Bi BLF wood 41-50 Birch copse Maintain, review yr 10 None None 86b Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.16 POP,SYC BLF wood 41-50 Dense maturing pop Retain, 50% restocked Thinning Cleaning 86b Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.25 POP,SYC BLF wood 41-50 Dense maturing pop, syc Re-sized, 100% restocked Restocking felling 2 0.10 0.20 Restocking felling 1 0.10 0.10 86c Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.36 POP,SYC,WL BLF wood 51-60 Decaying, neglected wood 50% regenerated None None 86d Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.99 CP,POP Mixed wood 11-20 Screen of mixed age/species Maintained as screen Restocking felling 1 0.11 0.11 Restocking felling 2 0.08 0.16 86e Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.55 WPO,SYC Mixed scrub 31-40 WPO scrub, pine underplanted Pine, Bi block Cleaning Cleaning 86f Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.95 WPO,BI Mixed scrub 31-40 Scrub 50% restocked with mix Restocking felling 2 0.10 0.20 Restocking felling 2 0.10 0.20 86g Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.62 WPO,SYC Mixed scrub 31-40 Open scrub dividing fairways Maintained and re-sized Planting Cleaning 86h Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.17 WPO,BI,MB Mixed wood 41-50 Maturing wood Managed as divider Cleaning Cleaning 86i Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.06 WIL BLF wood 31-40 Maturing wood Managed as divider Cleaning Restocking felling 1 0.06 0.06 86j Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.49 WPO,WIL BLF wood 41-50 Ivy infested wood Restocked as CP,SP,BI Restocking felling 1 0.13 0.13 Cleaning 1 0.13 0.13 86k Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.61 WIL,BI,WPO BLF wood 41-50 Willow screen Maintained and gaps filled Coppicing Cleaning 86l Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.44 NS,CP,MB Mixed wood 31-40 Fairway divider Maintained None None 86m Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.13 WIL,SYC BLF wood 51-60 Over mature willow Maintained as vigorous willow Cleaning Cleaning 86n Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.68 WIL BLF wood 41-50 Willow boundary Maintained as vigorous willow Cleaning Cleaning 86o Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.14 WPO BLF wood 41-50 Fairway divider Restocked, mixed wood divider Restocking felling 1 0.02 0.02 Restocking felling 2 0.06 0.12 86p Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.22 WIL,SYC BLF wood 41-50 Boundary wood Restocked as birch, alder wood None None 86q Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.17 BI BLF wood 31-40 Birch copse Maintained as copse Cleaning Cleaning 86r Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.12 CP,MP,LP Pine wood 31-40 Small pine stand Maintained as feature Planting Cleaning 86s Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.32 WPO,CP,LP Mixed wood 51-60 Neglected wood Restocked with CP, SP, MP Cleaning Cleaning 86t Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.08 WPO,SYC,WL BLF wood 31-40 Dense roadside wood Restocked as CP,BI wood Planting Cleaning 86u Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.26 WPO BLF wood 41-50 Cottage protection Maintained as house screen Cleaning Cleaning 86v Hesketh Golf Club Hesketh Golf Links 0.60 SYC,BI,CP Mixed wood 31-40 Screen along road Maintained as