APPENDIX 1 Detailed Compartment Descriptions Wood 2 24.6 ha in total Sub-Compartment 114a - 15.3 ha This extensive and varied area is typified by an open canopy of frequent to occasional mature Scots Pine and European Larch intermixed with mature well- crowned Oak. Other mature broadleaves are rare but include Sweet Chestnut and Beech. This overlays a sub-canopy of 25-40 year old, pole-stage Silver Birch (Oak, Yew, Rowan and Sweet Chestnut), which in places with few mature trees, is dominant. This has developed following extensive storm damage in the early 1960s. The shrub layer is sparse, but includes Holly, and occasional Hazel. The field layer is characterised by Bramble, (and Bracken), over locally abundant Bluebell, Soft Creeping-grass, and Broad Buckler Fern, with occasional Wood Anemone. Flush lines along streams and drainage channels support Alder, and Hazel, over a more diverse field layer. The south-eastern third of this sub-compartment was thinned in 2001. Sub-Compartment 114b - 6.4 ha Dominated by well-spaced, large-crowned mature Beech trees with a concentration of over-mature (150 years+) trees near Whirlowdale Road. These are intermixed with occasional mature European Larch, Oak and Sweet Chestnut. Pole-stage, 25-40 year old Silver Birch dominated natural regeneration (with Beech, Rowan and Oak) occurs here and there as a sub-canopy, where the Beech stand is more open. Throughout much of the stand, bare ground is dominant because of the closed canopy above, although young advanced Beech regeneration is locally frequent, though suppressed. Holly forms the dominant species of a poorly-developed shrub layer. In recent year, safety work on several of the large Beech has created a number of glades which are gradually infilling with mixed broad-leaved regeneration, dominated by Silver Birch and Beech, as well as Goat Willow, amongst others. Sub-Compartment 114c – 2.9 ha Characterised by a mixed, fairly closed canopy of 100 year old, Oak, Scots Pine, European Larch (Sweet Chestnut and Norway Spruce). A few over-mature Pine are also present here and there. Pole-stage, 25-40 year old Silver Birch (Rowan, Oak and Yew) form an uneven sub- canopy, filling more open areas of the mature canopy. Wood 1 36.4 ha in total Sub-Compartment 115a – 24.0 ha This extensive block is characterised by a varied, 20-70% closed canopy of often large-crowned, 100+ year old Sessile Oak, with frequent Sweet Chestnut. Other occasional mature canopy species include Scots Pine, European Larch, (and Beech). This is infilled by frequently dense, 25-40 year old Birch dominated natural regeneration, with Wild Cherry, Sweet Chestnut, Oak, Rowan, Beech and Hornbeam. Bracken glades occur here and there with occasional Holly (Hazel and Hawthorn) forming an open shrub layer. The field layer is typified by Soft Creeping- grass, Bramble and Bracken with Bluebell and Honeysuckle. The flush lines and streams crossing the area support Alder (and Ash) with a diverse field layer. Sub-Compartment 115b - 0.6 ha Two small areas dominated by 120+ year old low, large-crowned Beech, (with Sweet Chestnut, Oak and Sycamore). Mature Holly forms a well-developed shrub layer. Bare earth is dominant beneath, and advance regeneration is rare. Safety tree work in 2006 has opened several holes in the otherwise complete canopy. Sub-Compartment 115c - 6.7 ha Typified by an open canopy of 60-80 year old Sycamore, with younger stands towards Parkhead. Mature Oak, Scots Pine, European Larch and Sweet Chestnut are present, but rare. The understorey is open, with occasional clumps of mature Holly (and Hazel), over a field layer dominated by Bluebell, with frequent Bramble, Broad Fern Buckler and Soft Creeping-grass. The area is criss-crossed by a number of streams, flushes and drainage ditches feeding into the north-western boundary brook backing onto Dobcroft Road. These are lined by occasional mature Alder, Ash and occasional Hazel. Here, the field layer is diverse with Wood Anemone, Yellow Archangel, Lesser Celandine and Opposite-leaved Golden saxifrage, Creeping Buttercup, Meadowsweet , Large Bittercress amongst others. Sub-Compartment 115d - 0.6 ha Characterised by scattered mature, 80+ year old Sycamore, with occasional Oak, Alder and Pine, with Hazel (and Holly), re-growth from cut Sycamore stumps, and occasional young Rowan, Ash, and Oak. Bramble, Bracken, with Soft Creeping- grass and Bluebell form locally dominant parts of the field layer. Coppice with standards management was re-introduced to this area in 1994-96, and the shrub layer beaten up with the planting of Ash, Alder and Hazel in 2002. The various streams and flushes present within this area are botanically diverse with Yellow Archangel, Remote Sedge, Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage, and many others. Sub-Compartment 115e - 1.4 ha Characterised by dense, 25-40 year old pole-stage Silver Birch, with Oak, Sycamore, Rowan, Sweet Chestnut and frequent young Holly, which has developed following the 1962 storm. Mature Oak, Sweet