1 SLLP Project Development Pro Forma Name of Project Woodland Heart Woodlands, forestry and reservoirs are key parts of the Sheffield Lakelands Sponsoring partner Sheffield City Council- organisation & main contact 150 word summary The area covered by the Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership is rich in trees,woodland and forestry making significant contribution to the aesthetics of the landscape. The area contains over 600 Hectares of Woodland and an estimate 100 Hectares of ancient semi-natural woodland. We will produce and deliver a landscape scale sustainable Woodland Management Plan for Sheffield Lakelands. During this LCAP 2018-2023 we will work across the partnership to directly improve natural and cultural heritage assets in the existing woodland estate and create a coordinated vision and resilient plan for woodlands across the Lakelands through to 2050. 2 Coordinated forestry and woodland operations toward a diverse, resilient and visionary approach 2018-2023. A range of forestry and associated woodland projects will move our woodland estate toward a more diverse and resilient state. Biodiversity and visual cohesion at a landscape scale will be paramount. The future commercial integrity of the woodlands will be planned where possible so as to support for future management opportunities, unsupported by grant and subsidises. Woodland Gateway 1- Langsett and Stocksbridge, Woodland Gateway 2- Ewden Valley Woodland Gateway 3 – Agden and Dale Dyke Woodland Gateway 4- Redmires , Wyming Brook and Rivelin Full project description Woodland and forestry are dominant habitats that shape the visual landscape across the Sheffield Lakeland Landscape . While woodland and forestry cover form an important mosaic across the landscape it is the woodland associated with the reservoirs which forms the most extensive tracts of cover and offers greatest potential for ‘engaged’ neighbours to develop synergy in woodland management. In addition it is these locations where people most visit and experience the countryside. The history of land use is an important element in how the area is experienced and appreciated. The development of conifer plantations and their interplay with broadleaf woodlands in the valleys, associated with the reservoirs has created a strong aesthetic and community sympathy. The interplay between woodland, reservoirs, clough and scrub woodland and the wider countryside has created the mosaic of habitats which help define the area and add significantly to the biodiversity of the region. The rotation of commercial timber production over small areas in the valleys brings succession in age and diversity of species which compliments both native woodlands and heritage stands 3 of conifer. The origin and management of stands of coniferous timber is part of the business and culture of the Sheffield Lakelands and the management process contributes an important habitat for Nightjar and Goshawk. During the 1970’s and 80’s the area was well known as the place to see goshawk (RSPB Peak Malpractice) and although, locally, the Goshawk has declined recently, the presence of these birds would lead us to consider our woodlands to be considered of regional significance. The three delivering partners (SCC, YW and SRWT) have UKWAS certification. The UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) is a certification standard which sets out the requirements which woodland owners, managers and certification authorities can use to certify woodland management in the United Kingdom. The standard is the product of an inclusive and transparent process which has involved a balanced representation from the UK forestry and environmental community. It has been designed to ensure that it reflects the requirements of the Government’s UK Forestry Standard and through this the guidelines adopted by European Forestry Ministers at Helsinki in 1993 and Lisbon in 1998. (The UK Woodland Assurance Standard Second Edition) Produce and deliver a landscape scale sustainable Forest and Woodland Management Plan for Sheffield Lakelands for 2023 to 2050. During this LCAP 2018-2023 we will work across the partnership to create: A vision, a visual representation, for forestry and woodland management at a landscape scale across the Lakelands. Retaining a suitable range of commercial revenue generating woodland while moving the estate toward a broader ‘ecosystem services’ led regime where the landscape drives practice. Using the existing partner’s management and forestry design plans, we will create a tripartite management programme around both the commercial and conservation rich woodland. This will include the integration of conservation woodland into the currently dominant coniferous plantations to link habitats and increase landscape cohesion. Integrate the SLLP work on Goshawk, Nightjar and Water Vole into woodland management within the partnership. Include the work SLLP is undertaking on Gateways and Archaeology into the forestry operations plans across the partnership. Communicate to the community the history, evolution and future of our woodland vision. Outreach both the vision and the partner’s delivery plans to other woodland and landowners with a view 4 to delivering a coordinated woodland and forestry management regime from 2023 through to 2050. Mapping and communication During years 1 & 2 we will engage a combination of forestry consultants, Ecologists and GIS map specialists to create a woodland vision for the Sheffield Lakelands and identify additional forestry and woodland owners/managers who may participate in a combined sustainable woodland project with biodiversity and connectivity outcomes as a priority. Project partners will use this information to create a ‘local story’ regarding the evolution of woodland around the reservoirs in particular and the developing vision for woodland management across the Lakelands. This information will be part of how we bring the community with us during this work. The ‘added value’ budget will prioritise communications and community engagement through interpretation over physical improvements. In year 3 we will undertake a ‘woodland product and market assessment’, which in year 4 will result in a vision and business plan for the ongoing (post 2023) Landscape Forestry Management Plan to be delivered by the partnership. Our vision will Map overall tree retention, planting and natural regeneration 'opportunity' at a broad level and propose areas for buffering and / connectivity to support the aspirations detailed in the report ‘Making Space for Nature - The Lawton Report (2010) (England)’, and to compliment opportunities for Natural Flood Management together with the identification or suitability for Forest/Woodland Creation Grants under Countryside Stewardship. Working closely with the Protecting Sheffield project team and Environment Agency. Working with partners and the Community Ecologist with support from the Practical and Volunteer Officer will develop a ‘partnership’ approach to ‘community scale’ woodland management of converted compartments and broadleaf woodlands in order to create a sustainable income source for ongoing management. It is here that the synergistic work of the Landscape Partnership will make the greatest contributions, in particular the bat survey, mapping and modelling project will supply targeted locations and prescriptions for woodland creation and connectivity. HLF contribution required £23,000 5 Conifer to Broadleaf Our long term commitment within the woodland heart vision will be for a dynamic and cohesive combination of ancient semi-natural woodlands, re-established native woodlands, resilient woodlands of mixed species, heritage conifer and broadleaf stands and rotational commercial forestry. Within this plan we will replace a number of conifer forestry coupes with mixed and broadleaf woodland habitats when the opportunity arises. SCC, YW and SRWT woodland compartments which have limited commercial value (taking into account the cost and constraints of extraction, markets etc.) have been mapped and targeted for management, with the view for long term retention as non-commercial conservation woodland and achieving the none-financial benefits that can be accrued from woodlands. As they are moved from commercial forestry the partnership will endeavour to create ‘sustainable’ woodland management and inclusion within a joint (partnership) approach to whatever woodland management schemes arise post- BREXIT. Because this element of the project effectively removes commercial forestry from these compartments and replaces it with non-commercial, conservation broadleaf woodlands (where any future income generated from them will be re-invested directly back into woodland). Any income generated during felling will be reinvested into this work. All elements of the work can be funded by HLF and all other expenditure incurred can be included as match funding. Actions that can be funded under this option can include: 1. Infrastructure (stacking areas, rides, bridges) required for clear fell, 2. Clear fell and extraction, 3. Habitat creation (groundworks, stream modification etc.), 4. Replanting, fencing and tree protection, 5. Post planting management up to the end of the LCAP period. Impacting the commercial crop through diversification and resilience Forestry as a commercial operation, a means by which we can sustain a continued mosaic of important habitats, from clearfelled coupes which offer nesting sites for Nightjar through to stands of mature predominant coniferous forestry for supporting Goshawk