screen Cleaning Cleaning 87a SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.51 WL,HTH,SYC BLF Wood 21-30 Screen, scrubby, 1 or 2 trees Screen, willow wood Thinning Cleaning 87b SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.77 SYC,WPO,HTH BLF Wood 21-30 Variable, dense SYC scrub / wood CP feature Restocking felling 1 0.10 0.10 Restocking felling 1 0.10 0.10 87c SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.16 WL BLF Wood 21-30 Willow scrub, fairway divider Maintained as WL wood None Cleaning 87d SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.28 SYC,WL,CHY BLF Wood 31-40 Screen, scrubby wood Maintained, mix of species Cleaning None 87e SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.18 WPO,BPO BLF Wood 41-50 Screen, line of mature Pop Maintained, mix of species Planting None 87f SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.32 SYC,WPO,HTH BLF Wood 41-50 Screen, maturing trees Maintained, cleared of WPO Thinning Cleaning 87g SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.15 SYC,WPO BLF Wood 31-40 Fairway feature, trees with gaps Maintained, gaps planted Thinning Planting 87h SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.24 SYC,PVT,HLY BLF Wood 31-40 Roadside screen, maturing Maintained, thickened up None Planting 87i SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.31 WL,SYC,PVT BLF Wood 1-20 Weather screen, stunted Maintained, thickened up None Planting 87j SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.10 WPO,SYC,WL BLF Wood 21-30 Fairway divider, low wood Maintained, gaps planted Planting None 87k SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.29 SYC,WPO,WL BLF Wood 31-40 Weather screen, low wood Maintained, mix of species None None 87l SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.09 WPO,WL BLF Wood 21-30 Fairway feature, low wood Maintained, reviewed yr 10 None None 87m SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.32 WL,WPO BLF Wood 1-20 Weather screen, exposed, stunted Maintained, thickened up None Planting 87n SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.05 WL,SYC BLF Wood 1-20 Fairway feature, low wood Maintained, reviewed yr 10 None None 87o SMBC Municipal Golf Links 0.06 WL BLF Wood 1-20 Fairway feature, low wood Maintained, reviewed yr 10 Cleaning Cleaning 90 Private Hawes House 2.09 Mixed wood 91-100 91a S’port &A’dale Golf Club S&A Golf Course 0.46 CP,PO Poplar scrub 31-40 91b S’port &A’dale Golf Club S&A Golf Course 0.35 PO,BI Poplar scrub 31-40 91c S’port &A’dale Golf Club S&A Golf Course 0.24 CP Pine wood 11-20 91d S’port &A’dale Golf Club S&A Golf Course 0.11 SY,PO BLF Wood 41-50 92a SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.34 SY,PO,WL Poplar scrub 41-50 Roadside scrub Retain, review yr 10 Cleaning Cleaning 92b SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.24 SY,PO,WL Poplar scrub 41-50 Roadside scrub Retain, review yr 10 None None 92c SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.70 PO,WL Poplar scrub 21-30 Roadside Bi, Pop copse Retain, review yr 10 Cleaning None 92d SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 1.06 PO,BI Mixed scrub 31-40 Valley bottom Bi, WSH scrub Retain as Bi woodland Cleaning None 92e SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.80 Bi, PO, BTH Mixed scrub 31-40 Area of Bi and WSH scrub Bi woodland Cleaning None