Chestnut, Beech, Pine and Larch are scattered across this area. The field layer is more acid-loving, with Wavy Hair-grass frequent, together with Bramble, Bluebell, Broad Buckler Fern, and Soft Creeping-grass. Sub-Compartment 115f - 3.1 ha This area is dominated by mature Scots Pine, with frequent European Larch and locally frequent mature Oak (and Hornbeam, Sweet Chestnut, Sycamore, Silver Birch amongst others). Holly forms a fairly well-developed shrub layer, over a Bluebell and Bramble dominated ground flora. Pole-stage Silver Birch/Oak/Rowan are scattered throughout the stand. The stream side and its tributaries support mature Alder, with Ash, dead Wych Elm, Sycamore and Hazel over a diverse field layer dominated by Lesser Celandine, with Wood Anemone, and Yellow Pimpernel, amongst others. Wood 3 78.9 ha in total Sub-Compartment 116a – 3.7 ha (Limb Lane picnic site) This sub-compartment includes the Limb Lane picnic area, fringed by several blocks of young woodland, with a large area of amenity grassland in the centre of the area, linked to a car park. Much of the area was reclaimed from landfill in the 1970’s. The woodland is generally characterised by several mixed, 25-30 year old plantations consisting of small blocks of Alder, Beech, Scots Pine, Field Maple, Larch, Wild Cherry (Ash, Sycamore and Silver Birch), with occasional young Hawthorn and Elder, and a generally species poor field layer except for patches of Bluebell and Lesser Celandine. Many of the trees are of poor form, and the Beech in particular has suffered serious squirrel damage. Thinned in 2002-3 By the entrance to the car park, the woodland is different. Situated upon mining slag, this area is characterised by naturally regenerated 30-50 year old Sycamore, with Oak, Birch, (Ash, Goat Willow and Rowan) over occasional Hawthorn, Holly and Elder. The field layer is clearly recent and secondary with Bramble, Bracken, Soft Creeping-grass, Ivy and occasional Bluebell.The steep bank falling down to the stream is characterised by Bluebell, and other ancient woodland plants like Great Woodrush, which are slowly spreading into the new woodland. Sub-Compartment 116b - 0.8 ha (Square Plantation) Varied mixture of mature Beech, Sycamore, Oak, Ash (Pine and Horse Chestnut) and semi-mature, 30-50 year old Ash, Sycamore (and Birch), over patchy sapling regeneration of Sycamore, Ash and Wych Elm. Nineteenth century plantation. In general the field layer is characterised by Bluebell, Bramble and Male Fern. However, two species rich spring lines flow through the woodland, with Yellow Pimpernel, Woodruff, Yellow Archangel, Wood Anemone, Common Valerian, and others, which are spreading into the rest of the woodland. Occasional, mature Alder and suckering Wych Elm are present along these spring lines. Sub-Compartment 116c – 1.6 ha Mixed plantation of 35-40 year old Beech, Sycamore, Norway Maple and Ash, with Sitka Spruce (Larch and Scots Pine), as well as occasional Silver Birch, Sessile Oak and Rowan, on a gently shelving, north-east facing slope leading to the Limb Brook. Occasional Hawthorn and Elder form an open understorey over a species poor field layer. Recent secondary woodland. Many of the trees are of poor form and the Beech in particular, have suffered serious squirrel damage. Majority thinned in 2002- 03. The streamside is richer with mature Sessile Oak, Alder and Hazel, over Bluebell, Lesser Celandine, Wood Anemone and Dog's Mercury amongst others. Sub-Compartment 116d – 17.0 ha (Bird Sanctuary) Predominantly mature, 100-120 year old, poorly-formed Sweet Chestnut, with Oak, forming a closed canopy. Other canopy species are rare, but include European Larch, Beech, Scots Pine, and semi-mature Silver Birch and Rowan. Here and there small clumps of 15-30 year old Birch-dominated regeneration are present, and a small number of 25-35 year old Sitka Spruce lie amongst these. Rhododendron is present in several large blocks along the south-eastern edge of this stand. The shrub layer is open, to well-developed, with Holly dominant. Natural regeneration is rare. The south-east part of the sanctuary is dominated by a mature, dense canopy of Beech. The field layer varies from bare earth mixed with Soft Creeping-grass, Bluebell, Honeysuckle, Broad Buckler Fern, Wood Sorrel and Bramble, to locally dominant Bluebell. The north-eastern corner of the sanctuary lies alongside two small tributary streams, supporting a richer community characterised by dense 30-50 year old Ash, with Silver Birch, Rowan, Oak and occasional Sycamore and Sitka Spruce. A few mature Oak and Sweet Chestnut occur here and there. Rhododendron is frequent in places The shrub layer contains frequent Hazel, over a Bluebell-dominated field layer, with Wood Anemone, Yellow Archangel and Soft Creeping-grass. The stream sides are richer with Ash, Alder, dead Elm and Hazel over Lesser Celandine, Dog's Mercury and Wood Anemone, with Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage, Common Valerian, Yellow Pimpernel and Greater Stitchwort amongst others.