78 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

Comp Owner Site name Comp Species Woodland Age General Comments Objective by 2020 First cycle No. of Size Total Second cycle No. of Size Total No. Area Type class management regen of area management regen of area (years) coupe regen of coupe regen of coupe coupe coupe coupe 92f SMBC Birkdale Hills 0.34 BTH Buckthorn scr 31-40 Pure buckthorn scrub Review yr 10 None Restocking felling 1 0.34 0.34 92g SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 1.99 Bi, PO, BTH Mixed scrub 21-30 Bi, Pop, CP, BTH scrub Bi woodland, some CP None None 92h SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.44 Bi, PO, BTH Mixed scrub 21-30 Bi, Pop, CP, BTH scrub Bi woodland Cleaning None 92i SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.93 Bi, PO, BTH Mixed scrub 21-30 Bi, Pop, CP, BTH scrub Bi woodland Cleaning None 92j SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 2.22 Bi, PO, BTH Mixed scrub 21-30 Bi, Pop, CP, BTH scrub Bi woodland Cleaning None 92l SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 3.75 Bi, PO, BTH Mixed scrub 21-30 Bi, Pop, CP, BTH scrub Bi woodland Cleaning None 92m SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.64 Bi, PO, BTH Mixed scrub 21-30 Bi, Pop, CP, BTH scrub Bi woodland Cleaning None 92n SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.88 WPO,BI,WL Mixed scrub 31-40 Wet scrub, variable Retain, review yr 10 Cleaning None 92o SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 1.45 BI,WL,AR BLF wood 31-40 Scrub with Bi and Ald Retain, review yr 10 Cleaning None 92p SMBC Birkdale Hills LNR 0.35 BI BLF wood 31-40 Birch scrub Retain as scrub, review yr 10 None None 93a SMBC Falklands Way Dunes 0.53 AR BLF Wood 31-40 Small alder copse Retain, review yr 10 None None 93b SMBC Falklands Way Dunes 0.54 CP Pine wood 71-80 Roadside CP Favour as CP wood None None 93c SMBC Falklands Way Dunes 1.33 SY,PO,CP Mixed wood 31-40 Mixed species, scrubby Favour as Bi/Ald wood None None 93d SMBC Falklands Way Dunes 1.00 BI,WL,BTH BLF Wood 31-40 Mixed, some buckthorn Favour as Bi/Ald wood None None 93e SMBC Falklands Way Dunes 0.45 POP,WL Poplar scrub 21-30 Mixed scrub, some Bi Favour as Bi/will/hawthorn None None 94a SMBC Kenilworth Rd 0.33 WPO Poplar scrub 11-20 Poplar scrub Re-assess in 2010 None None 94c SMBC Kenilworth Rd 0.40 POP,WL BLF Wood 51-60 Scattered Syc Syc wood None None 95a SMBC Sands Club 0.39 PO,SY,WL BLF Wood 61-70 Mixed, mostly Syc and Pop Mixed SP/Bi/Ald wood Restocking felling 1 0.39 0.39 Cleaning 95b SMBC Sands Club 0.90 PO,WL Poplar scrub 41-50 Poplar, sycamore scrub Large tree BLF wood None None 95c SMBC Sands Club 0.41 CP,PO Pine wood 71-80 Pine screen on road Roadside screen None None 96 Private Garden woods, S'port 0.97 MB BLF Wood 71-80 97 SMBC Cambridge Rd, Formby 1.07 MB BLF Wood 51-60 Syc, ivy infestation 50% CP/SP wood, BLF copse None None 98a St Josephs Hospital St Josephs Hospital 1.05 PO,SY Poplar scrub 61-70 Very scruby poplar Restocked, CP, Bi, Syc Planting Cleaning 98b St Josephs Hospital St Josephs Hospital 0.40 CP Pine wood 71-80 Adjacent to mature pine Thinned Restocking felling 1 0.25 0.25 Planting 1 0.20 0.20 98c St Josephs Hospital St Josephs Hospital 0.30 CP/SP Pine wood 1-10 New plantation, some gaps Fully stocked and maturing Cleaning Cleaning 99 Private Lark Hill Farm 2.57 SY Mixed Wood 61-70 SP,CP 71-80 WPO 31-40 100a SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.78 WPO Poplar scrub 11-20 Roadside screen Retain None None 100b SMBC Wicks Conifer Wood 0.56 CP Pine wood 71-80 Frontal pinewood Review at yr 10 None None 102a SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.44 WPO BLF Wood 41-50 Large poplar trees Converted to CP/SP Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 Restocking felling 1 0.20 0.20 102b SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.20 Bare Bare Field with low scrub Established as CP/SP Planting Cleaning 102c SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.87 WPO/SY BLF Wood 41-50 Mixed scrub, some trees Converted to CP/SP Restocking felling 1 0.40 0.40 Restocking felling 1 0.40 0.40 102d SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.18 CP Pine wood 101-110 Roadside trees Maintained, some regen None None 102e SMBC Lifeboat Rd Nth 0.24 CP Pine wood 101-110 Roadside trees Maintained, some regen None None 103a Private Atherton Cottage 0.09 CP Pine wood 91-100 Old CP Some regeneration Restocking felling Restocking felling 103b Private Atherton Cottage 0.15 SY, BPO BLF Wood 31-40 Maturing scrub Review at yr 10 Coppicing Cleaning

419.16 17.85 15.89

Additional Felling for Firebreaks

Comp. Owner Site name Comp. Species Woodland Age class Secondary species Timber quality Additional Felling Year of Cycle of Area No. Area Type (years) operation operation to be felled 52 EN Ainsdale NNR 3.9 CP Pine wood 81-90 Scrub CP Sawlogs Fell section for firebreak Yr1 1st cycle 0.5 55 EN Ainsdale NNR 10.27 CP Pine wood 71-80 SY,CP,Bare Palletwood Fell section for firebreak Yr1 1st cycle 0.6 58a EN Ainsdale NNR 6.08 CP Pine wood 61-70 CP,WPO,SY Sawlogs Fell slack 34 for firebreak Yr1 1st cycle 0.9 61 EN Ainsdale NNR 3.07 CP Pine wood 21-30 SY,MB Sawlogs Fell section for firebreak Yr5 1st cycle 0.2 63a EN Ainsdale NNR 22.11 CP Pine wood 81-90 CP,MP,SY,BI,AR,Bare Sawlogs Fell section for firebreak Yr5 1st cycle 0.6 64 EN Ainsdale NNR 5.72 CP Pine wood 81-90 CP,SY Sawlogs Fell section for firebreak Yr5 1st cycle 0.2 65 EN Ainsdale NNR 8.94 CP Pine wood 61-70 CP,BPO,BI,Bare Palletwood Fell section for firebreak Yr1 1st cycle 1.0 66 EN Ainsdale NNR 4.17 CP Pine wood 71-80 CP,BPO,AR,BI Sawlogs Fell section for firebreak Yr5 1st cycle 0.3

64.26 4.2

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3.1.3 Sefton Coast Woodlands, Management Maps, 5-year Cycles, 2003 - 2013

1st Cycle management

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1st Cycle management

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1st Cycle management

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1st Cycle management

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1st Cycle management

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SECTION 4

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88 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

4.1 Review and Indicators Review of progress must be central to this Forest Plan. Without indicators and a cycle of monitoring the Plan will not become operational.

To structure the monitoring process it will be necessary to allocate indicators of achievement to the objectives, develop a cycle of monitoring and allocate the responsibility for monitoring achievement against the indicators.

A structure unfolds from the hierarchy of objectives and is suggested in the following:

Objective Description Verifiable Indicators level

Vision Taking account of natural landscape formation processes, the Sefton Coast forest should be managed sustainably and in perpetuity as a matrix of landuses to ensure: • The integrity of historically important landscapes Fixed point & other photo monitoring • The viability of habitats for rare and important species Indicator species and habitats monitored • Opportunities for the rural and peri-urban economy to Local statistics thrive • Opportunities for the quiet enjoyment of the countryside. Public perception surveys of issues and changes

Goal Partnerships and fora established to ensure landowners, Working Plan Steering managers, user groups, interest groups and support Group functioning organisations work individually and jointly through good Joint owner contracts & list silvicultural management to achieve the vision. of approved contractors Stakeholder participation in events

Management • To maintain the forest mosaic Total area & composition of Objectives compartments • To involve additional willing land owners in the New members joining the development of suitable forest mosaic habitats. partnership • To create a ‘healthy’ or normal forest age profile Area, 30% 0-30; 30% 30- 60; 30% 60-90; 10% >90 • To maintain the focus on pine species as a food source 90% pine, 40%SP, 60% for the red squirrel and to retain the existing woodland CP, some JL, NS character. Squirrel population – including greys • To maintain areas of indigenous small-seeded broadleaf 90% pine, 10% BLF species, up to but no more than 10% of the total area. Large seeded species & poplar cleared Sycamore coppiced • To maintain a matrix of woodland structures from grass Mix of forest operations, sward to mature stands of trees. regen coupes, coppicing, glades & rides • To provide suitable habitats within the woodland Bat & nesting boxes etc structure for all appropriate species, especially those Mix of species & ages designated as Priority Species. Presence of deadwood Quantity of grass sward • To ensure an economic return where feasible. Joint contracts Thriving wood industries • To maintain, establish and participate in appropriate joint Task group working ventures and fora for the purposes of management and Joint public consultation evaluation. Combined marketing etc

Final Version 89 January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023

4.2 Cycle of Monitoring There are three obvious cycles of review and monitoring within the Working Plan: Annual, five-yearly and ten-yearly. It is suggested that the Steering Group of the Forest Plan is the body to take responsibility for monitoring in each of the cycles. Given the importance of the task, but balanced with the burden of normal workloads, the Group would meet annually and the members (who would constitute all owners, managers and representative bodies) would use the Plan’s monitoring indicators to review progress at the different levels.

4.2.1 Annual Monitoring and Review The Sefton Coast Forest Plan Steering Group would meet annually and the members would report on their own areas of responsibility and / or interest. The reports would use the Management Objectives and their indicators to assess progress towards achieving those Objectives. It would be important not to create an enormous workload and the collection and collation of information should be designed to meet the needs of the individual owner / manager in the first instance.

An additional aspect of monitoring will be use of the Tolerance Tables based on the Forestry Commission Forest Plan recommended tables. These are provided below and give a structure within which owner / managers can work within the partnership, both flexibly and accountably: Table 7, Tolerance Tables Adjustment Timing of Change to Windthrow Timing of Timing of to felling restocking species clearance thinning coppicing, coupe area cleaning No approval <0.1 ha per Up to 1 Changes < 0.5 ha < 1 financial < 1 financial required coupe, or planting within year year <1.0 ha total season after approved for property – felling or Plan species whichever is scheduled group (e.g. less new planting CP to SP) of <10% composition Inform Task 0.1 – 0.2 ha 1 – 2 planting Changes 0.5 – 2.0 ha 1 – 2 financial 1 – 2 financial Group in per coupe or seasons after within years years regular 1.0 – 2.0 ha felling or approved meetings total for scheduled Plan species property – new planting group (e.g. whichever is CP to SP) of less 10–20% composition Approval by 0.2 – 0.25 ha 2 – 4 planting Changes 2.0 – 5.0 ha 2 – 4 financial 2 – 4 financial exchange of per coupe or seasons after within years years letters & 2.0 – 2.5 ha felling or approved maps total for scheduled Plan species property – new planting group (e.g. whichever is CP to SP) of less >20% composition Approval by >0.25 ha per More than 4 Changes > 5.0 ha > 4 financial > 4 financial formal plan coupe or >2.5 planting between years years amendment ha total for seasons after approved property – felling or Plan species whichever is scheduled group (e.g. less new planting CP to alder)

It should be noted that routine health and safety and other legal obligations for felling, clearance and cleaning are not covered by this table.

4.2.2 Five-year Monitoring and Review On a five-year basis (in the first phase the Mersey Forest would allocate a staff member) the Group would collect and collate the annual reports made to the Steering Group,

90 Final Version January 2003 A Working Plan for the Sefton Coast Woodlands, 2003 - 2023 together with any additional relevant information (from surveys and monitoring systems). The compilation would be used to write a report that would inform the Group and once approved, would provide the formal state of the Sefton Coast Forest.

The report would be used to assess progress towards the Goal. Exceptional progress or lack of would help the Group and the members to direct resources to maintain progress and deal with obvious problem areas. It is also possible that the lack of progress demonstrates an inappropriate Management Objective and the Group should agree to make necessary adjustments, improving indicators or indeed changing the Objective is appropriate.

4.2.3 Ten-year Monitoring and Review On a ten-year basis the Mersey Forest would mobilise funds to field an independent consultant / professional to carry out a review of the Working Plan. The work would entail in the first instance a review of the two five-year plans (the second five year plan also being prepared by Mersey Forest staff) and another inventory of the woodland area. 20 year objectives would be re-stated for each compartment and a further 2 five-year cycles of forest operations developed. This would provide the basis for a further 10 year Forest Plan application to the Forestry Commission.

The indicators used would be from the Vision and the 10 year report would ensure that the Group had information to assess progress towards the Vision. Again progress or lack of progress would provide the Group and owners the opportunity to consider the allocation of resources and also the appropriateness of the Management Objectives and indicators. In the final instance, the Vision can be re-visited at this stage to make sure that it is still one that reflects the interest and needs of all the stakeholders.

This cycle can run in perpetuity, with the Steering Group allocating responsibility and resources as need dictates in the event of one partner or another leaving the partnership.

4.3 Responsibility for Monitoring It is important that the monitoring process is regarded as being of importance to the stakeholders. Self-monitoring is the foundation to achieving this which suggests that annual monitoring is the responsibility of each partner member and the reporting is simply a means of sharing information, achievements, problems with other members of the steering group. The five-year indicators are monitored in the first two cycles by the Mersey Forest and the Steering Group holds responsibility for achievement against the Vision level indicators.

The Steering Group must ensure that on an annual basis the partners are aware of the indicators, the information needed to assess progress and assist in allocating resources to complete tasks. Equally it must mobilise resources through the Mersey Forest to ensure that the five and ten-year cycle is completed.

A base line must be set in year one of the process and again the Steering Group should nominate a partner and mobilise resources to collate information to establish the base line for all the indicators. Much of this can be done with existing information and documents and can be done from a desk, it should require no more than two working weeks.

4.4 Indicators Further details of indicators are suggested below:

4.4.1 Vision Indicator species for the forest mosaic should be monitored:

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• the red squirrel population over the 5-year cycles to include areas that represent all forest operations. Sightings of grey squirrels should be part of this monitoring. • Bat populations. • Bird populations. • Key woodland invertebrates. • Key woodland fungi. • Key woodland flowers, ferns and shrubs.

The Pan-European Criteria (The UK Forestry Standard) are a standard for monitoring for the Plan. However, the resources required for monitoring at this level would be too demanding for the Task Group. Thus the following list is useful where information already exists to collate data, but should not be used to collect additional information that already likely to be existing is underlined:

The physical resources (soil, water, air) − Soil changes in plots to measure effects of operations − Water table levels − Accidental fire and operational burning monitored The biological resources (trees, biological − Area of forest stable diversity) − New areas planted as bridges within Forest area − Normal age distribution − Tree species mixture, <10% broadleaf, 30% of pine Scots pine − Other species and habitats thriving The human resources (the forest workforce, − Standards of work, contractors, staff, surrounding communities and users) advisers, enumerators all up to required Steering Group standards − Local and regional communities utilising area for recreation − The combined effect of forest-based industries (all sizes) developing and being sustained The cultural resources (heritage and − Incidence of damage through intentional landscape) fires, dumping, theft etc. − Educational institutions utilising area for education purposes − Voluntary and lobby bodies active in supporting Vision

Public perception should be explored to ensure that understanding is compatible with Vision and to check that the Vision reflects public needs and aspirations.

4.4.2 Goal To achieve the Vision, the owners, managers, support organisations, users, interest groups, must work together in partnership. The partnership must be based on agreed, sound silvicultural techniques.

Indicators will be in two spheres: • The forums and partnership mechanisms in place and functioning. Owners, managers, users, interest groups attending meetings: Steering Group, awareness raising, educational tours and walks, • Combined tenders for contract work – maintenance operations and extraction.

• A utilised listing of quality approved contractors, consultants and enumerators.

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• Adherence to operational principles and practices set out in the Working Plan – monitoring process in part achieved through the Forestry Commission licensing and grant scheme.

4.4.3 Management Objectives Progress in achieving aspects of the Management Objectives in itself provides a measure of success in working towards the Goal and Vision. Some additional indicators might be: • The GIS being used to manage the balance of species over the whole area and to involve new owners in the Forest Plan. • The woodlands database being used to manage the normal distribution, the siting of felling coupes without damaging squirrel bridges, the balance of species within compartments. • The use of the species counts to assess the effect of forest operations. • The recording and analysis of exploratory silvicultural operations (e.g. to develop success criteria for Corsican and Scots pine natural regeneration). • The instigation and support of specialist forest industries, from basket weaving to wood composite products, from wood energy (biomass) to forest recreation and sports (e.g. golf tournaments and orienteering trials)

In each case an annual report on changes provides the information to build up into a 5 and eventually 10-year profile.

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Section 5

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5.1 Bibliography 1. Ashton W, 1920 . The Evolution of a Coastline. E Standford, London.

2. Bale A, February 1995. A Management Plan for the Rearward Woodlands, Ainsdale Sands National Nature Reserve.

3. CMACS, December 2000 . Review of Dune Restoration – Ainsdale Sand Dunes National Nature Reserve. Final Report. University of Liverpool.

4. English Nature, 1992 . SSSIs: What you should know about Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

5. Ennion R, 1986 . A working Plan for Woodlands on the Sefton Coast. Joint Countryside Advisory Service.

6. Forestry Authority, January 1998 . The UK Forestry Standard: The Government’s Approach to Sustainable Forestry.

7. Forestry Authority, December 1998 . England Forestry Strategy: A New Focus for England’s Woodlands, Strategic Priorities and Programmes.

8. Forestry Commission, October 1999 . Forest Plans: Applicants Guidance Note.

9. Furness RR, 1978 . Soils of Cheshire. Soil Survey Bulletin No.6.

10. Greenough A, January 1997 . Long Term Woodland Management Plan for Ainsdale Sands National Nature Reserve.

11. Greenwood EF (ed.), July 1996 . Ecology and Landscape Development: A history of the Mersey Basin. Liverpool University.

12. JNCC, 1996 . UK Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation.

13. Joint Countryside Advisory Service, November 1999 . The Sefton Coast Woodland and Scrub Management Strategy.

14. Jones CR, Houston JA, Bateman D, 1993 . A History of Human Influence on the Coastal Landscape. The Sand Dunes of the Sefton Coast. National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside.

15. Leege LM, Murphy PG, 2001 . Ecological Effects of the non-Native Pinus nigra on Sand Dune Communities. Canadian Journal of Botany, Vol 79 pp429-437.

16. Keating Michael, April 1993 . Agenda for Change: A plain language version of Agenda 21 and other Rio agreements. COCF.

17. Kerr G, 2000 . Natural Regeneration of Corsican pine ( Pinus nigra subsp. laricio ) in Great Britain. Forestry, Vol. 73, No 5.

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18. Kirby KJ, 1988 . Research and Survey in Nature Conservation: A woodland survey handbook. JNCC Publications No 11.

19. Mersey Forest, August 1994 . Forest Plan, The Mersey Forest.

20. Nesbitt A, 1981 . The Distribution and Abundance of Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides ) at Ainsdale and Birkdale Local Nature Reserve, Merseyside. Unpublished thesis, Liverpool Polytechnic,

21. Pethick, J, March 2001 . Assessment of Coastal Defence and Sand Dune Response to Erosion Processes. Centre for Coastal Management, University of Newcastle.

22. RSPB, 1997 . Forest and Birds: A guide to managing forests for rare birds.

23. RSPB, October 1991 . Forests for the Future: Integrating Forestry and the Environment.

24. Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, November 1997 . The Sefton Coast Management Plan, Second Review, 1997–2006. Steering Group of the Sefton Coast Management Scheme.

25. Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, September 1999. Nature Conservation Strategy for the Sefton Coast candidate Special Area of Conservation. Sefton Coast Life Project

26. Shuttleworth CM, October 1996 . The Effect of Supplemental Feeding on the Red Squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris ). University of London, PhD Thesis.

27. Shuttleworth CM, December 1997 . The Impact of Woodland Management on the Red Squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris ) Population in Ainsdale National Nature Reserve. English Nature Research Report GL 73.

28. Smith PH, 1994 . Scrub on the Sefton Coast. Formby Council Offices, report 2/HAB/SCR No 249.

29. Smith PH, 1999 . The Sands of Time: an Introduction to the Sand Dunes of the Sefton Coast.

30. Wheeler DJ, Simpson DE, Houston JA, 1993 . Dune Use and Management. The Sand Dunes of the Sefton Coast. National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside.

31. Wild RD , 1988 . Scrub Encroachment and Soil Eutrophication at Ravenmeols Dunes, Formby. Unpublished thesis, Liverpool University.

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